Liberal Party aims to achieve ‘low taxes and small government'
Liberal Senator Alex Antic says the Liberal Party aims to have 'low taxes and small government'.
Mr Antic told Sky News host Rita Panahi that the Liberals need to be 'very resolute on that'.
His comments come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has left proposed superannuation tax hikes open to negotiation.
The Liberals must consider excluding plans to tax unrealised capital gains.
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The Advertiser
25 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Premier ditches privatisations amid political chaos
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. 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. 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. 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.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Premier cans privatisations amid political turmoil
No state-owned businesses will be sold off, the Tasmanian premier has declared, following a week of political turmoil. Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff 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 vote of no confidence against the premier. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support the state's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work. "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" regardless of the latest statements from the premier. "They didn't take it to the last election and they tried to sell Tasmanian assets," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. "So they will try to do it again, and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them." 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. Analysts tip an unpredictable campaign given the nature of the political drama, with candidates from the federal election in May adding another dimension. Ex-federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer is viewed as a likely candidate in Bass should Mr Rockliff hang on. Anti-salmon independent Peter George, who ran Julie Collins close in the safe federal seat of Franklin, told AAP he was considering his options. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the no-confidence motion due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts and the proposals to privatise state assets. However, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. Veteran political campaigner Brad Stansfield, who has worked on the Liberals' last four election wins, said it would be issue No.1. "At the last election ... we mostly kept it hidden from the campaign," he said on his FontCast podcast. "This campaign is going to be the referendum on the AFL stadium that we haven't yet had. It is coming like a steam train." The roofed Macquarie Point stadium is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. But recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold on the need for a new stadium. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium, but Mr Stansfield said Mr Rockliff would be the one to pay the electoral price. "If you don't like the stadium, you will vote against the Liberals," he said. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Mr Browne said he could see a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. No state-owned businesses will be sold off, the Tasmanian premier has declared, following a week of political turmoil. Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff 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 vote of no confidence against the premier. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support the state's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work. "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" regardless of the latest statements from the premier. "They didn't take it to the last election and they tried to sell Tasmanian assets," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. "So they will try to do it again, and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them." 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. Analysts tip an unpredictable campaign given the nature of the political drama, with candidates from the federal election in May adding another dimension. Ex-federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer is viewed as a likely candidate in Bass should Mr Rockliff hang on. Anti-salmon independent Peter George, who ran Julie Collins close in the safe federal seat of Franklin, told AAP he was considering his options. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the no-confidence motion due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts and the proposals to privatise state assets. However, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. Veteran political campaigner Brad Stansfield, who has worked on the Liberals' last four election wins, said it would be issue No.1. "At the last election ... we mostly kept it hidden from the campaign," he said on his FontCast podcast. "This campaign is going to be the referendum on the AFL stadium that we haven't yet had. It is coming like a steam train." The roofed Macquarie Point stadium is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. But recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold on the need for a new stadium. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium, but Mr Stansfield said Mr Rockliff would be the one to pay the electoral price. "If you don't like the stadium, you will vote against the Liberals," he said. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Mr Browne said he could see a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. No state-owned businesses will be sold off, the Tasmanian premier has declared, following a week of political turmoil. Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff 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 vote of no confidence against the premier. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support the state's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work. "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" regardless of the latest statements from the premier. "They didn't take it to the last election and they tried to sell Tasmanian assets," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. "So they will try to do it again, and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them." 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. Analysts tip an unpredictable campaign given the nature of the political drama, with candidates from the federal election in May adding another dimension. Ex-federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer is viewed as a likely candidate in Bass should Mr Rockliff hang on. Anti-salmon independent Peter George, who ran Julie Collins close in the safe federal seat of Franklin, told AAP he was considering his options. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the no-confidence motion due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts and the proposals to privatise state assets. However, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. Veteran political campaigner Brad Stansfield, who has worked on the Liberals' last four election wins, said it would be issue No.1. "At the last election ... we mostly kept it hidden from the campaign," he said on his FontCast podcast. "This campaign is going to be the referendum on the AFL stadium that we haven't yet had. It is coming like a steam train." The roofed Macquarie Point stadium is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. But recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold on the need for a new stadium. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium, but Mr Stansfield said Mr Rockliff would be the one to pay the electoral price. "If you don't like the stadium, you will vote against the Liberals," he said. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Mr Browne said he could see a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. No state-owned businesses will be sold off, the Tasmanian premier has declared, following a week of political turmoil. Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff 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 vote of no confidence against the premier. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support the state's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work. "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" regardless of the latest statements from the premier. "They didn't take it to the last election and they tried to sell Tasmanian assets," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. "So they will try to do it again, and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them." 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. Analysts tip an unpredictable campaign given the nature of the political drama, with candidates from the federal election in May adding another dimension. Ex-federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer is viewed as a likely candidate in Bass should Mr Rockliff hang on. Anti-salmon independent Peter George, who ran Julie Collins close in the safe federal seat of Franklin, told AAP he was considering his options. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the no-confidence motion due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts and the proposals to privatise state assets. However, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. Veteran political campaigner Brad Stansfield, who has worked on the Liberals' last four election wins, said it would be issue No.1. "At the last election ... we mostly kept it hidden from the campaign," he said on his FontCast podcast. "This campaign is going to be the referendum on the AFL stadium that we haven't yet had. It is coming like a steam train." The roofed Macquarie Point stadium is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. But recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold on the need for a new stadium. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium, but Mr Stansfield said Mr Rockliff would be the one to pay the electoral price. "If you don't like the stadium, you will vote against the Liberals," he said. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Mr Browne said he could see a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Calls grow for besieged Tasmanian Premier to resign after no-confidence loss, despite Jeremy Rockliff ruling out privatising state-owned assets
Tasmania's political quagmire has continued to escalate days after a no-confidence vote shockingly passed the house, with mining and business bodies joining Independent MPs in calling for Premier Jeremy Rockliff to be dumped as Liberal leader. A vote of no-confidence passed the house by the slimmest of margins on Thursday, with Labor speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting the deciding ballot after stating she could not vote in favour of a Liberal government. Tasmanians will now have to wait until next week to find out when they will return to the polls for the second time in as little as 14 months, with Mr Rockliff to visit the state Governor on Tuesday. Both houses of Parliament will also convene on Tuesday to pass emergency budget supply bills to ensure the state can sufficiently pay its debts between the end of financial year and the conclusion of the election, with the poll to then be called immediately after. However, Independent MP Craig Garland insisted for Mr Rockliff to step aside ahead of the contest and allow the Liberal Party to select a new leader. 'To do otherwise would be to drag the government down and show Tasmanians the arrogance and ignorance that led to the loss of confidence in the Premier in the first place,' he said on Friday. 'If the Liberals are unwilling to form government, I call on the Labor Party to put aside politics for the best interests of Tasmania, and work with myself, and other non-government members to make this parliament work again,' he said, despite Opposition Leader Dean Winter vehemently ruling out a Coalition with the Greens. 'If the major parties aren't willing to compromise, it shows that Tasmanians must look at Independents and minor parties who have demonstrated they can make minority government work'. Small Business Council of Tasmania CEO Robert Mallett also came out swinging against Mr Rockliff on Saturday and said that despite being a 'very good Premier', he was puzzled as to why he had not yet tendered his resignation. 'Personally, I'm very disappointed for Jeremy because I know he's put his heart and soul into trying to get it right, but at the end of the day, again, for the state, we would be better off with a new leader,' he said. 'He could have stepped down as Premier and the Parliamentary Liberal Party could have chosen another Premier'. Mr Mallet, whose body represents over 42,000 small businesses said the ongoing political instability was untenable and that there were 'some very experienced parliamentarians in the party' who could serve as Liberal leader. CEO of the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council Ray Mostogl also reiterated that elections damaged confidence in the private sector and that the poll would further delay a crucial ruling on the Marinus Link, and several other pending business decisions. 'Jeremy is a remarkable person and I think that's a view that's held by many people of all colours in politics, so this is not personal he's a great guy,' he said. 'The point is they've been voted in, there's policies that they've had election promises that they made and we need to let that run its course." Mr Rockliff has remained defiant in his bid to lead the Liberals to the winter poll and on Saturday announced there would be no sale of state-owned companies if he won the election, of which was a key reason the no-confidence motion was advanced by Labor. "There will be no privatisation under the Tasmanian Liberal government," Mr Rockliff said in a statement, assuring the plan had been abandoned for good. 'There will be no asset sales under the Tasmanian Liberal Government,' he said. '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'. The government had commissioned independent economist Saul Eslake to determine which state owned assets could potentially be sold off, yet a number of critical enterprises including Port Arthur, Hydro Tasmania, the Spirit of Tasmania operator TT-Line and TasRacing were explicitly ruled out.
