Cross bench lashes Labor as minority Libs retain power
Jeremy Rockliff was recommissioned as premier after a July 19 state election delivered another hung parliament but faced a test of his numbers when parliament resumed on Tuesday.
Labor leader Dean Winter moved a no-confidence motion for debate as flagged, despite knowing his party didn't have the numbers to topple the Liberals.
Labor's bid to govern required the support of the five-seat Greens, who on Monday declared they were unable to support an "uncompromising" Mr Winter.
The Liberals have made several policy concessions during cross bench negotiations, including pledging to ban greyhound racing and review salmon farming.
"We did campaign for majority government. That is not what the people of Tasmania decided," Mr Rockliff said.
"The opposition leader has continued to demonstrate that he has learned nothing."
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said she was unable to back Mr Winter as premier after he showed "contempt" for her party and refused to budge during talks.
"We tried really hard to work with Labor," she said.
"We tried to negotiate constructively with the Labor leader in an attempt to form a workable government.
"It is deeply disappointing and frustrating that we've gotten to this point."
Dr Woodruff said her decision to not back Labor wasn't a show of support for the Liberals.
The July poll was triggered when Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion that was put forward by Labor and supported by the Greens and independents.
The Liberals claimed 14 seats, with Labor getting 10, with a cross bench featuring five independents and one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP.
Independents, former Labor leader David O'Byrne and Kristie Johnston, who also declared they wouldn't support Labor prior to parliament sitting, took aim at Mr Winter.
"You don't build trust and confidence by making grossly inappropriate and contemptuous statements, like 'the Greens are the enemy of the working people'," Ms Johnston said.
Mr O'Byrne said Mr Winter had disrespected the cross bench by not negotiating and said the no-confidence motion shouldn't have been moved with the writing on the wall.
"You don't have the numbers. You've been publicly made aware," Mr O'Byrne said.
"Here we are again, groundhog day … because you want to score a political point."
First-term independent Peter George, a former journalist, also voted against the motion, saying Labor had undermined the very notion of collaboration and compromise.
"In my years of reporting politics, which stretch back to the Whitlam years, never have I come across an opposition party less ready for government," he said.
Mr Winter, whose party recorded its worst primary vote in more than a century at the election, said Mr Rockliff had "sold out" industry by announcing the greyhound and salmon pledges.
"The premier's word now means nothing. There is no job he won't sell out to save his own," he said.
The Greens and all other six members of the cross bench voted against the no-confidence motion.
The Liberals have been in power since 2014 and in minority since 2023.
Labor also lost its bid for Speaker, with Liberal MP Jacquie Petrusma, who turned down portfolios due to a leg injury, winning a vote against Jen Butler.
Tasmania's minority Liberal premier has been given the parliamentary green light to govern, with Labor copping a cross bench hiding for its failed bid to seize power.
Jeremy Rockliff was recommissioned as premier after a July 19 state election delivered another hung parliament but faced a test of his numbers when parliament resumed on Tuesday.
Labor leader Dean Winter moved a no-confidence motion for debate as flagged, despite knowing his party didn't have the numbers to topple the Liberals.
Labor's bid to govern required the support of the five-seat Greens, who on Monday declared they were unable to support an "uncompromising" Mr Winter.
The Liberals have made several policy concessions during cross bench negotiations, including pledging to ban greyhound racing and review salmon farming.
"We did campaign for majority government. That is not what the people of Tasmania decided," Mr Rockliff said.
"The opposition leader has continued to demonstrate that he has learned nothing."
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said she was unable to back Mr Winter as premier after he showed "contempt" for her party and refused to budge during talks.
"We tried really hard to work with Labor," she said.
"We tried to negotiate constructively with the Labor leader in an attempt to form a workable government.
"It is deeply disappointing and frustrating that we've gotten to this point."
Dr Woodruff said her decision to not back Labor wasn't a show of support for the Liberals.
The July poll was triggered when Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion that was put forward by Labor and supported by the Greens and independents.
The Liberals claimed 14 seats, with Labor getting 10, with a cross bench featuring five independents and one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP.
Independents, former Labor leader David O'Byrne and Kristie Johnston, who also declared they wouldn't support Labor prior to parliament sitting, took aim at Mr Winter.
"You don't build trust and confidence by making grossly inappropriate and contemptuous statements, like 'the Greens are the enemy of the working people'," Ms Johnston said.
Mr O'Byrne said Mr Winter had disrespected the cross bench by not negotiating and said the no-confidence motion shouldn't have been moved with the writing on the wall.
"You don't have the numbers. You've been publicly made aware," Mr O'Byrne said.
"Here we are again, groundhog day … because you want to score a political point."
First-term independent Peter George, a former journalist, also voted against the motion, saying Labor had undermined the very notion of collaboration and compromise.
"In my years of reporting politics, which stretch back to the Whitlam years, never have I come across an opposition party less ready for government," he said.
Mr Winter, whose party recorded its worst primary vote in more than a century at the election, said Mr Rockliff had "sold out" industry by announcing the greyhound and salmon pledges.
"The premier's word now means nothing. There is no job he won't sell out to save his own," he said.
The Greens and all other six members of the cross bench voted against the no-confidence motion.
The Liberals have been in power since 2014 and in minority since 2023.
Labor also lost its bid for Speaker, with Liberal MP Jacquie Petrusma, who turned down portfolios due to a leg injury, winning a vote against Jen Butler.
Tasmania's minority Liberal premier has been given the parliamentary green light to govern, with Labor copping a cross bench hiding for its failed bid to seize power.
Jeremy Rockliff was recommissioned as premier after a July 19 state election delivered another hung parliament but faced a test of his numbers when parliament resumed on Tuesday.
