Defiant Tasmanian premier rules out going to polls

John Kidman | October 2, 2023

Premier Jeremy Rockliff says no one in Tasmania wants an election following the controversial departure of attorney-general Elise Archer, which has left his minority government at risk of losing votes on the floor of parliament.

Mr Rockliff says his priority is instead to implement all the recommendations of Tasmania’s major inquiry into child sexual abuse handed down last week that found grave failures in state institutions across decades.

“That is exactly what I am focused on and there is no need for an election,” he told ABC radio in Hobart on Monday.

“The decision I made on Friday regarding Ms Archer was a very difficult decision for me to make.

“I’ve been a colleague of Elise’s for 13 years but it was the right decision and the right call and the principled thing to do.”

Mr Rockliff asked Ms Archer to resign after it was revealed she was being investigated over bullying allegations made against her by staff from her office.

The Australian newspaper has also published alleged text messages from Ms Archer in which she labelled Mr Rockliff “gutless” and his predecessor Peter Gutwein as having a “glass jaw”.

On Sunday, Mr Rockliff additionally confirmed that he was made aware of information relating to remarks she made about victim-survivors of abuse on Thursday and asked for her resignation on Friday after he “sighted those remarks”.

Ms Archer says the abuse comments were taken out of context.

She has told the ABC she is reconsidering her decision to resign from parliament and could instead sit as an independent.

Her departure as attorney-general leaves the only Liberal government in Australia with 10 of 25 lower house seats.

It has been in minority since May, when two MPs quit over concerns with Tasmania’s deal for an AFL team and stadium.

Mr Rockliff has not ruled out delaying the return of parliament, scheduled to next sit on October 17, to ensure a recount can be held to determine Ms Archer’s replacement.

The government has survived no-confidence motions in parliament in recent months but is at greater risk of losing a vote if it faces parliament with just 10 members.