Nelson MLC Meg Webb says Tasmania is lagging behind rest of country on scrutiny of coronavirus response

Premier Peter Gutwein has flat out rejected further calls for a “disingenuous” committee to scrutinise the State Government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Tasmania, saying it is not necessary.

A LEGISLATIVE Council member has made a renewed plea for the creation of a special multi-party committee to scrutinise the State Government’s responses to coronavirus, but the Premier maintains it is not necessary.

Nelson MLC Meg Webb said the state was lagging behind the rest of the country on parliamentary oversight of COVID-19 policy, saying Tasmanians should not be short-changed on democratic decision-making.

Ms Webb has written to the Premier, Labor, the Greens and all independent MPs in Parliament to make the case for Tasmania to follow other Australian jurisdictions and implement the committee to review and document the state’s response and recovery from coronavirus.

She said Tasmania and Western Australia were the only two who have not established similar targeted parliamentary inquiries into government COVID-19 responses, but she said WA had increased parliament sitting days while Tasmania had decreased them.

“The scope, powers, representation and comprehensive remit of a parliamentary committee of inquiry is an essential way for us to reflect, respond and emerge from COVID-19 while equipping us to lead through the next challenge,’’ Ms Webb said.

“Such a committee will also give Tasmanians confidence that during our reduced parliamentary sitting schedule, there will be a comprehensive, accountable process of review of government decision making that may otherwise be hijacked by partisan politics.”

Last month, Ms Webb was one of a group of prominent Tasmanians and organisations, including equality and civil liberties advocates and law professors, who wrote to Premier Peter Gutwein calling for such a committee.

The call for greater oversight of government decisions has been supported by Labor, the Greens and independent member for Clark Madeleine Ogilvie.

Parliament was initially suspended until August but was reconvened, albeit with a reduced amount of sitting days.

Mr Gutwein said a Subordinate Legislation committee was meeting regularly and conducting public inquiries where he and other ministers had appeared.

The Premier said he had appeared before the Public Accounts Committee last week, and said Tasmania was the only jurisdiction in the country to release an economic and fiscal update including budget forecasts for the current and future financial years.

Mr Gutwein also referenced a report into the coronavirus outbreak in the state’s North West and the announcement an independent inquiry into the cluster.

He said it was “disingenuous” to argue that scrutiny was not happening.

“In view of the significant scrutiny and accountability mechanisms already in place, it is unnecessary to convene another committee, especially while we are still dealing with the emergency,’’ he said.

Labor leader Rebecca White has backed the calls for the committee to be established and said Mr Gutwein should commit to the process.

Ms White said Labor had also called for a Royal Commission into the COVID-19 outbreak in the North West, saying the families of loved ones lost deserved nothing less.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the party tabled a notice on April 30 to move for a Parliamentary inquiry into the COVID-19 response, saying they would work with MLCs thinking along similar lines.

Cameron Whiteley

Mercury 28 May 2020

Picture Chris Kidd