Numbers Are the Devil's Work - Paul Frisby

There's a new Independent Member for Braddon. The boys' club is in for a shock.

No-one is sad when the Tasmanian premier dies, but it's one less vote for the minority government. Deputy Premier Bernard Wynyard has his work cut out if he is to gain and hold the premiership.

On the west coast, former House of Assembly candidate Beverley Petersen is wondering what to do with her life. Tasmania's Hare-Clark electoral system means that question is answered one rainy morning (it's Queenstown) when she returns home to find Bernard (call me Bernie) waiting with a proposition.

Bernie thinks he can handle Beverley. She's thrown in at the deep end, finding her feet in Hobart as a new independent MP. But Beverley has an abusive marriage and a long career in the public service behind her, and before long, Bernie is facing a much bigger challenge than he expected.