Post-poll kingmakers offer two leaders a path to power
Ethan James |
Independents who hold Tasmania’s political future in their hands have indicated they could support a premier from either major party.
The incumbent Liberals claimed 14 seats at Saturday’s snap election, ahead of Labor on nine.
But the result leaves both parties short of the 18-seat mark required for majority government.
Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff has begun courting crossbench support in his bid to return as premier, while Labor’s Dean Winter has left the door ajar to governing with the five-seat Greens plus independents.
It could take more than a week for three in-doubt seats to be confirmed via preferences and any minority agreements might not be arranged until after the numbers are settled.
Mr Rockliff has said he would go to the governor after the count finished to ask for his government to be recommissioned.
“I do have a mandate given we’ve got the largest number of seats,” he told reporters on Monday.
“For Dean Winter to govern, he’ll need to do a deal with the Greens for which he does not have a mandate from the Tasmanian people.”
Mr Rockliff said he has had good conversations with all members of the cross bench and would have more talks in the next week or two.
Mr Winter, who has also reached out to the independents, has said he won’t do a deal with the Greens to govern but would accept their votes of confidence and supply.
There are three re-elected independents – Kristie Johnston, Craig Garland and David O’Byrne – while Peter George has been voted in for the first time.
One of the undecided seats could go to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party, expanding the cross bench.
Ms Johnston, Mr Garland and Mr George are opposed to the Liberal- and Labor-backed $945 million AFL stadium.
Mr Garland and Mr George also oppose commercial salmon farming, an industry supported by the two major parties.
Mr Garland, who scraped into parliament at the 2024 election, more than doubled his first-preference vote.
He said he was prepared to back a Liberal or Labor premier but did not indicate whether he would seek any policy concessions.
“We’re just waiting for the dust to settle and see where the numbers end up,” he told AAP.
“There are going to be some interesting conversations, put it that way.”
Mr George does not plan to sign any formal agreements and said he was open to Mr Rockliff or Mr Winter as premier.
“Let’s hear what they have to say and let’s hear what their plans are for rebuilding Tasmania’s future,” he told the ABC.
Ms Johnston, who did not sign a formal agreement with the previous minority Liberal government, has indicated she would take the same approach and consider issues on merit.
Mr O’Byrne, a former Labor leader and stadium supporter, is also open to Mr Rockliff or Mr Winter as premier, noting all MPs needed to collaborate.
“It’s not about going in with a shopping list of demands … that will be problematic,” he said.
Mr Rockliff’s proclaimed mandate “wasn’t clear cut” and it was about who could preside over a functioning parliament, Mr O’Byrne said.
THE INDEPENDENT CROSS BENCH
* Kristie Johnston: secured the most first-preference votes in the Hobart-based seat of Clark. Seven MPs are elected in each of Tasmania’s five seats
* Craig Garland: wants tighter regulation of aquaculture and more than doubled his first-preference vote
* David O’Byrne: briefly led Labor in 2021 but resigned after allegations of harassment surfaced
* Peter George: anti-salmon farming activist and former journalist who got the highest first-preference vote in the electorate of Franklin
AAP
