Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is facing a no-confidence vote on Thursday
Tasmanian parliament will resume its debate on the no-confidence motion against Premier Jeremy Rockliff, which could see him toppled or a snap election called.
Opposition Leader Dean Winter tabled the motion, citing the Premier's handling of the state's ailing economy, the handing of the Spirit of Tasmania replacement ferries and the AFL stadium project.
MPs debated the motion for about 10 hours before parliament was suspended and Wednesday and will resume on Thursday at 10am.
A majority of the 35-seat House of Assembly have indicated they will vote in favour of the motion. This would weaken the minority Liberal government which has 14 MPs compared to Labor's 10.
Mr Rockliff flagged he was willing to force a snap election, just 15 months after the state went to an early election.
The Premier on Wednesday made an impassioned speech in his allocated 30 minutes, calling on crossbenchers to seriously consider the consequences if he was defeated.
'Do they really want to follow a wrecker who has come in day in day out and targeted individual members with disdain who did nothing more than to have the courage to put their hand up to make a difference to the Tasmanian people,' Mr Rockliff said.
'Whatever the outcome is, I implore this parliament to put Tasmanians first.
'They do not want an election. Dean Winter wants an election.
'What the Tasmania people want is stability, certainty and strong leadership.'
In introducing the motion, Mr Winter said it gave him 'no pleasure to move this motion'.
'But under our system of government, if the Premier does not have the support of the majority of the House, then they cannot continue,' the Opposition Leader said.
'I don't believe I can in good conscience allow this Premier to continue. Tasmania needs change, not more of the same.'
The Greens have indicated they are willing to form a minority government with Labor should Tasmanians head back to the polls just 15 months after the last state election.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
37 minutes ago
- ABC News
Cairns mayor accused of 'chilling' debate amid proposed 800pc retirement village rate hike
Elderly residents of retirement villages in Cairns lobbying against a council proposal to hike their rates have hit out at the city's mayor, accusing her of "spying" on their movements using social media. Cairns Regional Council is proposing to charge its minimum general rate of about $1,072 to each individual unit in retirement villages from next financial year. Currently, it imposes a single charge across entire villages. Retirement village operators say the change would lead to a rates increase of about 800 per cent which they claim they would be required to pass on to elderly residents under state legislation. Cairns Mayor Amy Eden defended the council's position during a live radio interview with ABC Far North this week saying many retirement villages "put in requests [to the council] for footpaths" which ratepayers had to pay for. But it was a follow-up remark about elderly residents using council-owned recreational spaces that one critic said has had a "chilling effect". "Ratepayers pay for that. Everyone needs to contribute." Retirement village resident Judy Holtzheimer, who has lobbied against the council's proposal, said she was shocked by the mayor's on-air comments. "I was absolutely stunned that someone in her position would, I would say in my words, stoop to spying on elderly [people]," she said. Another retirement village resident, Kay Nyland, said she believed she would be "one of the people" the mayor has looked up "because I have been very prominent on social media about this issue". The ABC has contacted Ms Eden to seek her response to the concerns. In a statement, a council spokesman said today the council "does not engage in tracking of residents". "It is well known that the mayor is active on social media and uses it to engage with the community," he said. "It is also common for social media users to post images of themselves using council facilities, which as a social media user the mayor made an offhand reference to on radio." Cairns Regional Council argues changing its rating structure would bring retirement villages into line with other multi-dwelling complexes. She said others should seek financial hardship assistance from their village operator or the council. "There are always going to be a percentage of ratepayers that really struggle to pay their rates," Ms Eden said. "That is just the way that it goes." The retirement village sector has campaigned against the proposal, concerned other councils could follow suit. Oak Tree Retirement Villages CEO Christine Gilroy said villages already paid for the installation of roads, lightning and garden maintenance, and that it would be a "double hit to those residents to pay that again". Retirement Living Council executive director Daniel Gannon said the council should put off its plan for a year for "genuine and proper consultation". He described Ms Eden's remark as "shocking and bizarre". The council is due to vote on the proposal at the end of June.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Queensland treasurer flags extra $1.4b in state budget for CopperString
Queensland's treasurer has vowed the government will not pay for further cost increases to the multi-billion-dollar CopperString 2032 energy project, after allocating more money in this year's budget. Treasurer David Janetzki revealed in Townsville that $2.4 billion had been committed to the project, an increase of $1.4 billion from the previous Labor government's budget. The 1,100 kilometres of power line network from Townsville to Mount Isa would connect towns and mines to the national electricity market for the first time. In April, the government announced private investment would be sought after costs blew out to $13.9 billion, a figure contested by government-owned corporation Powerlink, which costed the project at $9 billion late last year. Mr Janetzki said CopperString 2032 would go ahead, but stressed its details were still under review. "I want to make sure CopperString doesn't cost $13.9 billion dollars," he said. Earlier this year, the state government announced a major change to the scope of the project — that Powerlink would begin construction on the Hughenden-to-Townsville section of the project, while private investment was being sought to construct the Hughenden-to-Mount Isa section through the Queensland Investment Commission. "There will be additional investment into CopperString in the years ahead," Mr Janetzki said. "There will need to be, but I'm very clear we will be delivering that for less than $13.9 billion. "What I want to see is QIC do its work." Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle said her community — centred on the western Queensland town of Hughenden — was tired of announcements and wanted action. "I joke with our councillors that we have one bottle of champagne left in the fridge and we'll be leaving that until we see one tower go up," she said. Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick said the government was being deliberately misleading about whether it would deliver the project in its entirety. "We're going to hold this government to its promises to deliver CopperString all the way from Townsville to Mount Isa, and we see the government moving away from that promise," he said. Construction work on the transmission line is expected to start in Hughenden by the end of the year.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Australia reacts to Tasmanian political upheaval throwing AFL team, stadium, budget into doubt
The toppling of Tasmania's premier has drawn strong reactions from across Australia. Some are calling it a "fiasco" while others say the turmoil has turned the state into the nation's "laughing stock". "Tasmania is always a controversial state, immature politicians, not well-informed people," one observer wrote as the no-confidence motion in Jeremy Rockliff played out live on Thursday. "We left Tasmania 12 months ago just because of the incompetent bunch of people running the state," another said. With Tasmanians now facing the prospect of an election being called as early as next week — despite electing the Rockliff Liberals as recently as March last year — the upheaval has shone an unforgiving spotlight on the smallest state. Here is what members of the public and political experts have made of what has unfolded. The spectre of yet another trip to the ballot box — the fourth in seven years — has not been welcomed by many observers, with one describing it as "a clown show". "An utter garbage abuse of power from Labor and the Greens … the last thing anyone wants is another costly election," PoliticalNuffy wrote. "You would think that many of these elected folk are anti their own state," said Clive. "The no-alition soon found out that this type of rubbish is not in Australia's best interests. Landslide loss. So the wise ones in Tasmania are perpetuating the same mistakes." "A lot of what is going on here would be resolved if Tasmania had a more normal structure with a majoritarian lower house and a proportional upper house," Nicholas offered. Tasmanian Policy Exchange director Richard Eccleston said Labor may have misjudged Mr Rockliff's willingness to fight on. "I think Labor was hoping that it would lead to a change in leadership of the Liberal party," Dr Ecclestone said. "Perhaps the most significant thing that became crystal clear yesterday was the premier's commitment to stay on as leader of the Liberal party and to fight an election campaign. Mr Rockliff may be well known to voters — but, in the minds of some, for the wrong reasons. "Rockliff is holding the state to ransom for a vanity project that will cost us all in the long run," Jason said. Opposition Leader Dean Winter and Labor did not escape the vitriol either. "All Labor seem to be doing is proving they would be no better than the current degenerate rabble," Tim said. "Where is Labor's alternative budget? How can they say with a straight face that the Liberals are bringing Tasmania to financial ruin when they have not produced an alternative," asked Tracy. Kevin invoked the Game of Thrones terminology: Bob was similarly unimpressed: "Not entirely sure what Winter is doing here. Does he seriously believe Labor would win a majority on its own if another election is held? Even the Liberals couldn't do that," he said. "Seems a bit delusional." Former Liberal premier Will Hodgman, was scathing in a post to X: Mr Winter's assertion he did what he did because the premier had "wrecked" the state's debt position did not fly with many. "We are a laughing stock of our country, all because of a budget?" asked Jez. Others wondered what alternatives Labor would have presented. "Can somebody please share the alternate plan and budget that should have been presented this week by the opposition?" queried Phil. "There's no question the Rockliff govt's 2025-26 budget is an epic mess, but to throw the state into an unprecedented depth of uncertainty is not smart. I fear Winter has spectacularly miscalculated," said Ryan. Niko wanted to know "how on earth is blowing a billion dollars on a stadium supposed to make young people want to stay in the state"? Speaking of the stadium, the looming election has resulted in speculation the state's AFL team — the existence of which is conditional on the building of the arena at Macquarie Point — won't happen. That has not gone down well at all. "For too long Tasmania has been treated like poor cousins and now we are being treated like complete fools," said Chris. "If this stadium fails there will be an exodus of young people … Tassie loses the young already due to bigger opportunities elsewhere, this will change little," wrote Garry. And then there is the Spirit of Tasmania "fiasco", as Graeme pointed out. "Rockliff has shown how incompetent he is, as demonstrated by the TT Line and TasPorts fiascos." Oliver also used the F-word: Ruth asked, "can we stop amplifying the importance of the stadium?" "A whole state's future is at stake here, for example, how we afford to deliver the education and health services needed. Former premier Peter Gutwein yesterday told ABC Radio Mornings removing Mr Rockliff as premier could lead to "catastrophic outcomes" such as investments stalling. "That uncertainty, especially if the stadium and the team don't go ahead, will lead to a view from the mainland and investors within Tasmania that you just simply cannot trust the state of Tasmania to carry through on decisions," Mr Gutwein said. One ABC audience member agreed, saying projects like the stadium were "vital to the future economic growth of Tasmania" and would "unlock massive opportunities not just for the AFL team but for business, tourism, hospitality and beyond". "That said, this current parliament couldn't organise its way out of a paper bag."
