Tas: Tasmanian Liberals gamble on Cheek

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2001
Tas: Tasmanian Liberals gamble on Cheek

By Don Woolford

HOBART, Aug 20 AAP - Bob Cheek, a self-proclaimed risk-taker, today became leader of
the beleaguered Tasmanian Liberal Party.

Only five days before Prime Minister John Howard leads a team of federal heavyweights
to the party's state conference, Mr Cheek was elected unopposed to replace Sue Napier.

He becomes, at his third attempt, the party's third leader in just over two years,
a period of instability which has seen its stocks drop to 23 per cent.

Mr Cheek said the unopposed election of himself and Denise Swan as his deputy showed
the party was now united.

In fact, he and Mrs Napier had four supporters each in the party room, and some of
hers make no attempt to hide their dislike of the new leader.

The first test of whether there is genuine unity will come next week when Mr Cheek
unveils his frontbench.

He said he would like all members to have portfolio responsibilities.

However Mrs Napier, her former deputy Rene Hidding and former premier Tony Rundle may
prefer the backbench.

Mrs Napier brought the matter to a head when, following the retirement of another former
Premier Ray Groom, it was clear the numbers were split evenly.

She declared all positions vacant in the party room this morning and, reconfirming
that she would not use her casting vote to cling to power, did not renominate.

Mr Cheek praised her graciousness and magnanimity in putting party unity first.

He promised a more aggressive, can-do style.

"As the Nike slogan says, 'Just do it'," he told a news conference.

Mr Cheek said the government did nothing because it was scared of making mistake.

"I'm not frightened to take risks," he said.

Mr Cheek said winning next year's election would be tough but was achievable.

He indicated that if he could not raise the party's stocks substantially at the election,
he would stand aside.

"I won't hang around if I can't do the job," he said.

"I don't have a two-election strategy."

Mrs Napier said she was disappointed and saddened that she had to stand down and she
did so in the hope that the party could work as a team.

She said she was considering whether to join Mr Cheek's frontbench, adding that she
would not mind a break.

AAP dw/cjh/br

KEYWORD: LIBERALS TAS NIGHTLEAD

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