Premier facing no-confidence threat
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff's shaky hold on government is in danger of collapsing, after the opposition flagged a no-confidence motion.
In his budget reply speech on Tuesday, Labor Opposition Leader Dean Winter said he would put forward the no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff, challenging the crossbench to support it.
Key independent Craig Garland said he would support the motion, telling The Australian the Liberal government's state budget last week that doubled state debt, the controversial AFL stadium project and the TT-Line ferries fiasco were keys to his decision.
'I'll be supporting a no-confidence motion in the Premier. I'm just sick to death of the arrogance and ignorance,' he said.
Independent Kristie Johnston and Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner have also signalled support. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is facing the threat of a no confidence motion. NewsWire / David Beach Credit: News Corp Australia
Mr Winter said he would move the motion as soon as he had sufficient crossbench support to pass it.
'I have tabled a notice of motion that says this House has no confidence in the Premier because he has wrecked the budget, because he is planning to sell our power companies, our ports and our public transport,' Mr Winter said.
The state Greens will decide Mr Rockliff's fate, expected after a party meeting as early as Wednesday.
Mr Rockliff earlier in parliament defended his government's record and rebuked Mr Winter for being negative in his reply speech, the Mercury reported.
'Well, that was a negative outlook for Tasmania,' he said.
'I mean, if you're a Tasmanian listening to that speech, of course, full of inconsistencies, hypocritical, laced with hypocrisy, but most importantly for Tasmania and Tasmanians talking this wonderful state down, a state that everyone has worked so hard over the course of the last 11 years to take it from economic laggard to leading the nation.'
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