S1: Hello, I'm Beecher Townsend and welcome to the Font Cast,
S1: Tasmania's leading only political podcast, giving you all the political
S1: views and analysis and straight talking you won't hear anywhere else. Well,
S1: David Killick's often what they call a well-earned break at
S1: the ABC, not sure what they call it at the Mercury.
S1: And I'm about to spend a couple of weeks saving
S1: the planet from the scourge of plastic. So given that
S1: there's been a bit in hashtag politics, we thought we'd
S1: better get an episode in the can before I head off.
S1: Although who knows what else will happen before it goes
S1: to air sometime next week. Hello, Brad.
S2: Hello, beech. Good to be back. Um, just for purposes
S2: of future reference, at 7:37 a.m., Friday, the 19th of April. Um,
S2: I'm thinking people are wondering, how are you saving the
S2: world from plastic?
S1: Well, yeah. Okay, so I'm part of a negotiating team,
S1: which is going to the United Nations Environment Programme Inc
S1: for in Ottawa, Canada, to to assist on negotiating the
S1: plastics treaty.
S2: We are not worthy.
S1: No, no. Some say I might run away and join
S1: the Canadian Mounties. We'll see anyhow. And Alex Johnson, thank
S1: you for coming in so early this morning. How are you, Alex?
S1: I don't know where in the world David Killick is,
S1: but I'm.
S3: I'm sure it's better than being here with you at
S3: 730 on a Friday morning. So how dare you, sir? No, no,
S3: I'm being silly. And I wish Dave a very happy holiday. Um.
S3: And a well earned rest. He ran a he does
S3: a good job. Uh, killer. He's, um. He's well loved. And, uh,
S3: I enjoyed his work during the the last phone cast,
S3: I relistened to just for his, um, uh, bit about
S3: the lambie's. It was very enjoyable.
S1: All right, uh, as usual, there's a lot going on,
S1: and I've got a bit on my list. The Lambie
S1: agreement still causing a lot of chat in the bubble.
S1: Jay Rock 2.0. How's his first week been like wise?
S1: We'll take a look at Dean winters leadership and his
S1: shadow cabinet. The speakership is Michelle O'Byrne lining up for it? Um,
S1: and finally the Brendan Blomeley affair. What on earth is
S1: going on inside the Liberal Party? Good question. So, Alex,
S1: the Lambie agreement is still causing a lot of chat.
S1: What's your thoughts?
S3: Yes. Well, after that initial press conference where, um, they
S3: copped a little bit of scrutiny for being, uh, ill
S3: prepared about some issues, especially the commission of inquiry, which
S3: I think there was fairly broad consensus that they should
S3: have had a response on that. And then, of course,
S3: after that we saw the deal, uh, which has, you know,
S3: been characterized as one that's very heavily in favor of
S3: the liberals. The Lambie's have been very, very quiet since.
S3: And I think, um, a shout out to Josh Dugan,
S3: he's been, um, leading the charge in terms of channel
S3: seven political reporter. He's been leading the charge in terms
S3: of getting them, uh, on camera. And he posted the
S3: other day that he got a reply sort of saying, well,
S3: for the, you know, next little bit they won't be,
S3: which is interesting. And I do wonder whether, um.
S2: Mind you, consistent with their efforts during the campaign.
S3: Well, that's true. Yeah. But I think post-election things should
S3: be a little different now I have well, I actually
S3: think that, um, they don't have too much to be
S3: worried about. I don't think the media pack down here
S3: is particularly unfair or ferocious. And I think the more
S3: media they do, the more comfortable they'll get. Um, so
S3: I would encourage them to do it because I don't
S3: think no one's out for blood. Um, but I do
S3: think the media pack has a general feeling that you've
S3: been elected. Scrutiny is a very fair thing. So it'll
S3: be interesting to see when when we do see them
S3: and when we get to know them a little bit better. Um,
S3: and of course, some other, um, unsuccessful Lambie candidates have
S3: spoken out. I love Sean Ford's catch up with what's
S3: the guy's name in the North West, James Redgrave, is
S3: that it?
S2: That's the one.
S3: Um, he seemed to think that if, uh, he wanted. Well,
S3: on election night, I guess it wasn't clear who was
S3: going to be elected in Braddon. He was right in
S3: the thick of things. And he said that he's he
S3: would have gone after several ministries. Um, so that to
S3: me is, uh, a real sliding doors moment. If we
S3: had have got James Redgrave instead of Miriam Beswick who
S3: is the Lambie member for Braddon. Um, what did you
S3: make of that one? Bradley?
S2: I think that, um, there's a general feeling around the
S2: traps that it might have been a bullet dodged on
S2: that particular one. Um, it was a fairly controversial candidate
S2: during the campaign, remember? There's some stuff there about the
S2: Trove council where he was, uh, I think some video
S2: surfaced during the campaign of him asking questions without notice
S2: that I think it was La Trobe Council, La Trobe.
S3: Yeah, yeah. Mr..
S2: Freshney and then there was also another, um, uh, a
S2: slightly amusing article I recall in the Advocate newspaper. Uh.
S2: Where he, um, uh, uh, claimed to have been and
S2: may well, may well be true. The hero that, uh,
S2: rescued people from some sort of fiery car crash. I
S2: don't know if you recall that.
S3: No, I don't that.
S2: One pass me by. There was some questions asked about
S2: how that particular story came to find its way to
S2: the advocate, and how he came to be described in
S2: such glowing terms. Very interesting.
S3: Well, I, for one, you know, not nothing against Miriam Beswick.
S3: I think she'll do a great job. But, gee, it
S3: could be it would have been a colorful addition to
S3: the Parliament, especially if he was, uh, vying for, you know,
S3: the attorney general or something like that. I think most
S3: people's idea is the Lambie should have negotiated something between
S3: James Redgrave's several ministries and what they got. But it
S3: will turn out. I mean, we'll see if it turns
S3: out to be, um, a workable relationship.
S1: All right. Well, Brad, what do you think?
S2: Look, I've been thinking about this over the last few weeks,
S2: and we had a discussion beach. And I've come to
S2: the conclusion that what we are seeing here is, is
S2: a continuation of the the world's longest hissy fit, which
S2: commenced in 2018 when Labour didn't win the election. They
S2: were robbed by the pokie barons and then in 2021,
S2: they were robbed by Covid. And now in 2024, they've
S2: been robbed by the Lambies. Yeah. Um, I think, you know,
S2: first it was, uh, Labor's fault for not doing a
S2: deal with the Greens when labor only got ten seats,
S2: and then it was the Lambie's fault for doing a
S2: deal with the liberals. Um, I just think, you know,
S2: in the space of a day, we went from, uh,
S2: people laughing and jeering at the Liberal Party for daring
S2: to attack the Lambie's during the election campaign, to now
S2: saying some sort of five D chess conspiracy theory because
S2: Glenn Williams went to school with Jeremy Rockliff 35 years ago,
S2: and somehow or other, it's all some big stitch up.
