Tasmanian Premier must quit: Hodgman
The Age
Thursday April 1, 2010
THE Liberal would-be premier of Tasmania, Will Hodgman, is pressing Labor incumbent David Bartlett to resign quickly with the state election outcome now clear.A preferences distribution yesterday confirmed the two parties were locked on 10 seats each, with the Greens holding a five-seat balance of power in the House of Assembly.Mr Bartlett previously said that in the event of a tie, he would advise Governor Peter Underwood that government should go to the party with the most popular votes €” in this case the Liberals, who have a 2 per cent edge.Mr Hodgman said he was not aware of any alternative available to Mr Underwood other than to accept the Premier's advice.But with both major parties rejecting any formal agreement with the Greens to secure a majority, some commentators said the Governor might want a new government to first test its strength on the floor of the House of Assembly.Tasmanian political analyst Richard Herr said that, based on a 1989 precedent, it was open to Mr Underwood to ensure continuity by requiring Labor to remain in government until then.If Labor tried to return to Parliament in power, Mr Hodgman would not rule out an immediate no-confidence motion. "If we have a situation where Mr Bartlett goes to an election with a position . . . then somehow Labor try to continue on in government, I would consider them to be an illegitimate government," he said.Mr Bartlett made no comment yesterday, but a spokeswoman confirmed the Premier had had an informal breakfast with Mr Underwood.
© 2010 The Age
