Former Lib Minister “not surprised” at defection
Former Liberal Government Police Minister Rob Brokenshire says he’s not surprised by Martin Hamilton-Smith’s decision to serve in cabinet as an independent, but warns he might find it tough in a new political group.
The reaction came as responses to the political bombshell ranged from threats of retribution to calls for calm.
Brokenshire, now a Family First MP in the Upper House, held the semi-rural seat of Mawson for the Liberal Party from 1993 to 2002.
He became a minister in the Olsen Government in 1998 and served as Minister for Police, Correctional Services & Emergency Services, Minister for Gambling and Minister for Volunteers.
After losing the 2002 election he took a break from politics, returning to the fray in 2008 when appointed to a casual vacancy in the Upper House as a representative of the Family First Party.
“Martin’s decision is no surprise to me, because if anyone was more likely to take the bait Labor was offering, it was Martin,” Brokenshire told InDaily.
“Martin has always been a strong individual and my observation has been that his personal ambitions have been front and centre since he got into politics.
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“The move to a Labor cabinet is Martin’s call, but it is a big change to go from one spectrum of politics to an entirely different one.”
Meanwhile, Premier Jay Weatherill and his new minister hit the airwaves this morning to defend the move.
“You and all of your media commentators are out there all of the time talking about politicians criticising us for getting stuck into one another – the moment that we actually cooperate in the interests of the state, you become very angry about that as well,” the Premier told 891ABC Adelaide’s breakfast program.
“This provides us with more stability and gives us more elbow room both in the Parliament and the capacity to be bold.
“It’s not without precedent to reach out to people from other political parties to make a contribution.
“It’s well established, in many jurisdictions around the world; coalition governments are indeed commonplace in Europe. We are just simply reaching out to somebody and forming a coalition.
“We’re not asking him to join the Labor Party or to actually be a Labor Party member. He can keep his values and views. He is just providing some measures of support for this Government and serving in an important role for which he’s imminently suited because of his former military service and also because of the way in which he’s conducted himself as Shadow Trade Minister.”
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall maintained his stance that the decision amounted to a betrayal and upped the ante by calling for his former colleague’s resignation.
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“Martin’s defection is obviously very disappointing – it doesn’t sit well with anything he’s said since he came to the Parliament in 1997 and it’s a massive betrayal of his colleagues in the shadow Cabinet,” he told the ABC.
“In 1997 he came to the Parliament and he’s been rallying against Labor’s incompetence ever since … for him to now turn around and say that he thinks this has been substantially good government, I mean, give me a break. That’s not going to wash with the voters in Waite.”
At a media conference this morning, Marshall said there should be a by-election in the seat of Waite.
“Martin Hamilton-Smith needs to resign.
“The people of Waite didn’t vote for Martin to join the Labor Cabinet; he needs to test that.”
Asked about the personal attacks on Hamilton-Smith and graffiti sprayed on his electorate office, Marshall said some of the reactions needed to be tempered.
“I don’t condone any graffiti or personal attacks.
“He’s a traitor to the Liberal cause.”
Hamilton-Smith appeared on morning TV, national current affairs programs and local radio as the nation took an interest in the South Australian political development.
ABC AM presenter Chris Uhlman described the decision as a “shocking political defection” that ranked with Cheryl Kernot’s 1997 decision to leave her position as Leader of the Australian Democrats and join the ALP.
Hamilton-Smith told AM he was staying a Liberal, but emphasised his approach had a local twist.
“I have no concern with the Coalition or the broader Liberal Party, it is a local thing – if we keep going on this pathway it’ll be another 16 years before there’s a Liberal conservative voice in government. So I’ve got a novel approach, Chris. I’m an independent Liberal voice in the Weatherill Government.”
He also clarified claims he had told his former leader Steven Marshall of his decision by text message.
“Well that’s not correct, Chris. I rang him. We had quite a lengthy conversation and I went through the reasons at length. It wasn’t a text message at all. I did send one, followed it up rapidly with a call, and we had quite a decent conversation. So that’s incorrect information, Chris.”
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