Tasmania’s Liberals set to hold on to power in minority
Ethan James |
Tasmania’s Liberals are set to continue governing in minority, after Labor’s bid to secure support of the cross bench failed.
Weeks of talks have followed a July 19 election that delivered another hung parliament, with neither the Liberals (14) nor Labor (10) getting the 18 seats needed for majority.
Labor leader Dean Winter has flagged a no-confidence motion when parliament resumes on Tuesday, in a test of whether the Liberals had the support of parliament.
The five-seat Greens, whose support Labor requires to govern, on Monday ruled out backing the no-confidence motion.
Mr Winter has refused to make policy concessions to the cross bench during negotiations and has repeatedly ruled out “doing a deal with the Greens”.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff, whose party has said it is prepared to work with Labor, lashed Mr Winter’s lack of movement.
“We have worked to get compromises and to negotiate. Dean Winter has refused to budge,” she said.
The Liberals under incumbent Premier Jeremy Rockliff have made several concessions to the cross bench including a review into the state’s salmon industry and pause of its expansion.
The snap election, Tasmania’s fourth in seven years, delivered a cross bench including five independents and one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP.
The poll was triggered after a no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff passed parliament in June with support of Labor, the Greens and several independents.
The motion was critical of Tasmania’s ballooning net debt and Mr Rockliff’s handling of delayed and over-budget infrastructure projects.
AAP
