Is Richard Butler a great Tasmanian? ... from the resignation press conference by Premier Paul Lennon, you would think so.
Mr Lennon liberally sprinkled complimentary epithets in the wake of the departing Governor.
He had, said Premier Lennon, lived fully up to the high expectations of former Premier Jim Bacon who appointed him in the hope of gaining Tasmania a higher international profile ...
Mr Butler had gone in the interests of Tasmania, said the Premier.
He was courageous; he was selfless. He had acted in the interests of Tasmania. He had made the ultimate sacrifice. He was a victim.
The Premier's responsibility, said Mr Lennon, was to protect the Good Name of Tasmania. This phrase was repeated ad-nauseum, especially each time Mr Lennon was asked precisely how the Governor had been at fault.
"You people don't seem to get it ... we acted last night to protect the Good Name of Tasmania."
Mr Lennon said Tasmania was experiencing unparalleled optimism and confidence. The controversy fuelled the danger of a risk to economic development. There was a possibility that business confidence could be affected. The Premier wanted to ensure the controversy subsided.
And, said Premier Lennon, to ensure natural justice - although there was no constitutional requirement - in view of fact that "he acted so selfelssly" he would get $650,000.
That adds up to around $1 million for 10 months' work ...
Now for the debate about the new Gov ... should she/he be part-time living in lower Howrah? Should she/he be elected directly by the Parliament? Should Australia's best piece of real estate be turned over to the people ...
tasmaniantimes.com will be posting a book ...
AND,
No matter what personal view anyone holds of Butler, the media is bound through
the journalism code of ethics to explore both sides of an issue and not to trumpet
opinion as fact.
There has been virtually no debate on the contemporary role of the governorship
except to compare Butler’s approach to that of his more dutiful predecessor.
Instead, there has been a series of personal attacks, reminiscent of the sort
of vilification served up to the writer Richard Flanagan when he engaged in a
recent critical dialogue against the status quo.
The nature of this one-sided reporting in both the Flanagan and Butler sagas,
contributes to a belief that we have no freedom of speech in Tasmania. Indeed,
any newcomer could be forgiven for coming to the conclusion that those who
speak out in this state are ostracised and held to ridicule ...
Lindsay Simpson, LETTERS
Earlier,
The Butler quits ...
RAPID RESPONSE EMAIL: What do you think?
If you bounce,
tuffinlindsay@hotmail.com
Tuesday, August 10, 2004