TASMANIAN MP Paula Wriedt has attacked Premier David Bartlett's decision
to sack her from cabinet while she is on leave battling depression as "deeply
distressing" and lacking understanding.
Ms Wriedt, on sick leave since trying to commit suicide on August 4,
responded angrily to her dumping. She had asked Mr Bartlett to give
her two more weeks to decide her future.
"I am deeply distressed by his refusal to do so, and am concerned by the
Premier's apparent lack of support and understanding," Ms Wriedt said.
"I have been a hard-working member of the Government for the last 10
years as a minister, holding several senior portfolios during this time, as
well as juggling the demands of family life." Depression was a "very real and
complex illness" and recovery was "not as simple as recovering from a
broken limb". "However, with the right medical treatment and management,
I have been told there is no reason why I couldn't make a complete recovery
and return to work," Ms Wriedt said. "I conveyed this to the Premier in my
meeting with him yesterday (Thursday)."
Mr Bartlett argued he had no choice but to sack Ms Wriedt after concluding
on the advice of her family, friends and doctor that she would not be fit to
return to work in the short term.
"I have not taken this decision lightly; in fact, decisions don't come any tougher
than this," Mr Bartlett said. He received support from former Victorian Liberal
premier Jeff Kennett, the chairman of depression support group Beyondblue.
After speaking to Mr Bartlett, Mr Kennett told The Weekend Australian, he
believed the decision was a very tough call for the Premier, but added: "When
you balance up all his responsibilities, the correct one. It might just be what
Paula needs to start rebuilding her health. "That is, she doesn't have other
ministerial responsibilities now and she can now focus more directly on her
recovery."
WCV's:What would Kennett know, he helped create this narrowminded mess
called worksafe. The blood of suicided Workcover Victims and their families is
on his hands alone!
What would Kennett know about Paula Wriedt? Does he know her personally or
enough to be able to make such a comment? Mr. Kennett is not a trained
psycholocogist and should not be aksed to comment or to provide any
experianced advice by any member of the Government.
Being the face of beyondblue does not qualify him to pass judgement.
Just because you had to quit Mr. Kennett doesnt mean that everyone else should; some of us have the nads to keep going!
A cabinet reshuffle will be announced early next week, the fourth this year.The Weekend Australian understands Mr Bartlett will increase the size of
cabinet from eight to nine. He would not rule out a return by disgraced
ex-ministers Bryan Green and Steve Kons, but will probably turn to youth,
with parliamentary secretary Lisa Singh a favourite.
Upper house MPs Allison Ritchie and Lin Thorp are also in contention.
Mr Bartlett said Ms Wriedt was a good minister and that there was "a way
back to a ministerial position for Paula in the future". However, it was not
good governance to have already heavily burdened ministers acting in her
key portfolios, economic development and tourism, any longer.
Ms Wriedt, who remains an MP, tried to kill herself days after being informed
by Mr Bartlett that he could not keep secret her affair with ministerial driver
Ben Chaffey. This was because Mr Chaffey, like Ms Wriedt married with children,
had demanded a payout of about $140,000, arguing that fallout from the tryst
made his job untenable.
Mr Bartlett advised Ms Wriedt during a meeting at her office on Thursday
that quitting cabinet was in the best interests of her long-term health and of
good governance. Ms Wriedt, 39, was still a hospital patient and had been
unable to make a decision on her future, he said. "Therefore, I had no other
choice than to make that decision myself," the Premier said.
WCV's: Will this story bring the issues of unfairness to the attention of
Parliament? It may be different if it happens to one of their own?
This story clearly shows just how this government handles stress
claims within their own ranks (unfairly & unreasonably).
It shows just how, stressed workers are not supported
within the Government hierarchies and worksafe.
When is mental illness going to be looked upon as an illness?
If the Government don't acknowledge it then who will?
Lets watch how they handle it, shall we?
1 comment:
Yeah too true Jo,
They do not mind putting adverts on t.v. letting everyone think oh mental health is a real issue.. Do they!
What a complete slap in the face in my opinion having Kennett working in beyondblue!
It is interesting how everything is manipulated to make them look good.
When are the general public going to stand up and share their issues with all of this crud?
It is interesting how they give mental illness non discrimination on one hand, and try to cause it and take that truth away in the other.
Just to suit their particular needs!
Well there is either suicide and depression or there isn't!
I know for a complete fact there IS!
So who puts Kennett in charge of understanding mental illness... hmm maybe he got the job for having caused so many families to suffer at the hands of his heartless legislations.
It's sickening to say the least.
HAHA I will be watching how they handle it. I will no longer be shocked or suprised at how crappy they do that because I have been all shocked and suprised out.
I have an expectation that definately exceeds the proven capability of the government to take care of its people and listen and respond to logic, fairness and justice.
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