S2: I mean, it, um, it really is tinfoil hat territory,
S2: if you ask me.
S3: If if only scowls were audible, you just got the
S3: scowling of a lifetime. Oh, well, I just think Brad
S3: has painted like everyone on the left with the same brush,
S3: and it's just not right. I don't think Labor's whingeing
S3: about the situation. It seems to me like they've trying
S3: to lick their wounds and get on with with work
S3: and trying to build themselves back up. Yeah, okay. There
S3: are some people trying to piece together who is on
S3: this Lambie board. I think that's a very reasonable thing
S3: to do. I'm trying to do the same thing. I've
S3: asked the party, can I please have a list of
S3: who's on the board? Well, haven't got a response. Um,
S3: so we're trying to piece it together. And, you know,
S3: some people are, you know, putting two and two together
S3: and getting nine. I don't agree that it was some
S3: pre-election conspiracy, but I do think the liberals have neutralised,
S3: you know, a threat or a influence of Lambie by
S3: the deal that they've been able to sign. But there's
S3: a lot of people have pointed out that's not set
S3: in concrete. They could easily be swayed by public opinion
S3: and decide to be what.
S2: They should break their deal.
S3: No, no, I'm not encouraging them to at all, Brad.
S3: They can do whatever they want. Ah, some members of.
S2: Parliament are which are quite well, quite astounding.
S3: Well, I mean, you can ask.
S2: Ones that preach integrity.
S3: Well, just because you've signed something doesn't mean that you're
S3: now a bastion of integrity. But, um, people will agitate
S3: for whatever they think is in their best interest. That's fine,
S3: but the lambie's themselves might get some way down the
S3: track and think, hang on a minute. We've got elected
S3: in our own right here. We are not able to
S3: properly represent the people who got us here under this
S3: current deal, so they might want to renegotiate the deal.
S3: It'll be interesting to see how Parliament plays out. And
S3: there's been some interesting things around Parliament with the end
S3: of Dorothy Dixers and the introduction of these constituent questions.
S3: We might come to that later. But just on the lambie's,
S3: I don't I mean, I think you're conflating so many
S3: different issues. Yes. Okay. On election night 2018, Rebecca White's
S3: speech probably wasn't didn't hit the notes. It did. And
S3: then in 2021, who did you blame then? Covid.
S2: Covid? Well, I didn't blame it. You like.
S3: Did.
S2: Well you're sorry not I apologize. That wasn't you then.
S2: It was the Labor Party.
S3: Well I mean 20, 21, they just got flogged because
S3: they were terrible at getting their house in order. But
S3: Labor's I don't think Labor's um, sulking now. I think they've,
S3: they've actually pulled their socks up and have tried to
S3: get on with it.
S1: I agree, I don't I don't think Dean winters sulking
S1: about it, but I think, I.
S3: Think anyone in the party is there's a few on
S3: the periphery, sort of like Brad said, not happy with anything,
S3: but that's not the left and that's not labor. And
S3: it's not even the Greens, really. I mean, the Greens
S3: are being the Greens. It's a few people trying to
S3: solve a mystery.
S1: Well, look, uh, mostly on Twitter. Yeah, that's very true. I, um,
S1: you know, look, from my point of view, you know,
S1: I've been around politics for many years, as most of
S1: you know. And the reality is, I certainly understand the
S1: frustration in the gallery of not being able to speak
S1: to people and get an understanding of it. But, I mean,
S1: the reality is, you know, they've created these members from
S1: the ground up. They have literally walked in inverted commas
S1: off the street. They're now members of Parliament. They've entered
S1: into a relationship with government. My point is, and my
S1: point has been since the beginning of this, they will
S1: work it out and they will work it out. Over time,
S1: it's quite clear if they're stepping back from media commentary,
S1: they don't want to work it out in with a
S1: spotlight of the Fourth Estate on them, but they will
S1: work these things out over time. They've got considerable power,
S1: but the reality is the new the new Parliament will
S1: see every bill thrashed out on the merits of its
S1: value as it goes through the House. I mean, that's
S1: what's going to happen where there's deals in place or not.
S1: This is about a question of whether we want to
S1: go back to the polls right straight away, because we
S1: haven't got a majority on the floor of the House.
S1: We don't want to go back to the polls. Nobody
S1: wants to get. Go back to the polls. We want
S1: to get on. We want to govern.
S2: I think the problem is there is, uh, some people, uh,
S2: a large section of, um, uh, the Fourth Estate in particular.
S2: Not not saying it's you, Alex, but others who are
S2: seeking to manifest a different result to what was achieved. Yeah.
S2: The reality is people did not vote to change the government.
S2: They voted to change the government. Labor would not have
S2: got ten seats. They would have got a lot more
S2: than that. Uh, people voted to give the government a
S2: kick up the pants, and they did that by voting
S2: for the lambie's. Therefore, ipso facto, it follows the Lambie's
S2: have done the right thing by rolling in behind the government. Um,
S2: who have, I think, on on all objective evidence, um,
S2: accepted and noted that they've got that kick up the
S2: pants in order to ensure the government continue and that
S2: it can be, uh, a stable environment that people voted for.
S2: I just think people are misunderstanding why people voted for
S2: the Lambie's, quite frankly.
S3: But did you watch that explanation from, uh, the constitutional
S3: expert Anne Twomey, when she sort of spelled out why
S3: she thought the deal went too far?
S2: She an expert in Tasmanian politics?
S3: No, but I think she made some strong points around,
S3: you know, the the nature of the deal they've signed.
S3: I don't think anyone has a big problem with the
S3: lambie's giving the liberals confidence and supply so we can
S3: all get on and govern. I just think the general
S3: consensus and and Dave.
S2: Dave Killick's the evidence.
S3: Where's the evidence of this general general consensus? Well, I mean,
S3: you can only you can only gauge the people who
S3: speak up. But I mean, David Kitter there. Thank you. No, no.
S3: Hang on. No no no hang on David, you you
S3: wouldn't you know, we invite David Killick onto this show
S3: because we think he's got something very intelligent to add.
