Michael Ferguson,Leader of the House
After a sluggish week from Labor at GBE Scrutiny hearings, the spotlight is back on current Labor leader Rebecca White and her divided team.
Ms White was effectively absent for much of the Scrutiny hearings, leaving much of the questioning to others, was overshadowed by the Greens, and appeared disengaged and more like a casual observer of proceedings than an Opposition Leader.
Shadow Treasurer Shane Broad did not attend or ask a single question, while in the TT-Line company hearing, the Labor representatives actually ran out of questions, leaving that committee to finish more than half an hour early.
Even former Labor leader David O’Byrne, exiled to the crossbench, actually showed up and asked questions!
This follows an embarrassing Budget and Estimates session from Ms White and Labor, and their failure again to deliver a properly costed alternative Budget, which highlighted Labor’s lack of financial or economic management leadership.
Rebecca White appears to have simply given up trying to control her bitterly-divided party, only a few months after becoming leader again.
Ms White said she would “unite the Party” this time and “end the infighting” but she has failed to do so – in fact, it’s worse than ever.
Ms White’s underwhelming GBE Scrutiny performance proves that it’s just the same old Labor: still no plan for Tasmania, no alternative Budget, still completely out of touch with Tasmanians, no real alternative at all.
