Labor’s support for the Member for Nelson’s motion to establish an inquiry into the 2021 State election is hypocritical and has further exposed its inconsistency and division.
Last week in Parliament Labor Leader David O’Byrne said in relation to the 1 May State election result:
Ultimately the most important voice is that of the Tasmanian people, and they have spoken at the recent election (1).
This week, Leader of Opposition Business in the Legislative Council Ms Lovell and Labor MLCs voted for the motion which undermines the decision of the Tasmanian people and contradicts Mr O’Byrne’s fine words in last week’s speech.
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission and the Electoral Commissioner already have statutory responsibilities for the independent and impartial conduct of elections and referendums under the Electoral Act 2004.
We should respect the legitimate view of every Tasmanian voter, and not treat voters like mugs, by calling ‘foul play’ when the results don’t go the way some wanted.
As there is already an impartial framework in place for conducting, administering and reviewing elections within Tasmania, the establishment of a Parliamentary Committee to inquire and report on the same thing would be duplication, and a waste of public resources.
It is hypocritical for Labor to say on one hand that they accept the people’s verdict, and then vote for a motion which does exactly the opposite.
1. Mr David O’Byrne, House of Assembly Hansard, Wednesday 23 June 2021
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