LAUNCESTON alderman Andrea Dawkins is the new Tasmanian Greens member for Bass, replacing Kim Booth after his resignation from politics last month. She will join Greens MPs Nick McKim and Cassie O’Connor in the House of Assembly, and is due to be sworn in as early as next week, with her maiden speech planned for Tuesday. Ms Dawkins’ move into the new role will see her resign from the Launceston City Council, leaving the door open for likely candidate Karina Stojansek. After nine months on council, Ms Dawkins has been quickly catapulted into the next tier of government, a challenge which she has accepted. ‘‘I am absolutely going to meet this head on,’’ Ms Dawkins said. ‘‘I’m really looking forward to learning a new system, and I’m hoping that I do Kim proud. ‘‘There is a fantastic, strong Greens following in this electorate and it will be up to me now to make sure that the work I do is seen in a positive light by the electors, and we would be hoping to get some Labor and Liberal voters over to the Greens.’’ Despite Mr Booth remaining in Bass for 13 years, with some analysts predicting a tough fight for his successor to hold onto the position, Ms Dawkins said she had a good chance of winning the same following with the Green vote. She said new social justice interests would be followed by the party, which would still also have a focus on traditional environmental roots. ‘‘It’s a time of regeneration [in the party] and I’m a really good candidate during this time of rebranding – I will rebuild the seat in light of that,’’ she said. ‘‘People have to be taken care of by one of the parties and if they aren’t being looked after by the Greens, where would they go? ‘‘Some might go to Labor, but I don’t believe they would go to Liberal.’’ Ms Dawkins said she did not yet know which portfolios she would take, but had a clear focus in the agricultural and food industries, tourism and hospitality, and education. She said she had no intention of becoming the replacement Greens leader, with Mr McKim’s bid for federal politics to replace Christine Milne likely to leave Ms O’Connor for the role. ‘‘[Tasmanian Green] Dr Rosemary Woodruff would then take Nick’s seat in the same way I have taken Kim’s, leaving a party of three women, which I think is fantastic,’’ she said. The next live nominees for Ms Dawkins’ seat on the council are Tony Peck, followed by Karina Stojansek who is more likely to receive Ms Dawkins’ votes on countback. Ms Stojansek said she would opt in for the position and welcomed the possibility of sitting on council.
LAUNCESTON alderman Andrea Dawkins is the new Tasmanian Greens member for Bass, replacing Kim Booth after his resignation from politics last month.
She will join Greens MPs Nick McKim and Cassie O’Connor in the House of Assembly, and is due to be sworn in as early as next week, with her maiden speech planned for Tuesday.
Ms Dawkins’ move into the new role will see her resign from the Launceston City Council, leaving the door open for likely candidate Karina Stojansek.
After nine months on council, Ms Dawkins has been quickly catapulted into the next tier of government, a challenge which she has accepted.
‘‘I am absolutely going to meet this head on,’’ Ms Dawkins said.
‘‘I’m really looking forward to learning a new system, and I’m hoping that I do Kim proud.
‘‘There is a fantastic, strong Greens following in this electorate and it will be up to me now to make sure that the work I do is seen in a positive light by the electors, and we would be hoping to get some Labor and Liberal voters over to the Greens.’’
Despite Mr Booth remaining in Bass for 13 years, with some analysts predicting a tough fight for his successor to hold onto the position, Ms Dawkins said she had a good chance of winning the same following with the Green vote.
She said new social justice interests would be followed by the party, which would still also have a focus on traditional environmental roots.
‘‘It’s a time of regeneration [in the party] and I’m a really good candidate during this time of rebranding – I will rebuild the seat in light of that,’’ she said.
‘‘People have to be taken care of by one of the parties and if they aren’t being looked after by the Greens, where would they go?
‘‘Some might go to Labor, but I don’t believe they would go to Liberal.’’
Ms Dawkins said she did not yet know which portfolios she would take, but had a clear focus in the agricultural and food industries, tourism and hospitality, and education.
She said she had no intention of becoming the replacement Greens leader, with Mr McKim’s bid for federal politics to replace Christine Milne likely to leave Ms O’Connor for the role.
‘‘[Tasmanian Green] Dr Rosemary Woodruff would then take Nick’s seat in the same way I have taken Kim’s, leaving a party of three women, which I think is fantastic,’’ she said.
The next live nominees for Ms Dawkins’ seat on the council are Tony Peck, followed by Karina Stojansek who is more likely to receive Ms Dawkins’ votes on countback.
Ms Stojansek said she would opt in for the position and welcomed the possibility of sitting on council.
