Tasmanian Greens hedge their bets

This quote from a Greens MP is worth examining in light of the fact that the Tasmanian Greens have also failed to engage people in the political process or to challenge the system and offer anything other than neo-liberal solutions to current economic problems.

The speech was presented before the formation of the Labor–Green government in Tasmania and warned of the dangers of Greens entering coalition governments by highlighting the experiences of Greens parties in Germany, France and Ireland.

Hale promotes the 1991 New South Wales hung parliament where independents John Hatton, Clover Moore, Peter Macdonald and Tony Windsor entered into a Memorandum of understanding with the Liberal Premier Nick Greiner.

In this government the independents were able to achieve significant reforms in areas such as electoral funding and disclosure, fixed four-year terms, strengthening Ombudsman and Auditor-General powers as well as achieving changes to defamation laws and Whistle-blower protection. This agreement offered the government votes on appropriation but gave the independents the ability to vote against the government in cases of maladministration and corruption.

When the Independent Commission against Corruption 'ICAC' led an investigation against Premier Greiner and found the creation of a job in the Environment Protection Agency to be an act of corruption, the Independent MP's supported the immediate resignation of Greiner.

In Hale's reflection on the experience and failures of Green coalitions in European parliaments, it is clear she is was promoting the Independent-Greiner government as an example to the NSW Greens should they find themselves in a balance of power position after the 2011 state election.

Compare this to Tasmania where the Greens have been enticed by a deal with the devil which has offered the perks of office, ministerial positions and chauffeur driven cars all in exchange for compromising core principles.

This has effectively silenced the Greens ability to expose government maladministration and has incriminated them as accomplices of government misconduct; the Greens have so far protected the incompetence of two Ministers who have faced no confidence motions on the floor of parliament.

The first is the indefensible support Cassy O'Connor gave to ex-Children's Minister Lyn Thorp who had breached ministerial conduct and confidentiality.

Minister O'Conner also defended the incompetence of Health Minister Michelle O'Byrne who has been responsible for broken promises and massive cuts to health services. In defending Ms O'Byrne, Minister O'Connor stated 'You can heckle Michelle O'Byrne all you like but you have got to acknowledge that she has courage and is telling the truth.'

Weeks later the supposedly truthful and courageous Minister O'Byrne was exposed as having wasted $23,757 tax payer dollars on accommodation in 4.5 star hotels for the acting CEO of the Royal Hobart Hospital, the CEO was meant to be staying in long term DHHS accommodation provided for visiting staff.

Minister O'Byrne's was also humiliated in 2011 by both the Australian Medical Association and ex Green member, now independent MP for Denison, Andrew Wilkie calling for a Federal take-over of the state's health system. Added to this is the fact that the Liberal opposition and the Australian Nurses Federation have moved no confidence motions against Minister O'Byrne.