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 OZschwitz: Shredded note brings down Tasmania's Deputy Premier, the lying bastard

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RR Phantom

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OZschwitz: Shredded note brings down Tasmania's Deputy Premier, the lying bastard Vide
PostSubject: OZschwitz: Shredded note brings down Tasmania's Deputy Premier, the lying bastard   OZschwitz: Shredded note brings down Tasmania's Deputy Premier, the lying bastard Icon_minitimeWed Apr 09, 2008 7:42 pm

THE credibility of Tasmania's Labor Government has crumbled with scandal claiming a second deputy premier.

A bid by Premier Paul Lennon to reshape his Government as more open and honest collapsed spectacularly yesterday when his deputy, Steve Kons, resigned for misleading Parliament.

Mr Lennon was left to stonewall questions about Mr Kons' decision as attorney-general to ditch the choice of a critic of the Tamar Valley pulp mill as a new magistrate.

Mr Kons initially denied in Parliament that he approved the appointment of lawyer Simon Cooper, but was caught out when a document that the minister signed confirming the post was found shredded in a rubbish bin outside his Burnie office.

Greens MP Kim Booth reconstructed the document and produced it in Parliament.

OZschwitz: Shredded note brings down Tasmania's Deputy Premier, the lying bastard WbNATkonsletter_narrowweb__300x440,0

Mr Lennon rejected suggestions that he tried to stop the appointment.

With the trail of strife behind Mr Lennon's leadership growing, Liberal leader Will Hodgman described the Government as "sick".

Mr Kons was tipped earlier this year as a potential successor to Mr Lennon. Now his portfolios, which include responsibility for the controversial pulp mill, will be managed by the Premier.

Mr Lennon, Premier since 2004, was hard hit by the unsuccessful prosecution of a former deputy and close ally, Bryan Green, over a government business monopoly in 2006. Two trials of Mr Green returned hung juries, and he remains on the Government back bench.

Mr Lennon also had to weather criticism of his propriety, much of it linked to the $2 billion pulp mill.

The chairman of an independent statutory assessment panel for the mill, retired judge Christopher Wright, accused Mr Lennon of an inappropriate attempt to pressure him to speed up approval of the project.

Now, a year after the timber company Gunns Limited pulled out of the Resource Planning and Development Commission's assessment, the Government is again in trouble over the treatment of Mr Cooper, who was the executive commissioner of the RPDC.

Mr Cooper had told Mr Lennon by letter that Gunns' submissions to the RPDC were deficient in important respects.

Greens leader Peg Putt said the choice of Mr Cooper as magistrate was vetoed in retribution for his criticism of the mill.

In admitting he misled Parliament about the document, Mr Kons said he had changed his mind about Mr Cooper's appointment after reconsideration that included receiving a phone call from Mr Lennon's former departmental secretary, Linda Hornsey, voicing concerns about the appointment.

Ms Hornsey, who is now working for the Federal Government as a key organiser of the 2020 Summit, could not be reached for comment.

University of Tasmania political analyst Richard Herr said the latest scandal had destroyed Mr Lennon's makeover and emphasis on transparency.

"Let's say the Premier was totally in the dark about what Mr Kons had done," Associate Professor Herr said. "At the end of the day he's still responsible for the tone and character of his cabinet."

Mr Lennon, who won re-election in 2006, does not have to face the voters again until 2010.
KEY POINTS
■Deputy Premier Steve Kons forced to abandon earlier denial that he had misled Parliament.

■Document retrieved from rubbish bin and reconstructed.

■Liberals brand the Lennon Government "sick".

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