| At 38 years old, Will Hodgeman is both the bright young spark of the Tasmanian State Liberal team, and its leader. His boyish good looks and family man image gave him a huge personal vote at this year’s election. He has his detractors, of course. Mercury columnist Greg Barns has called him an “intellectual lightweight”, others have said he’s bland.
Upon gaining the leadership Hodgeman committed that he and his deputy would be reasoned and mature voices in parliament. Now at his first Question Time in over a month, he stays true to his word, eschewing the taunts and interjections that are generally hurled across the chamber.
Braddon Liberal MHA Brett Whiteley made no such promise. He sits forward, his long arms draped across the desk in front of him, hands clenched into fists. No less than seven interjections are recorded from Whiteley in the first half hour of question time - considerably less than he was actually responsible for. Other Liberal MPs including the Opposition Leader’s father, Michael Hodgman, add to the din.
With such rowdy colleagues, the Opposition Leader’s “reasoned and mature” voice sounds like timidity, and his manner gives him the appearance of an eager schoolboy. As he jumps to his feet to signal that he wishes to ask a question, he really jumps. On more than one occasion he stands up with such force that he’s propelled briefly into the air, coming down behind his desk with a small thud, his eyes firmly on the Speaker.
But while he may not have the delivery, he certainly has the material...
“Premier, we have in our possession several e-mails from the general manager of Workplace Standards in 2004.” The emails are said to reveal that former Deputy Premier Bryan Green instructed Workplace Standards to withdraw from a Tasmanian Industrial Commission case.
“One e-mail in particular states that the minister's adviser has asked Workplace Standards 'to contact Michael Field,” Hodgman continues. The allegation is clear: Bryan Green interfered with an industrial relations case to help out a former Labor premier.
Mr Green has already been publicly humiliated for his role in granting a possibly illegal exclusive contract to two other former Labor ministers. His old seat next to the Premier is vacant, a silent reminder of his misdeeds, and he sits silently on the backbenches awaiting his leader’s response.
“Mr Speaker,” the Premier starts in a soft and reasoned tone. “I am aware of the case to which the member refers. In fact I have brought that case to the attention of the Auditor-General... I do find it ironic, however, that the member asked me a question about protecting employees.”
Here Mr Lennon shifts forward, and quickly raises his voice to a roar. “This is the member,” says the Premier, “who has rusted himself onto John Howard's ideological campaign to take away the living standards and rights of employees right across this State.”
A predictable attack and one the Liberals should have been ready for, but it seems they are thrown. Hodgman breaks his cool to shout “what about the jobs that have been created?” This is a mistake - the focus has now shifted off the government and on to the opposition. Looking shocked and out of his depth, the Liberal Leader swivels around quickly to ask his dad for advice. |