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Category: Electricity Energy and Utilities / Hydro Energy / States and Territories

Groom's energy statement derailed by no-confidence motion in Speaker

Tuesday, 8 Mar 2016 10:03:56 | Rosemary Bolger

Matthew Groom's plan for the state's energy crisis is yet to be detailed. (ABC News)

Tasmania's Energy Minister Matthew Groom has escaped a grilling in the opening session of Parliament for the year after a no-confidence motion in the Speaker derailed proceedings.

Last year, the State Opposition committed to moving a no-confidence motion in Elise Archer over her handling in Parliament of questions over the Damien Mantach affair.

Ms Archer's husband, Dale, was president of the state Liberal Party when the now disgraced Mr Mantach resigned as director of the branch and had to repay almost $48,000 of party funds.

Labor Leader Bryan Green was hoping to keep the debate short before moving onto Question Time to raise issues including the energy crisis.

"We would much prefer to talk about those other issues but we cannot ignore the fact that the Speaker has refused to acknowledge or manage a conflict of interest relating to the Damian Mantach affair," he said.

But the move backfired when the Government used its numbers to remove the time limit on the debate, and so it is not expected to finish until late afternoon.

It is not clear if Mr Groom will go ahead with a planned statement to unveil more details about the Government's response to the energy crisis.

Premier Will Hodgman said he suspected Labor would be embarrassed by their "B-grade political stunt".

"There was a most awkward silence," he said.

"He [Mr Green] could not raise one single argument, and you can only assume that he's embarrassed.

"And it may not be that he's embarrassed, but I know that there are one or two Labor members who are."

AustraliaPlus


 

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