Bartlett sacks troubled Minister Paula Wriedt

TROUBLED Tasmanian Cabinet Minister Paula Wriedt has been sacked by Premier David Bartlett after she refused to step down. On August 4 the Minister for Economic Development and Tourism was rushed to hospital by ambulance with what was described as an undisclosed medical emergency. It was later revealed that the 39-year-old had attempted to take her life after details of an affair with her Government driver were about to the become public.Two days later the mother of two, who is separated from her husband, admitted to a relationship with chauffeur Ben Chaffey which she said was consensual and ended earlier in the year.Mr Chaffey later lodged a compensation case against the State Government which included a claim of sexual harassment. It was reported he was seeking $100,000 in compensation and the case is yet to be resolved.In the week before Ms Wriedt's hospitalisation she had travelled to Melbourne to announce the support of confectionary company Mars for a Tasmanian team in the AFL.The news of the deal was announcement on the popular Nine Network program The Footy Show which decended into controversy after co-host Sam Newman made some remarks about Ms Wriedt.There has been much speculation about Ms Wriedt's future over the past month and today the Premier made the following statement:``Earlier this week, I made the decision that the time had arrived to resolve the issues surrounding Cabinet and Ministers following from the events leading to the hospitalisation of Paula Wriedt. ``During this week, then, I have had conversations with Paula's friends and advisors, Paula's family members, Paula's doctor and Paula herself. ``My message to Paula has been that I believe it was in the best interests of Paula's long-term health for her to relinquish her position as Minister and was, indeed, in the best interests of good Government in Tasmania. ``This would allow me to appoint a new Cabinet and for her to free herself of the constant pressures of the questions surrounding her return to Ministerial duties. ``Unfortunately, Paula finds herself in a position where she is unable to make that decision at this time. ``Therefore, in the interests of good government and, I believe, in the interests of Paula's long-term health and wellbeing, I have had no other choice than to make that decision myself. ``It is my duty, then, to inform you that I have this morning visited His Excellency Governor Underwood and advised him that I believe he should withdraw Paula's commission as Minister. He has accepted my advice. ``I have not taken this decision lightly, in fact, decisions don't come any tougher than this. Paula Wriedt has been a good Minister and I believe there is a way back to a Ministerial position for Paula in the future. ``However, at this stage, I believe Paula needs to focus on her own health and wellbeing over the months ahead. ``I intend to hold a PLP meeting as soon as practical, that won't be today, to elect a new Cabinet. ``I am confident that my recommendations for ministerial appointments to the PLP will be confirmed at that meeting. ``I am not going to speculate on who might join the Cabinet other than to say my goal in any changes to Cabinet will be to ensure ministers have an even load and, therefore, are able to give serious Ministerial attention to all of the Government's priorities.''