The Tasmanian Greens are accusing the two major parties of cutting them out of leaders' debates ahead of the state election on March 15.

The Premier, Lara Giddings, and the Liberal leader, Will Hodgman, have agreed to face-off three times during the campaign.

The first debate has been organised by the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry tomorrow afternoon in Hobart and people will have to pay to attend.

Ms Giddings and Mr Hodgman will go head to head again in Launceston at another ticketed event while the third debate will be broadcast on Pay TV.

The Launceston Chamber of Commerce had asked the Greens to its debate but later withdrew the invitation, saying it had changed the format after discussions with the major parties.

The Greens Leader Nick McKim is disappointed he has been excluded.

"It is important for our democracy that Tasmanians get to hear from all candidates," said Mr McKim.

"Questions were proposed to come from the Tasmanian people to the three leaders in a debate that was open to the public and was televised.

"That's the sort of debate we should be having."

The Premier Lara Giddings has rejected the suggestion.

"There's only two alternatives as the next premier of Tasmania and that's Will Hodgman or myself," said the Premier.

Will Hodgman says he would debate Mr McKim, instead of the Premier, but not both.

"The debate should be between the two parties that lead this state and lead the political debate, they being the Liberal Party and the Labor Party.

"Nick McKim was a Minister up until just a few weeks ago, I don't think it appropriate that he be permitted to engage in a debate when he has been part of the problem."

Labor and the Liberals rejected the ABC's offer to host a free-to-air debate with the three party leaders in front of a live audience.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/21428462/tasmanian-greens-leader-left-out-of-pre-elec...

Greenie, you ought to go into writing novels. You'd make a fortune in science-fiction.

____ wrote on Feb 15^th, 2014 at 6:31am:




what would he WHINE about... how disappointed he is in Lab/Libs... whine whine...we know greeny never a word of praise everything negative...WE KNOW..

gizmo_2655 wrote on Feb 15^th, 2014 at 7:50am:




Statistacally that is incorrect since Greens could hold the balance and besides a LibLab coalition, one of the olds may join Greens in an alliance to form govt.

cods wrote on Feb 15^th, 2014 at 8:35am:




That is what the olds are scared of … a positive message from the Greens while they do their usual negativity …. just like you.

Fear and hatred buys votes...Just look at the rise of Abbott.
You wont hear a positive message in any election campaign until this generation of Conservative hatemongers are dead and buried.

I know the micros like the Greens (and Dems when they were around) like to call the LNP & Lab “old parties” as denigration but actually it is a compliment—old enough, tough enough to have survived. Doubt the Greens will ever be called “olds”—8% support nationwide, unable to be a Party of government even when they ARE part of the govt.

I think it is the structure of support for your Party of Protest:

Trots, commos etc from old Labor SL.

NIMBYs wanting their area to look “noice” with no windfarms etc

Inner urban young professionals.

You can’t please all three—Greens will always be conservatives masquerading as progressives.

St George of the Garden wrote on Feb 15^th, 2014 at 8:55am:

Expect Labor to battle to ever form government again then, especially in Tassy.