TAS: Payout amounts to obscene moonlight robbery; oppn

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2004
TAS: Payout amounts to obscene moonlight robbery; oppn

HOBART, Aug 11 AAP - The payout handed to former Tasmanian Governor Richard Butler
amounted to obscene moonlight robbery, the state opposition said today.

Mr Butler, 62, quit his vice-regal post on Monday night after a three-hour meeting
with Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon, sparked by mounting controversy over Mr Butler's style
and the walkout of three of his most senior staff.

The former viceroy will receive a $650,000 golden handshake after earning about $308,000
during his troubled 10-month tenure, with local newspapers labelling him the "$1 million
man".

State Liberal Opposition Leader Rene Hidding today continued his attack on Mr Lennon
over the deal.

He said he was now convinced that there had been a cover-up over whether the payout
- which was not legally required - was a financial inducement or a financial reward.

"It appears glaringly obvious that Mr Lennon had already made up his mind that Richard
Butler had to go before Monday night's crisis meeting and that, despite his assertions,
money quite possibly became a key topic of conversation after a stand-off during the three-hour
meeting," Mr Hidding said.

"Mr Lennon was so desperate to cut a deal with Mr Butler that he allowed Mr Butler
to walk away from Tasmania with almost $1 million of taxpayers' funds for 10 months of
inadequate service, $650,000 of which he was not entitled to, in what amounts to an obscene
moonlight robbery of ordinary Tasmanians.

"But even worse is that I do not believe Mr Lennon has been truthful to Tasmanians
about the circumstances of the payout and resignation, which begs the question `what else
is he covering up?'"

Mr Lennon told reporters yesterday he and the governor and agreed Mr Butler's resignation
was the only way to end the controversy that was threatening to damage "the good name
of Tasmania".

The premier consistently refused to define what he thought the controversy was or what
Mr Butler had done wrong while in office.

Taking full responsibility for the ex-gratia payment, Mr Lennon said it would ensure
Mr Butler received some form of "natural justice".

Further comment has been sought today from Mr Lennon.

AAP las/tma/jlw

KEYWORD: BUTLER PAYMENT

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