Tas: Bartlett invites McKim into cabinet = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2010
Tas: Bartlett invites McKim into cabinet = 2

The offer says that Mr McKim would be bound by cabinet confidentiality, but is not
obliged to vote with the government on "matters of significant concern".

Despite a clause saying Mr McKim would be required to support the government in matters
of supply and in confidence and no confidence motions, Mr Bartlett said it was not a deal,
which he had spoken out against during the election campaign.

"I define this as a letter of invitation to Mr McKim and a set of protocols that go
with that," he said.

"But I accept that commentators, people in Tasmania and further afield will call it
a variety of things.

"What it's called doesn't matter that much. What it is, is a genuine attempt to make
this parliament work."

Mr Bartlett said the government was now in uncharted waters.

"This has never happened in Tasmania before," he said.

"We won't always agree, and that's for sure.

"But what's important, and the things we do agree upon is that we do our best by Tasmanians."

Shortly before the letter of offer was made, Mr McKim said he would take any offers
of ministry to his party room.

"As the model (of government) is being developed, I think that it is now reflecting...

a model which may well allow for a cabinet to function properly with members from different
political parties," he said.

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