Guy Barnett,Liberal Member for Lyons
Following David O'Byrne's efforts to embarrass Dean Winter in Question Time this morning, it appears Jen Butler has had the last laugh by putting on public display the bitter ongoing feud between Labor's factions.
Jen Butler took to the floor in Parliament this afternoon to openly slam Mr O'Byrne for stripping her of her shadow portfolios proclaiming "I won't lie, I was very disappointed".
Despite Ms Butler claiming she had "lots of unfinished business" within her shadow portfolios, she confessed that it was a "decision of the leader" to demote her from the shadow cabinet.
These comments come at the end of a day plagued by internal politicking, with Mr O'Byrne limply offering bipartisan support on COVID after Dean Winter was out playing politics with the pandemic only yesterday.
It's clear the Tasmanian Labor Party is hopelessly divided, and as Dr Broad said on radio (1), the moderate voices continue to be silenced and stripped of any responsibility.
(1)"I think there's a growing frustration among them - what I'd call - the moderate voices in the Labor Party."
"…I believe that there needs to be a rallying cry for the centre of the Labor Party to get active. And stop what is the domination of a hard left factional group of power brokers that I believe have delivered three election losses in a row."
"…over the last about 10 years, there's been a winner takes all approach by this group of individuals, where they, over time, have taken over the Labor Party and pushed out moderate voices."
(Dr Shane Broad ABC Mornings with Leon Compton 17 May 2021)
