Peter Gutwein should take
responsibility for the resignation of Sarah Courtney which has created an even
bigger mess than her absence over the past three weeks.
Labor Leader Rebecca White
said the Premier’s decision to allow Ms Courtney to travel to France on
holidays in the lead up to school returning in the midst of COVID was woefully
misguided and irresponsible – and so was his refusal to recall her to do her
job.
“Mr Gutwein refused to recall
Sarah Courtney when serious questions were being asked about the preparedness
of schools to deal with COVID in the lead up to the most disruptive start to a
new school year in living memory,” Ms White said.
“And now we are left with a
situation where Tasmanian students and teachers do not have an Education
Minister.
“Sarah Courtney’s resignation
has created an even bigger mess where the government is failing to support our
students and our teachers at such a crucial time.
“We had consistently called on
Sarah Courtney to return from Europe to do her job.
“We had consistently called on
the Premier to recall Ms Courtney to return to do her job.
“Instead she has left a bigger
mess with no Minister responsible for her portfolios which also includes
responsibility for children in the middle of a Commission of Inquiry, Minister
for Disability when many are incredibly concerned about COVID and as Minister
for Tourism and Hospitality as businesses and workers suffer the impact of the
government opening the border to COVID.
“Nobody begrudges someone taking a holiday but there can be no doubt Ms Courtney’s decision today has everything to do with the criticisms she rightfully faced about her unacceptable absence as school returned and also for the Premier’s refusal to call her back.”
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