S3: I think he spelt it out very well. You know,
S3: they signed up to things they were already going to get,
S3: you know, they could have just said yes, we want
S3: to be sensible. We want you to govern. You are
S3: the premier, but I think they're going to end up
S3: regretting all of the ground they've given, because it will
S3: make them less effective in Parliament. And they do want
S3: to be agitators now, not agitators.
S2: They. Have you spoken to them?
S3: Well, why would you go? Why would you try to
S3: get elected to Parliament? If people.
S2: Are just manifesting motivations that may not exist.
S3: Why would you? Why would you then have a party
S3: if you didn't want to change the status quo? Obviously,
S3: Jacqui Lambie wants to change the status quo. She has
S3: in a lot of ways, she's been a breath of
S3: fresh air. She doesn't want to be a cookie cutter liberal.
S3: She was in the Liberal Party once and she left
S3: the Liberal Party, right. She wants to be her own
S3: person and therefore I think she wants candidates to be
S3: their own people. You can agitate around issues and in
S3: Parliament and make it very healthy without blowing the place up.
S3: You know, we criticized John Tucker and Lara Alexander for
S3: the extremes they went to. I'm not talking about that.
S3: I'm talking about having the flexibility in Parliament to just
S3: be a little bit more nimble and keep the government
S3: on its toes. I think that would be a very
S3: healthy thing now.
S2: But that's my point. That's a view which is being put.
S2: But I'm not sure that's the view that the voters
S2: wanted anyway. Um, you did mention and I think in fairness,
S2: and you mentioned two beach that, um, uh, Dean Wynter
S2: at least doesn't seem to be in the denialist camp,
S2: which is, I think, a credit to him. And I
S2: also noticed, um, neither is his candidate for, uh, elwick
S2: Tessa McLaughlin. Um.
S1: And she got to say.
S2: Well, you know, they sent a letter to my house.
S2: They really need to update their, um, election database. I
S2: think they're sort of wasting their money sending me stuff
S2: all the time. But anyway, um, you never know.
S3: You've got read out on Tasmania's top declared last time,
S3: didn't he, that he's a big fan of the mayor there. Exactly.
S2: Yeah. Um, a bright new spark for Elwick. Um, very
S2: clever play on words there. An electrician? Exactly. It's very clever. Um,
S2: but bloody bloody bloody bloody blah. With the re-election of
S2: the Rockliff liberal government, uh, it is vital blah blah blah, blah, blah.
S2: So I'm glad to see that at least there's some
S2: people in the Labor Party that have moved past the
S2: election and are focusing on the future. All right.
S1: Well, you mentioned the, um, premier receiving a kick up
S1: the pants message. Brad, how do you judge his first
S1: week in the chair so far?
S2: Look, um, I think mostly pretty encouraging. Um, I'll be
S2: interested in Alex's views on this. Um, but, you know, practically,
S2: there's been some changes, much needed overhaul of ministerial staff,
S2: I think after a decade at the ministerial staffing contingent
S2: had become bloated with bureaucratic secondees. And I think that
S2: they've made efforts to seek to change that. Um, the
S2: charter letters that the premier's announced, which she has provided
S2: to all his ministers, giving clear directions on what he
S2: wants them to do and what they should tell their
S2: secretaries to do, their department secretaries. Um, and of course,
S2: that clear direction is broadly, as I understand it, the
S2: 2030 strong plan, um, the rolling out meter events, I
S2: think daily around that plan, Alex, or seeking to at
S2: least from what I can see. Um, so I think broadly, um,
S2: it's an. Encouraging start, if you can put it that way.
S2: And as I understand it, what the Premier is, is
S2: doing and telling people is that he's seeking to, uh,
S2: govern as if he'd just been re-elected. So if he'd
S2: just been elected from opposition as opposed to being re-elected.
S2: So he's looking really. Yeah. Looking to sort of set.
S3: A I haven't necessarily felt that.
S2: Clean slate. Yeah. Well let's um, what I've heard him
S2: say on occasion, um, my only real criticism to this
S2: point is I'm, I'm disappointed that the bureaucracy has not
S2: been shaken up. Uh, there's been we've still got the
S2: same ex-labour staffer running Treasury. Um, we've got a new
S2: head of Deepak who took no criticism.
S3: So, Cath, just for the listeners, Kathryn Morgan-wicks, who's obviously
S3: been the head of health for a long time, is
S3: now the head of Deepak, replacing Jenny Gale, who, of course, uh,
S3: retired just after the election day after or something. Yeah. Um,
S3: so that was a predictable, uh, appointment. But obviously health
S3: loss is Deepak's gain because I think most people think
S3: Catherine Morgan-wicks has been pretty efficient. Is that a. Yeah.
S2: No, I've got no problem with her work. I thought
S2: she did a very good job in in health. And
S2: as you say, it now leaves a gaping hole in health.
S2: But I think, um.
S3: You would have liked to really shake things up. What
S3: sort of.
S2: It needed an outsider, not a bureaucratic insider. That's my sense.
S3: And you would have liked someone new for Deepak, someone.
S2: New from outside of effectively the existing system. So the
S2: problem is the bureaucracy in Tasmania is a career. It's
S2: a club. And, um, unless you can from time to
S2: time break it up with people from outside that club,
S2: you end up getting a quite well, I think around
S2: the top thing, I think.
S3: Around the commission of inquiry, that would have been very
S3: helpful and very healthy because, um, even the review into
S3: the department heads has not gone down that well. And,
S3: you know, now there are calls for it to be, um,
S3: started again. And I know you're not the biggest Meg
S3: Webb fan in the world, but she articulated the case well,
S3: if he didn't have access to all the information or
S3: how can you do do the review properly? So no,
S3: I tend to agree it would have been a chance
S3: to bring in some new, um, faces. People, maybe people
S3: without those ties that go back 20 years. Yeah, there
S3: could be a healthy thing. Uh, especially in the context
S3: of the COI.
S1: There's no no could be about it. It would be
S1: a very healthy thing. I, Brad and I both deal
S1: with the bureaucracy quite regularly and, you know, like, oh,
S1: you know, it's caretaker mode. So we can't we can't
S1: return your phone call or respond to your email. You know,
S1: it's it's this constant pushback, uh, ministers giving bureaucrats instructions, instruction,
S1: instructions that bureaucrats simply don't follow because they don't want to.
S1: They'll come up with 1,000,001 excuses. Oh, we've been busy.
