So, it seems that Tasmania's Premier has resigned, 'to spend more time with his family'. In the past ten years has anyone in public life resigned without saying that? It's been said so often, I think we'd be disappointed if it weren't trotted out. At least Mr Gutwein pushed it a bit further and said he had spent the last three years focusing on everyone else's family and it was time to give his own a bit of priority. Fair enough. His second reason for resigning is that 'he has nothing left in the tank', which is probably more valid. Steering a state through a pandemic would be seriously difficult and you'd deserve a rest.
The problem will be in finding a replacement. Tasmania's lower house only has 25 members, 13 of whom are Liberal - the rest are Labor, Greens or Independent. It's not a great pool to draw from. There used to be 35 members but this was reduced in 1998. It's cheaper to run, of course, but every Government member now has to look after 5 or 6 portfolios. When someone resigns, others have to take an extra load. The problem is compounded by the fact that 2 other ministers have resigned recently.
A couple of names are being mentioned but none of them inspire much confidence, and each of them has other responsibilities. Wouldn't it be good if they could call on a senior member of the opposition to help out, but we'd have to see pigs in the sky before that would happen. Maybe an Independent?
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