Premier orders Butler to crisis talks – Governor in car chase through Hobart in fallout from staff exodus: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Richard Gluyas, Matthew Denholm, Additional reporting: John Stapleton. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 09 Aug 2004: 3.
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Abstract
RICHARD Butler has 24 hours to prepare a convincing argument that he should remain the Tasmanian Governor after a frustrated Premier Paul Lennon yesterday ordered the irascible former diplomat to a crisis meeting about his handling of the vice-regal post.
The circus surrounding Mr Butler became even more farcical yesterday when he was involved in a high-speed car chase in Hobart involving a police escort and three media cars — just days after the Governor and his wife Jennifer physically clashed with a cameraman in Sydney.
Asked if was looking forward to returning to Tasmania, an indignant Mr Butler said: “I am not …” He then thought better of it and said: “Any of your questions should be directed to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.” Chaos ensued when he and his wife landed at Hobart airport at around 4.30pm.
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RICHARD Butler has 24 hours to prepare a convincing argument that he should remain the Tasmanian Governor after a frustrated Premier Paul Lennon yesterday ordered the irascible former diplomat to a crisis meeting about his handling of the vice-regal post.
Mr Lennon is said to be furious about the controversy circling Mr Butler, who was appointed only last October, and yesterday stopped short of expressing confidence in him despite having done so on Friday after the three most senior staff at Government House had resigned.
“I will sit down with the Governor, I will ensure that the propriety of the office of governor is maintained for Tasmania, (and) that the vice-regal duties can be undertaken properly and appropriately,” Mr Lennon said.
“In fairness, if you were in my position that is exactly what you would be wanting to do, to sit down with the person involved in the controversy and have a discussion with that person face to face.” However, asked several times, Mr Lennon refused to say he had full confidence in Mr Butler.
The circus surrounding Mr Butler became even more farcical yesterday when he was involved in a high-speed car chase in Hobart involving a police escort and three media cars — just days after the Governor and his wife Jennifer physically clashed with a cameraman in Sydney.
Opposition Leader Rene Hidding told The Australian he did not yet consider there was a constitutional crisis.
But he said it was absolutely vital for the head of state to be in a “stable and non-controversial position” to exercise the reserve powers to appoint or withdraw the commission of the government of the day.
“Therefore, Paul Lennon, as minister for the office of the governor, has a solemn duty to ensure that public confidence in the governor is maintained at all times,” he said.
Mr Hidding said the extraordinary chase scene yesterday did not give him any confidence that the governor’s position had stabilised and was non-controversial.
Asked how he would describe Mr Butler’s behaviour, he said: “Controversial.” The Governor left Sydney yesterday after being the narrator last week for a performance at the Opera House by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Photographed at the airport by a cameraman from The Australian, Mr Butler appeared unhappy and complained to Qantas staff, who asked thephotographer to stop and said security had been called.
Asked if was looking forward to returning to Tasmania, an indignant Mr Butler said: “I am not …” He then thought better of it and said: “Any of your questions should be directed to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.” Chaos ensued when he and his wife landed at Hobart airport at around 4.30pm.
They managed to avoid the media at first by getting into a gold Mercedes parked on the tarmac.
But three media cars from the The Mercury newspaper in Hobart, as well as the ABC and the Southern Cross television network, began chasing theMercedes, which was escorted by an unmarked police car.
One source said the police car straddled both lanes to stop the media cars passing the Mercedes and taking photographs.
Speeds in excess of 125km/h were recorded on the 20km freeway to Hobart, which has a speed limit of 110km/h.
Two marked police cars were waiting at Government House as the Mercedes sped through the gates. “It was all very untidy,” said one participant.
Mr Butler’s term as governor has been characterised by a series of gaffes, political commentary and repeated displays of behaviour considered by many Tasmanians to fall short of the requirements of vice-regal office.
Mr Hidding said he was keeping an open mind. “What we want to hear the Premier say is that he has total confidence, with the new staff in place at Government House, that circumstances have changed and this won’t happen again,” he said.