S1: I remember during Covid, the whole world stopped. As far
S1: as the Tasmanian bureaucracy was concerned, it's Covid. Beecher and
S1: I go, yeah, I get that. It's Covid. Are you
S1: handing out face masks? Are you do you know what
S1: I mean? Are you running? Running some kind of session
S1: to help the community? No. You're sitting in your office
S1: doing nothing because it's Covid. And frankly, you know, the
S1: bureaucracy needs a significant shake up.
S3: Sitting at home. Beach? Yeah. Yes. Beach. If a fresh
S3: set of eyes, someone who had a lot of experience in,
S3: you know, maybe government around the world came and had
S3: a look at how things run in Tasmania. What do
S3: you think their observations would be?
S1: Oh, well, I think their observations would be we have
S1: a small public sector. We have a pretty close shop,
S1: I've got to say, um, and that we need to
S1: lift the calibre of the individuals within the public service,
S1: and we need to look at ways in which we
S1: can bring in new blood. I know the public sector
S1: has grown quite significantly in recent years, but I'm not
S1: seeing a lot of change at the top. I'm not seeing, um, uh, movement.
S1: What we're seeing is a natural progression of senior figures
S1: through the public service, where they arrive at a particular point.
S1: And I'm seeing a government that seems to rubber stamp it.
S1: And then if you say to government, you know, why
S1: are you going down this process? Why have you done this? Oh, well,
S1: nobody else applied beach. There's no one else in the room.
S1: This was the only applicant we had, and I just. Well,
S1: we're having.
S2: A worldwide universe wide world search to replace Kath Morgan-wicks
S2: in health. And in the meantime, we've appointed, um, um,
S2: the deputy secretary. Remind me his name. Beach. Um.
S1: Uh, Dale Webster.
S2: Dale Webster is the acting secretary. Yeah, 100 to 1.
S2: He'll end up with the job permanently.
S1: As night follows. Day.
S3: I mean, 100 to.
S2: 1 or 1 to 100.
S3: 001 to 100. But. Yeah. No bookie. Bookie brought those jobs.
S3: I thought finally, here's a bet I can get on
S3: and might win.
S1: But but I mean, I mean, the point being, you've
S1: got to bring new people in to the senior ranks
S1: of the service in order to ensure that there's fresh
S1: thought and there's fresh views and that people can just
S1: come and look at things differently. So what happens in
S1: my world is I go to government, I go to
S1: them with a good idea. You look at the minister, the.
S1: Minister says that's a great idea. Beach. Let's see if
S1: we can do it. And frankly, if the bureaucracy does
S1: not like it right, it simply does not happen. And
S1: that has got to change. Anyhow, all right, let's have
S1: a look.
S2: Is that a Townshend rant? It was.
S3: A Townshend. I set him up because I thought he
S3: would have had a view. And he did, and I. Yeah,
S3: I think you make a good point.
S1: Well, it's just borne out of some frustration. But anyhow,
S1: let's have a look at the other side of the chamber.
S1: We mentioned last week that Dean really, uh, shook up
S1: Hobart or Killer, at least when he spent his first
S1: day on the job in Stratton. He since, uh, announced
S1: his shadow cabinet. AJ, how'd his first week go?
S3: Well, I like the shadow cabinet shake up because they
S3: did it completely clean slate. You know, no one really
S3: got to hang on to their portfolios. Maybe a couple
S3: of little ones I can't remember. But a big, big
S3: change all around, which gives them a chance to reset
S3: and obviously go and meet new stakeholders and develop new relationships. And, um,
S3: it's going to be very interesting to see how the
S3: public receives Dean Winter. I mean, I've known him a
S3: long time. Um, and he was very popular as Kingborough Mayor.
S3: I think he's probably viewed a little bit in a
S3: different light since being in opposition politics. I mentioned last
S3: time that, you know, I had a lot of feedback
S3: saying that he's got to shed the Windsor tag. It'll
S3: be interesting to see whether he can make that transition
S3: from sort of being the attack dog to the leader. Um,
S3: I think the job they did yesterday with the forest
S3: industry saying to the liberals, you know, if you're willing
S3: to put aside the forest wars, we could join you.
S3: I think that's pretty smart. You know, you don't want
S3: to be in lockstep with the liberals on anything. But
S3: I think an issue like forestry, I think most Tasmanians
S3: would probably prefer it not to be in the news
S3: all the time. And, and I think mainstream Tasmania and
S3: I know this Brad might disagree with me here, but
S3: I think they'd probably prefer Labor's approach that doesn't ignite
S3: the forest wars.
S2: Well, since you've raised it, I'm I must admit to
S2: being a little bit confused by Labor's approach slash Nick
S2: Steel's approach. Can you tell me how it's actually different
S2: to the liberals approach?
S3: Well, I, I don't think that they were going to
S3: open up the extra well territory. Well no, that's going
S3: to support the industry. You know, I.
S2: Very clearly heard Mr. Steel saying he was prepared to
S2: look at additional production out of that forest.
S3: So then why was he so critical when the liberal
S3: policy came up? Because he did give them.
S2: That's a question which I think the Fourth Estate could
S2: do well to put to Mr. Steel, because I must
S2: admit to being a little bit confused by by the, uh,
S2: Forest Industries Association's position on this. And bear in mind,
S2: the Forest Industry Association does represent the big players in
S2: the industry, just as it always has done. And we
S2: had this problem back in the original forest deal when
S2: they represented the big players and not the small ones.
S2: And I'm just a little, uh, confused. I think a
S2: lot of people are as to what they actually want. Now,
S2: I think I agree with you. It's smart politics of
S2: labor to to basically roll in behind them and roll
S2: in behind the government and say, look, we'll we'll work
S2: with you on it. But I think the inevitable outcome
S2: is going to be that some of that FTTP land
S2: is is going to be a future potential production forest
S2: land is going to be opened up. That's as I
S2: read it.
S3: Well, I'll interrogate that more. I'll go back and have
S3: a listen to exactly what Nick steel yesterday yesterday said.
S3: But I thought it was more labor sort of saying,
S3: you've got to meet us and where the industry is
S3: rather than us coming to you. But I think the
S3: question is.
S2: Where is the industry exactly? Yeah.
S3: Anyway, I thought, you know, labor have only got a
S3: small team in the lower house, and it's a very
S3: tough base. I you know, the conversation last time about
S3: whether it's enough of a base to vie for majority
S3: next time is a really interesting thing. Um, they helped
S3: a little bit, but they've got a couple of extras
S3: in the upper house, um, which gives them a bit
S3: more of a broader. I mean, everyone got a shadow portfolio,
S3: and I saw someone sort of make a joke out
S3: of that. But you've got to give people something to
S3: do otherwise, you know, it can be.
