Truth and transparency the ultimate standards
TASMANIANS never have - and never will - take kindly to being treated like mugs. Two stenches far too often linger over politics in this state and irk voters like nothing else; a nagging perception they're being lied to, and the waft of shadowy secret deals.
Senior Minister Matthew Groom tripped and fell this week when he misled the Parliament about the potential sale of public assets.
The state government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Tasmania and TasTAFE to investigate a possible Hobart property swap.
Mr Groom admitted signing the non-binding deal last month, but only after telling the Parliament on Wednesday that no such proposals existed.
The minister said he was fully aware of personally signing the MoU when he gave his answer, but argued he was conscious of sensitivities surrounding the potential deal at the time.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green was right to point out that when a minister looks you in the eye and gives you an answer, you must know that their answer is the truth.
Without clearing this simple threshold, it is impossible for Tasmanians to trust that the minister is not hiding other secrets.
Providing inaccurate answers to the Parliament is a mistake Mr Green's side of Parliament are no doubt all too familiar with.
In 2008, former Labor deputy premier Steve Kons was forced to step down after being caught misleading the Parliament.
Then, a shredded document showed Mr Kons hadn't told the truth about recommending that a magistrate be appointed.
He took responsibility for the blunder and offered his resignation, which was accepted by the then premier.
Mr Groom gazumped any such "shreddergate" moment by volunteering the evidence that proved his answer was wrong.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green was right to point out that when a minister looks you in the eye and gives you an answer, you must know that their answer is the truth.
The minister was candid and contrite in admitting he stuffed up. But Mr Groom stopped short of standing down, and the Premier refused to sack him.
A no-confidence motion in Mr Groom backed by Labor and the Greens was quashed after the Liberals stood by their man.
However, the minister now faces much more pressure to be open about deals being signed in relation to public land and buildings.
This week's mistake must not be repeated by Mr Groom or any other minister, particularly when the Liberals are exploring unsolicited bids to sell or give away a string of public properties.
The process lends itself neatly to allegations of dodgy back-room deals done away from public view, and the government can't afford to be tricky about how it handles these approaches.
Earlier this month, the Liberals hosed down suggestions that Cabinet had approved a secret sale of Hobart's iconic Treasury buildings.
But this week, Premier Will Hodgman revealed the Liberals were seeking advice about selling the building, while standing by comments that no decision had been made.
The fact he didn't say so when first asked risks tarring the process with a muddying brush, and much the same can be said of Mr Groom's comments.
Tasmanians deserve full transparency around the handling of these taxpayer-owned assets and full, earnest answers from the ministers responsible for their custody.
News that more publicly owned properties face the hammer will no doubt continue to trickle out in coming weeks and months, and the government can afford to be nothing less than honest and upfront about it.