Rocky times: no-confidence motion set to dump premier
A Liberal state minority government is in political turmoil with a premier set to be dumped by parliament and a snap election looming.
The motion, put forward by the Labor opposition, appears all but certain to pass with support of the Greens and three crossbench MPs.
Mr Rockliff has conceded the numbers are against him but has vowed to "fight to his last breath" and not resign.
This stance could end up triggering an election, some 15 months after the Liberals were returned to power, governing in minority with just 14 of 35 seats in the lower house.
Labor and some of the crossbench have lashed Mr Rockliff for budget "mismanagement" and delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of two new Bass Strait ferries.
Some crossbenchers and the Greens are opposed to a new $945 million stadium in Hobart, a condition of the Tasmania Devils entering the AFL in 2028.
Labor supports the team and a stadium, a position they reiterated on Wednesday.
The Devils fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at risk.
Senior Liberal MP Roger Jaensch told parliament Labor leader Dean Winter was trying to steal power by moving the motion.
"(He) has shown contempt for the Tasmanian people in favour of his own interest. Tasmanians voted for a Liberal government and Jeremy Rockliff," Mr Jaensch told parliament.
If the motion passes, the Liberals could try to govern with another premier, with current deputy Guy Barnett or former senator Eric Abetz the most logical options.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has kept the door ajar for a minority government scenario with Labor, who only hold 10 lower-house seats.
Dr Woodruff said her party was prepared to work with Labor, saying Mr Winter could prevent Tasmania from going to an election in the event no feasible governing arrangement was found.
Independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to support the motion, hasn't ruled out working with Labor.
A Liberal state minority government is in political turmoil with a premier set to be dumped by parliament and a snap election looming.
The motion, put forward by the Labor opposition, appears all but certain to pass with support of the Greens and three crossbench MPs.
Mr Rockliff has conceded the numbers are against him but has vowed to "fight to his last breath" and not resign.
This stance could end up triggering an election, some 15 months after the Liberals were returned to power, governing in minority with just 14 of 35 seats in the lower house.
Labor and some of the crossbench have lashed Mr Rockliff for budget "mismanagement" and delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of two new Bass Strait ferries.
Some crossbenchers and the Greens are opposed to a new $945 million stadium in Hobart, a condition of the Tasmania Devils entering the AFL in 2028.
Labor supports the team and a stadium, a position they reiterated on Wednesday.
The Devils fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at risk.
Senior Liberal MP Roger Jaensch told parliament Labor leader Dean Winter was trying to steal power by moving the motion.
"(He) has shown contempt for the Tasmanian people in favour of his own interest. Tasmanians voted for a Liberal government and Jeremy Rockliff," Mr Jaensch told parliament.
If the motion passes, the Liberals could try to govern with another premier, with current deputy Guy Barnett or former senator Eric Abetz the most logical options.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has kept the door ajar for a minority government scenario with Labor, who only hold 10 lower-house seats.
Dr Woodruff said her party was prepared to work with Labor, saying Mr Winter could prevent Tasmania from going to an election in the event no feasible governing arrangement was found.
Independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to support the motion, hasn't ruled out working with Labor.
A Liberal state minority government is in political turmoil with a premier set to be dumped by parliament and a snap election looming.
The motion, put forward by the Labor opposition, appears all but certain to pass with support of the Greens and three crossbench MPs.
Mr Rockliff has conceded the numbers are against him but has vowed to "fight to his last breath" and not resign.
This stance could end up triggering an election, some 15 months after the Liberals were returned to power, governing in minority with just 14 of 35 seats in the lower house.
Labor and some of the crossbench have lashed Mr Rockliff for budget "mismanagement" and delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of two new Bass Strait ferries.
Some crossbenchers and the Greens are opposed to a new $945 million stadium in Hobart, a condition of the Tasmania Devils entering the AFL in 2028.
Labor supports the team and a stadium, a position they reiterated on Wednesday.
The Devils fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at risk.
Senior Liberal MP Roger Jaensch told parliament Labor leader Dean Winter was trying to steal power by moving the motion.
"(He) has shown contempt for the Tasmanian people in favour of his own interest. Tasmanians voted for a Liberal government and Jeremy Rockliff," Mr Jaensch told parliament.
If the motion passes, the Liberals could try to govern with another premier, with current deputy Guy Barnett or former senator Eric Abetz the most logical options.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has kept the door ajar for a minority government scenario with Labor, who only hold 10 lower-house seats.
Dr Woodruff said her party was prepared to work with Labor, saying Mr Winter could prevent Tasmania from going to an election in the event no feasible governing arrangement was found.
Independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to support the motion, hasn't ruled out working with Labor.
A Liberal state minority government is in political turmoil with a premier set to be dumped by parliament and a snap election looming.
The motion, put forward by the Labor opposition, appears all but certain to pass with support of the Greens and three crossbench MPs.
Mr Rockliff has conceded the numbers are against him but has vowed to "fight to his last breath" and not resign.
This stance could end up triggering an election, some 15 months after the Liberals were returned to power, governing in minority with just 14 of 35 seats in the lower house.
Labor and some of the crossbench have lashed Mr Rockliff for budget "mismanagement" and delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of two new Bass Strait ferries.
Some crossbenchers and the Greens are opposed to a new $945 million stadium in Hobart, a condition of the Tasmania Devils entering the AFL in 2028.
Labor supports the team and a stadium, a position they reiterated on Wednesday.
The Devils fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at risk.
Senior Liberal MP Roger Jaensch told parliament Labor leader Dean Winter was trying to steal power by moving the motion.
"(He) has shown contempt for the Tasmanian people in favour of his own interest. Tasmanians voted for a Liberal government and Jeremy Rockliff," Mr Jaensch told parliament.
If the motion passes, the Liberals could try to govern with another premier, with current deputy Guy Barnett or former senator Eric Abetz the most logical options.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has kept the door ajar for a minority government scenario with Labor, who only hold 10 lower-house seats.
Dr Woodruff said her party was prepared to work with Labor, saying Mr Winter could prevent Tasmania from going to an election in the event no feasible governing arrangement was found.
Independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to support the motion, hasn't ruled out working with Labor.
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"Our budget has a sensible pathway to surplus without selling any assets," Jeremy Rockliff told reporters at the Transend substation in Devonport on Saturday. Pressed for details, he spoke of a "right-sized public service" and other efficiencies to save money, and drew a line through new taxes and cuts to infrastructure spending. The premier has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a successful vote of no confidence against the state's leader. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work and promised legislation ensuring any sales would need two-thirds majority support in parliament. 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Pressed for details, he spoke of a "right-sized public service" and other efficiencies to save money, and drew a line through new taxes and cuts to infrastructure spending. The premier has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a successful vote of no confidence against the state's leader. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work and promised legislation ensuring any sales would need two-thirds majority support in parliament. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses - before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. 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Despite feuding over the state's finances, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium but recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold. Both leaders voiced support for the AFL team when asked if they would give up the stadium to secure backing from crossbenchers opposed to it. Mr Winter said he remained open to all stadium options including the so-called 2.0 proposal on reclaimed land on the River Derwent. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians to front their cause. Mr Browne said he foresaw a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. Stadium supporters remain hopeful the Devils, the planned AFL outfit, can win over stadium opponents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has offered confidence and supply to Mr Winter to form government but the opposition leader has already ruled out a deal with the minor party. Repairing Tasmania's public finances does not hinge on selling government assets, the premier has asserted after caving to pressure on his party's privatisation exploration. "Our budget has a sensible pathway to surplus without selling any assets," Jeremy Rockliff told reporters at the Transend substation in Devonport on Saturday. Pressed for details, he spoke of a "right-sized public service" and other efficiencies to save money, and drew a line through new taxes and cuts to infrastructure spending. The premier has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a successful vote of no confidence against the state's leader. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work and promised legislation ensuring any sales would need two-thirds majority support in parliament. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses - before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. But Labor shadow treasurer Josh Willie said privatising government assets was "in their DNA". "They will try to do it again and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the motion of no confidence due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts. The political ructions look to set send Tasmanians back to the polls for the fourth time in seven years unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. An election could be called on Tuesday. Senior Liberal figures, including Senator Jonno Duniam, are calling the prospect of a snap election "nuts". "I would have thought every effort should be put into not going to an election ... the people that lose out most in all this - forget the parliamentarians - it's the people of Tassie," he told ABC Radio. Despite feuding over the state's finances, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium but recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold. Both leaders voiced support for the AFL team when asked if they would give up the stadium to secure backing from crossbenchers opposed to it. Mr Winter said he remained open to all stadium options including the so-called 2.0 proposal on reclaimed land on the River Derwent. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians to front their cause. Mr Browne said he foresaw a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. Stadium supporters remain hopeful the Devils, the planned AFL outfit, can win over stadium opponents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has offered confidence and supply to Mr Winter to form government but the opposition leader has already ruled out a deal with the minor party.
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