S1: Not everybody.
S3: Not everyone who missed out.
S1: Craig Farrell, he's too busy as president of the Legislative.
S3: Council. That's a very important job. It's a very important job.
S2: 350, 65 days a year. Job that one.
S3: Yes. Um, but anyway, I thought their lineup looks like. Sorry,
S3: he doesn't even have trains.
S1: No, no, he hasn't even got choo choo trains. It's. Yeah. Anyhow.
S3: Their lineup looks like it'll be able to, um, match
S3: up pretty well against the government. But the big problem
S3: is I think they've always done that. Okay. The big
S3: problem is, are they going to get out and win
S3: back confidence. And just getting back to Dean's leadership, it
S3: will be very interesting to see how he's perceived in
S3: six months time. I'd be very interested to see some, uh,
S3: polling around that, especially compared to Jeremy Rockliff and how
S3: and I'd like to see some sort of detailed polling,
S3: because we're not in a good position to do it.
S3: We know these people. We've met them. We know what
S3: they're like on camera. We know what they like off camera.
S3: I would love to see some polling around what people
S3: think about Dean winner compared to Jeremy Rockliff or other leaders. Um,
S3: from a focus group point of view, from people who
S3: are not engaged in politics, I think it would be
S3: fascinating to know, and I think the Dean should be
S3: interested in that as well, because he has to be
S3: a bit of a sponge to criticism. And as I
S3: said in the last episode, he doesn't have a glass jaw.
S3: He doesn't mind, he doesn't want to be everyone's friend.
S3: But I think he does need to listen very carefully
S3: to those perceptions, because once they build up in the community,
S3: and I think this is a problem for Rebecca White,
S3: once people have an idea of of who you are,
S3: that's very, very hard to change. Very hard to.
S1: Change. Yeah. Well, well, I think I think he's on
S1: the right path and I think give it six months
S1: and we'll see where he's at. Looking at the reshuffle,
S1: from my point of view, I.
S2: I were a bit disappointed.
S1: I was, I was and.
S2: In the sense that you barracking for labor, to be clear.
S1: Well, yeah. Well, I just think, um, and I caught
S1: up with Dean earlier this week and I didn't give
S1: him any feedback on the, on the, uh, shadow cabinet.
S2: Preferred to do it from a distance.
S1: Well, I'm going to do it on air, which is,
S1: you know, a bit, a bit too faced of me.
S1: But anyhow, listen, um, uh, you know, look, putting Ella
S1: Haddad into health, I mean, Ella's one of the best
S1: brains they've got in the in the labor front bench,
S1: and she's going to be buried in health and she's
S1: putting a brave face on it. She's going to give
S1: it a go. I just I don't know whether that's
S1: where you put some of your best talent. Josh. Uh,
S1: into Treasury. Well, that's going to be hard work for Josh.
S1: He's going to have to work very hard to win
S1: the respect of the business community.
S2: I've got to have to be a bit more visible
S2: than he was as shadow education minister.
S1: And he's actually going to have to be out and about,
S1: and he's going to have to be seen. So I
S1: look forward to catching up with you soon. Josh. Shane, um,
S1: you know, Shane Broad got a significant demotion, as far
S1: as I can see. I sort of get why I, um,
S1: I do think with a bit more time.
S2: Well, you did cock up the cost.
S1: Yeah, I know, look, I appreciate that that occurred. I
S1: just think with a bit more time, he he he
S1: he he has a lot to offer, I suppose is
S1: my view. Um, and I can only encourage him to
S1: keep going. Um, it'll be interesting to see how Luke
S1: Edmonds goes. He's picked up a couple of portfolios sort
S1: of around sort of sort of junior portfolios and shadow finance.
S1: So he's got quite an opportunity there. Janey's got energy.
S1: I've got a lot of time for Janey Finley. I
S1: think she's a great operator. I definitely got to know
S1: really well during the state the recent state election. And
S1: she is the Energizer bunny 100%. She's fantastic. But I've
S1: got to say, Dean has always had a passion for energy.
S1: I think it is the most important portfolio in Tasmania
S1: at this point. That's my view in terms of our long,
S1: our medium to long term economic prosperity is tied to energy.
S1: It always has been. It's such a it's you know,
S1: it's just Tasmania's sort of I don't know, it's just
S1: where we sit. And so I just to lose energy
S1: from Dean to Janie. Janie is already working at it.
S1: She's already sent me a note saying, I want to
S1: catch up. I want to chat to a few of
S1: the people you work with beach, which is great, and
S1: I will work very closely with Janie, but I'm also
S1: I just think Dean's got to take a bit of
S1: a role in that as well.
S3: So I think as leader, he naturally will he and
S3: he probably because he, he and Janie get on very well.
S3: I think he maybe sees that as working together as
S3: a bit of a team, I think. So sharing the
S3: love a bit because he wants to make energy obviously
S3: a big priority for what he does. So more hands on,
S3: you know, having an ally or colleague that knows it
S3: as well will be handy. So I sort of get
S3: what you're saying, but I don't think he'll, um, wash
S3: his hands of any.
S1: No, no. And I and that's the one thing I
S1: did chat to him about was to say, look, you know,
S1: on energy, I still want to I still want to
S1: be able to interact with you. And I think you're dead. Right.
S1: I think it'll be a much more inclusive approach around
S1: that portfolio. But I suppose I suppose from my point
S1: of view, it'll be interesting to see how everybody goes.
S1: You know, they've all got a great opportunity across the
S1: across the shadow cabinet to really get out there and shine.
S1: And there was some criticism during the election campaign or
S1: at the tail of the election campaign about labor being
S1: quite risk averse and unwilling to adopt new policies and
S1: do those kind of things. I talked about it a
S1: lot on air about them just having a crack and
S1: and they're going to get things wrong. Right? That's quite clear.
S1: But they're going to get things right. And they should
S1: just have a red hot tilt, and they should have
S1: a red hot tilt from today or from this week.
S1: Dean should and he is. And they should treat every
S1: day from today as a day of the campaign to
S1: get re-elected.
S3: I think putting Ella in health is actually tactically quite smart,
S3: because I think she's probably got the best relationship with
S3: some of those left wing unions, so she might be
S3: able to repair some damage there with, you know, because
S3: hacksaw and, and EMF, obviously the front line of when
S3: we're talking in the media about health and I think
S3: that they've got time for Ella, especially Hacksoo. So I
S3: think that's probably smart. They're in a nice foil to
S3: to the government. Um, I.
S2: Mean.
S1: Health is Labor's strong suit.
S2: It should be. Absolutely. It wasn't in the campaign.
S3: No. And and it wasn't back in 2018 either. Yeah.
S3: You know, like Brad and I argue about pokies, we
S3: won't bring that up again. But when that issue by
S3: issue poll came out, we had, I thought, a very
S3: effective term with the Rebecca White as shadow health minister.
S3: And when people were polled, who do you trust more
S3: to run health? The liberals were ahead. Um, despite a
S3: term of bad headlines. Yeah. It's a big problem for
S3: labor how they turn that around and I don't know
S3: how they do it. Well.
S2: Well, I'm not sure they turn it around with their labor.
S2: I'll come to that. But, um, the problem they had
S2: in the last the recent election campaign with their health
S2: policies and I think it was the same problem in 2018,
S2: different in 2021, because they had Bastian, who was a
S2: star in that space. Was that the health policies, if
S2: you look at them closely, were all about the workers.
S2: They're all about the unions. They were all about looking
S2: after better pay, more permanency, etc., etc. for the staff
S2: in the health system. And there was very little about
S2: the actual patients. Yes. So libs come out and say
S2: we're just going to ban ramping because that's going to
S2: help the patients and that gets way more cut through
S2: and interest. Then it's like we're going to make 500
S2: health workers permanent. It's like great for the workers, great
S2: for the unions, but for the punters, how's that helping me?
S2: And that was their issue, I think.
S1: And AJ, you know, from working in commercial TV, I
S1: know as a former commercial TV, um, hack of some
S1: description that health rates hack.
S3: Yeah. Well I, I'm not sure what there's a voracious
S3: appetite out there for, but it's certainly an interesting issue
S3: because everyone has a relationship with the health system. Um,
S3: I mean, I take Brad's point. Yeah. Okay. But the
S3: feedback everyone gives when they talk about health on commercial
S3: radio or ABC radio is I had a wonderful experience
S3: with the nurses. I wish they were looked after better.
S3: So there is a people do want the workforce to
S3: be stronger and paid well, but also the things that
S3: are like affect their grandpa or grandma I think they
S3: want as well.
S2: I just think their yeah, their policies have been misdirected. Um, anyway, um,
S2: on Dean, um, very impressive start. Uh, in my view, um,
S2: he's demonstrated absolutely why the Premier was correct to call
S2: an election while Rebecca was still in the chair. Absolutely. 100%
S2: vindicated in that call, because if labor had have woken
S2: up and have had have made that change prior to
S2: the election and they.
S1: Were they were.
S2: Advised then we would do you.
S3: Know that there's no evidence of that. I'm not necessarily
S3: arguing with you.
S2: But in my view, well, I think well, one, the
S2: evidence of the election campaign shows that our labor was
S2: unelectable under Miss Wyatt. That's a fact. Evidence shows that.
S2: And second evidence in my mind of the way that
S2: Dean has started this job shows that he absolutely gets
S2: it and absolutely would have been and will be a
S2: very formidable opponent. He's been relentlessly on messaging only one week. Yeah,
S2: but relentlessly on message.
S3: What does he do on an issue like the stadium though?
S3: So yesterday the debate was around the goods shed. How
S3: do you move the goods shed. And Dean listed all
S3: the problems with Macquarie Point. Now he made some very
S3: strong points but on the news very negative. Look like
S3: he didn't think it was going to go ahead. How
S3: does he navigate that. So when he's on the news
S3: he doesn't look like he's just complaining about things. He
S3: looks like he's a premier in waiting.
S2: Well I didn't see that one. But I mean, I
S2: think we've already discussed he needs to come in and
S2: back the stadium, uh, very quickly. And I think he's
S2: going to I mean, I listened to his interview the
S2: other day on, on the ABC. I'm prepared to mention them,
S2: even if they don't mention us. Beach. That's, um. That's twice.
S2: That's right. Um. Mention who? Sorry, ABC. ABC mentioned you
S2: guys once.
S3: They played Brad in the.
S2: Afternoon. Oh.
S3: Did they. Oh they did. They were very straightforward about
S3: where their audio is coming from anyway.
S2: Anyway, that's. Hello, David Riley. Um, as I was saying, um,
S2: distracted by the ABC, um, Dean was on the ABC, um,
S2: and he was very strong, uh, talking about jobs and
S2: not playing politics. He got offered a free kick on
S2: the Lambie stuff and didn't go there, which I'm sure
S2: that his predecessor would have been down that sort of
S2: road three days earlier, running that same sort of left
S2: wing attack. Um, and it was very clearly in my mind,
S2: positioning himself to, to back the stadium, um, because of jobs, jobs, jobs,
S2: because it's all part of his bigger narrative. And so
S2: I was very, very impressed. I've been very impressed with him. Um,
S2: a little perplexed by the shadow cabinet. Um, not quite
S2: sure why. Well, I'm not sure why you would, um, uh,
S2: reward your Biggest Loser, uh, with the prize portfolio of
S2: shadow attorney general. And in the process, punish the biggest.
S3: Loser, Rebecca Walker. More votes than anyone else in the.
S2: Labor Party makes the Biggest Loser in my mind. Why?
S2: We reward her with a with a plum shadow.
S3: Now she's not leader. You've got to get over this.
S3: I don't know what.
S2: Plum Shadow portfolio and.
S3: Someone who looked like Rebecca White not dance with you
S3: at the formal or something like, I think you've got
S3: to get over this Rebecca White hate. Now, she's.
S2: Not the leader. I don't have any hate. I'm just
S2: making a point that they would reward her with the
S2: Plum shadow portfolio and take it away from Ella Haddad.
S3: The shadow attorney general.
S2: Plum, uh, because it is an important high profile portfolio.
S2: Take that away from her. Um, give that to, um,
S2: Rebecca and reward Ella for being the second top vote
S2: getter in the Labor Party. At least. At least the
S2: top vote getter in in Clark, uh, with with a
S2: very difficult portfolio, then make a sort of stand in
S2: a hostage video on on down there on, um, the
S2: waterfront sort of agreeing to it. I just find that
S2: a bizarre I don't understand the Labor Party, but that
S2: would not have happened in the Liberal Party.
S3: Well, I don't agree. I mean, Shadow Health is the
S3: biggest one because she's going to get on the news.
S3: The most. Shadow attorney general very rarely gets on the news.
S2: Looking forward to, you know.
S3: Shadow health ministers on the news 2 or 3 times
S3: a week.
S2: And she'll be she'll be pigeonholed as whingeing Ella within
S2: about three months. This is the trouble.
S3: Yeah. What the history of shadow health ministers haven't gone
S3: very well.
S2: Generally not.
S3: Well, I don't agree with that.
S2: One other thing.
S3: Jeremy Rockliff was a shadow health minister. He was. Now
S3: he's the premier.
S2: Yeah, he's he's just.
S3: Won an election.
S2: He's done very well. He has. You're right. Um, speaking
S2: of shadow ministers, there's one we haven't mentioned.
S3: Brett Whiteley as.
S2: Well. But don't go there.
S3: More middle of the road. But anyway.
S2: He became a federal MP.
S3: Yeah, exactly.
S2: Michelle O'Byrne. Very light load. Very very light load. Yeah.
S2: Well I think we know the reason why.
S1: I think, uh, killer basically confirmed it last episode. And Brad, uh,
S1: you and I have firmly have independently firmed it up
S1: since then. Michelle O'Byrne is definitely lining up for the speakership.
S1: That would really shake things up in Parliament. Perhaps give
S1: the left a consolidation prize, at least.
S2: Consolation.
S1: Consolation? Yeah, the booby prize.
S3: I want to hear about the speaker, but I've got
S3: to take umbrage with Brad. Light load, economic development, children
S3: and youth, community services, women, heritage and arts. Children and
S3: youth is probably one of the hottest issues in the
S3: state at the moment. Off the back of the CI,
S3: she was the light load.
S2: She was their top vote getter in bass beat Janey Findlay.
S2: If she had have run for leader that she would
S2: have won for leader. Correct. And and she's now got
S2: a few portfolios that can easily be reallocated when she gets, uh,
S2: placed into the chair. Which, which the point is, is
S2: absolutely the plan. And I do not see at this
S2: point how that actually does not happen if you take
S2: ten labors, the maths, do the maths, ten labors, five greens,
S2: I can do with them on this one. That's 15
S2: add in, um, uh, Miss Johnston and, uh, let's let's
S2: assume Mr. Garland also supports her. That's 17. Even if
S2: the three lambie's hold with the libs and hold with shelter,
S2: which which is not written into the agreement. But let's
S2: assume they do that. Um, that just needs some random
S2: bloke in Franklin who might be related to Michelle to
S2: vote for her. And she gets the job.
S1: Yeah, yeah.
S2: So I cannot see how it doesn't happen, quite frankly. And, um,
S2: if if that is what she wants and I gather
S2: she does. Um, and so, um, my advice to the,
S2: to the Liberal Party, to what extent or the government,
S2: to what extent they listen to me these days. Beaches. Um,
S2: who knows? Um, you know, um, sorry, Schultz, you've been
S2: an excellent speaker. You've done a great job, but we
S2: don't want to put you up for a vote that
S2: we're going to lose on the very first day of
S2: Parliament resuming.
S3: Very interesting. Well, I can't I was only pushing back
S3: on the fact you said she had a light load,
S3: because I thought, that's quite a good list of portfolios,
S3: but I can't agree. I disagree with any of that.
S3: That seems like logic to me. Of course, David Oberm
S3: would vote for, um, his sister. Um, maybe. Yeah, I
S3: can't see. I can't see that not happening. Then you've
S3: made a good case. Well, I.
S1: Sort of I've reflected on most minority governments, and the
S1: first thing you do to flex a bit of power
S1: on a minority government is, is boot the speaker and
S1: get the speaker in. You want to fire a shot
S1: across the bow of government and say, you've got to
S1: keep on your toes. And I don't see why this
S1: government will be any different. And I think you're right, Brad.
S1: If the government actually sucked it up and accepted that
S1: that was going to happen, then probably would avoid an
S1: embarrassing vote. But the symbolism, the symbolism of having Michelle
S1: in that role will not be lost for anybody.
S2: Oh and practical. Well, as well, I mean, it will
S2: make for a very different Parliament when you have the
S2: most important position in the Parliament controlled by the opposition.
S1: Yeah. And the next question goes to the member for Franklin,
S1: David O'Byrne.
S2: And then next.
S1: One as well goes to the member for Franklin. David.
S3: Oh, sorry. I only had six prepared. Um, um, how
S3: are you today? My question is to the speaker. Are
S3: you what? Well, what should we get? Uh.
S1: Anyhow? Look, good. Good, good on him. Uh, I think
S1: I think it'll be great. And it sort of gets
S1: to my point about Parliament, about the government we're facing
S1: and about it will be what it will be.
S2: And we shouldn't suggest that if Monsieur does get the job,
S2: that she won't be in any way. Absolutely not fair
S2: or non-partisan in that role. I mean, I think Craig
S2: has demonstrated as the Labor speaker, labor present in the
S2: upper house, Craig Farrell, first one ever. I think that
S2: you can do those jobs independently. And yeah, no.
S3: I was only being being silly about the, uh, sibling
S3: love there. Uh, obviously they are very close, but, um,
S3: it was very funny. No, I think that she would
S3: be an excellent speaker, you know, obviously been around for
S3: a long time, knows the rules very well. You know,
S3: Mark shorten was pretty fair, but I think I yeah,
S3: I think the liberals would sort of got away with, uh,
S3: a bit under, uh, Schultz, I think and I think
S3: Michelle would make it pretty clear early that she was independent.
S3: She would fire a few shots at labor as well. And,
S3: you know, obviously might enjoy that, might enjoy that. Yeah. Um,
S3: putting a few people back in their seat, I think
S3: she'd be keen to show very early on that she'd
S3: be a very impartial speaker. But, um, it would be fun,
S3: I think. Yeah, I mean, I'm. I'm excited at the
S3: prospect of it.
S1: Well, speaking of bizarre internal sort of machinations, let's have
S1: a chat about what's going on inside the Liberal Party
S1: at the moment. The apparent expulsion of Clarence Mayor and
S1: the Franklin electorate chair Brendan Blomeley. AJ, what's what's the
S1: background to this and where's this one going to end?
S3: Is this a chance for me to brush off my
S3: Eric Abetz again? No. Um, please. So if you haven't
S3: been following it and Brad might correct me if I'm wrong,
S3: but Brendan Blomeley during uh, the campaign didn't rule out
S3: straight away that he would have maybe ran as an
S3: independent and looked in his defense. It didn't simmer in
S3: the public debate for long. I think it was only overnight.
S3: And then the next day.
S2: About three days, I.
S3: Think about three. Okay, well, we'll see which side Brad's on.
S3: But anyway, no, um, and then he said, no, I'm
S3: not going to run as an independent and ruled it out.
S3: And obviously the party, um, didn't like that very much.
S3: And Michael McKenna, the president, he, um, expelled him and
S3: backdated it to the day that he said it. Is
S3: that right? Correct. So, um, as far as the party
S3: was concerned, that was see you later, Brendan Blomeley. But
S3: of course, Brendan Blomeley has a lot of allies in
S3: the Liberal Party, including Eric Abetz.
S2: One anyway. Yeah, one powerful one.
S3: One powerful one. Yeah. And then they assembled at the, uh,
S3: Bellerive Yacht Club the other night and I think unanimously
S3: decided that.
S2: Did they or was it if a, if a tree
S2: falls in the forest and no one hears it, if
S2: a meeting happens and it allegedly isn't a real meeting,
S2: what does it happen? Well, I don't know.
S3: You don't think the meeting went ahead?
S2: Well, it happened, but did it happen like was it
S2: was it an actual meeting of the Liberal Party, or
S2: was it just a group of random people gathering together?
S2: That's where we.
S3: This is where we defer to your knowledge. But, you know,
S3: according to those on Mr. Bromley's side, they send a
S3: resounding message that they don't have confidence in, in the president. So, uh,
S3: I spoke to Brendan Blomeley the other day about a
S3: non-political thing because, of course, he was caught up, well,
S3: very close to that awful, um, events in Sydney last weekend. But, um,
S3: he seemed to tell me that he. Well, we'll see
S3: what happens next. I guess he didn't. He kept his
S3: cards pretty close to his chest. What do you think
S3: will happen, Brad? Will they bring him back in? If
S3: he was to reapply as a member, would he be
S3: allowed to sign up again?
S2: I reckon he would, but I don't see him doing it,
S2: because that would be to admit that he had been
S2: ejected in the first place. So I think that's an
S2: unlikely course of action. Look, I think this was a
S2: case of Brendan's ego getting ahead of his brain and
S2: then of a similar thing happening with with the president. Mr. McKenna,
S2: quite frankly, um, my mind is no doubt Brendan made
S2: a mistake when he let that public commentary run during
S2: the campaign. No matter which way you look at it,
S2: for a member of the Liberal Party executive would have
S2: been the same with the Labor Party to publicly contemplate
S2: running against your own party in an election. Uh, is,
S2: to be frank, grossly disloyal. Uh, there's no other way
S2: of looking at it. But having said that, and of course,
S2: you never had a chance of winning the seat was
S2: never going to happen. Not when not when you look
S2: at the field in Franklin in particular. But having said that,
S2: I do think that the reaction was.
S3: Uh, heavy handed.
S2: Not well thought through. Yes. And it would be much better.
S2: I think both of them would be well advised to
S2: to sit down and work out their differences in an
S2: amicable way, which allowed Brendan back into the party and
S2: perhaps on the way through he might, you know, if not,
S2: say sorry, at least admit that possibly he was a
S2: little rash in what he did.
S3: Labor's tried to bring the Premier into it by saying, uh,
S3: McKenna's rock cliffs, man. Is there truth in that? Are
S3: they close?
S2: No, I don't think that's true. Um, I think the
S2: bigger issue is, uh, that the new minister in the
S2: Rockliff government, uh, Mr. Abetz, is very active in this space,
S2: like he did go to the the meeting which.
S3: You're now saying it did happen.
S2: What I was trying to say, clearly not very, uh,
S2: clear way was the meeting was called by Brendan as
S2: nominally the chair of Franklin electorate. But according to Mr. McKenna,
S2: is no longer a member. The party. So he couldn't
S2: call the meeting. So my question was, it wasn't was
S2: it actually an official meeting, the Liberal Party, just a good.
S3: Old catch up between. Well.
S2: That's the question. But the point is, uh, Mr. Abetz went, um,
S2: he's backing Brendan. That's fine as far as that goes. Um,
S2: but I do think there's a bigger problem with Eric, um,
S2: whereby he, uh, is now a a member of the parliament,
S2: a minister in the government, and is still, as I
S2: understand it, a member of the Liberal Party, executive, deputy
S2: chair of Franklin. Now, um, I don't see how that
S2: is a sustainable position for him to maintain. There's a
S2: very clear difference between the, um, parliamentary. Wing of the
S2: party and the administrative wing. Never shall the twain shall
S2: meet except for, um, the Premier or the Premier's nominee. Um,
S2: you know, when, uh, Simon Baracus was elected to Parliament
S2: last year on an account back or a recount, he
S2: resigned from the executive. Um, you know, I'll gather Eric's saying. Well, look,
S2: there's no explicit rule that I shouldn't be on the
S2: on the state executive. Doesn't say I should resign. But
S2: you know Eric. Well, he set.
S3: Himself the other day that the two shouldn't meet. When
S3: he was interviewed outside government House, they asked him about
S3: the Blomeley affair. And he said that he's always had
S3: an opinion that the the parliamentary wing and the party
S3: wing shouldn't overlap. So I think he knows that that's unsustainable.
S3: But we'll see whether he would assume.
S2: His resignation from the from the he's.
S3: Had a bit on maybe just he's taking.
S2: His time to write the letter. I mean I mean
S2: as I understand it, he's saying, well, there's no explicit
S2: thing that I should resign. Um, it shouldn't be on it.
S2: But I mean, you know, uh, the cabinet isn't explicitly
S2: defined in the Constitution Act either, but he's a member
S2: of that. I mean, I just think it would be
S2: wise for him to to choose his path. And I
S2: think he will be a very good minister and a
S2: very good member of Parliament and, um, uh, focus on
S2: that rather than trying to have a foot in both camps.
S1: Well, Brad, I don't think you'll be getting a Christmas
S1: card from Eric this year.
S2: They stopped a long time ago.
S1: All right. All right, well, that's time. And Ottawa beckons. And, uh.
S3: Oh, that's where you're going.
S1: Yeah. That's correct.
S3: Ottawa.
S1: Ottawa. Ottawa.
S3: Pen pal from Ottawa once.
S1: There you go. Um, you've you've been listening to the forecast.
S1: The only place to get clear, honest, informed and most importantly,
S1: fearless analysis about Tasmanian politics. RJ, thanks for coming in.
S3: Beecher. May I just say that I hope you have
S3: a terrific time in Ottawa and when you come back,
S3: I look forward to discussing transport issues with you.
S1: Fantastic. Well, I'm happy to give you a blow by
S1: blow account of the impact of expanded polystyrene on the
S1: rest of the world. And, uh, Brad, as ever.
S2: Thank you. Beach. Thanks, RJ. Thanks, Sam.
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