Labor leader Dean Winter moved a no-confidence motion for debate as flagged, despite knowing his party didn't have the numbers to topple the Liberals.
Labor's bid to govern required the support of the five-seat Greens, who on Monday declared they were unable to support an "uncompromising" Mr Winter.
The Liberals have made several policy concessions during cross bench negotiations, including pledging to ban greyhound racing and review salmon farming.
"We did campaign for majority government. That is not what the people of Tasmania decided," Mr Rockliff said.
"The opposition leader has continued to demonstrate that he has learned nothing."
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said she was unable to back Mr Winter as premier after he showed "contempt" for her party and refused to budge during talks.
"We tried really hard to work with Labor," she said.
"We tried to negotiate constructively with the Labor leader in an attempt to form a workable government.
"It is deeply disappointing and frustrating that we've gotten to this point."
Dr Woodruff said her decision to not back Labor wasn't a show of support for the Liberals.
The July poll was triggered when Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion that was put forward by Labor and supported by the Greens and independents.
The Liberals claimed 14 seats, with Labor getting 10, with a cross bench featuring five independents and one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP.
Independents, former Labor leader David O'Byrne and Kristie Johnston, who also declared they wouldn't support Labor prior to parliament sitting, took aim at Mr Winter.
"You don't build trust and confidence by making grossly inappropriate and contemptuous statements, like 'the Greens are the enemy of the working people'," Ms Johnston said.
Mr O'Byrne said Mr Winter had disrespected the cross bench by not negotiating and said the no-confidence motion shouldn't have been moved with the writing on the wall.
"You don't have the numbers. You've been publicly made aware," Mr O'Byrne said.
"Here we are again, groundhog day … because you want to score a political point."
First-term independent Peter George, a former journalist, also voted against the motion, saying Labor had undermined the very notion of collaboration and compromise.
"In my years of reporting politics, which stretch back to the Whitlam years, never have I come across an opposition party less ready for government," he said.
Mr Winter, whose party recorded its worst primary vote in more than a century at the election, said Mr Rockliff had "sold out" industry by announcing the greyhound and salmon pledges.
"The premier's word now means nothing. There is no job he won't sell out to save his own," he said.
The Greens and all other six members of the cross bench voted against the no-confidence motion.
The Liberals have been in power since 2014 and in minority since 2023.
Labor also lost its bid for Speaker, with Liberal MP Jacquie Petrusma, who turned down portfolios due to a leg injury, winning a vote against Jen Butler.
Tasmania's minority Liberal premier has been given the parliamentary green light to govern, with Labor copping a cross bench hiding for its failed bid to seize power.
Jeremy Rockliff was recommissioned as premier after a July 19 state election delivered another hung parliament but faced a test of his numbers when parliament resumed on Tuesday.
Labor leader Dean Winter moved a no-confidence motion for debate as flagged, despite knowing his party didn't have the numbers to topple the Liberals.
Labor's bid to govern required the support of the five-seat Greens, who on Monday declared they were unable to support an "uncompromising" Mr Winter.
The Liberals have made several policy concessions during cross bench negotiations, including pledging to ban greyhound racing and review salmon farming.
"We did campaign for majority government. That is not what the people of Tasmania decided," Mr Rockliff said.
"The opposition leader has continued to demonstrate that he has learned nothing."
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said she was unable to back Mr Winter as premier after he showed "contempt" for her party and refused to budge during talks.
"We tried really hard to work with Labor," she said.
"We tried to negotiate constructively with the Labor leader in an attempt to form a workable government.
"It is deeply disappointing and frustrating that we've gotten to this point."
Dr Woodruff said her decision to not back Labor wasn't a show of support for the Liberals.
The July poll was triggered when Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion that was put forward by Labor and supported by the Greens and independents.
The Liberals claimed 14 seats, with Labor getting 10, with a cross bench featuring five independents and one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP.
Independents, former Labor leader David O'Byrne and Kristie Johnston, who also declared they wouldn't support Labor prior to parliament sitting, took aim at Mr Winter.
"You don't build trust and confidence by making grossly inappropriate and contemptuous statements, like 'the Greens are the enemy of the working people'," Ms Johnston said.
Mr O'Byrne said Mr Winter had disrespected the cross bench by not negotiating and said the no-confidence motion shouldn't have been moved with the writing on the wall.
"You don't have the numbers. You've been publicly made aware," Mr O'Byrne said.
"Here we are again, groundhog day … because you want to score a political point."
First-term independent Peter George, a former journalist, also voted against the motion, saying Labor had undermined the very notion of collaboration and compromise.
"In my years of reporting politics, which stretch back to the Whitlam years, never have I come across an opposition party less ready for government," he said.
Mr Winter, whose party recorded its worst primary vote in more than a century at the election, said Mr Rockliff had "sold out" industry by announcing the greyhound and salmon pledges.
"The premier's word now means nothing. There is no job he won't sell out to save his own," he said.
The Greens and all other six members of the cross bench voted against the no-confidence motion.
The Liberals have been in power since 2014 and in minority since 2023.
Labor also lost its bid for Speaker, with Liberal MP Jacquie Petrusma, who turned down portfolios due to a leg injury, winning a vote against Jen Butler.
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But what does it say about Mr Rockliff's word? Labor would argue that it says a lot. That he can vow to support these industries one week and abandon them the next. But do you get to keep all your promises if you fail to win a majority? If 18 is the magic number, the Liberals have three-quarters of a mandate. Labor has just over half. It could stand to reason that if you need to lean on others to govern, you're also going to need to give a little ground. In his speech on the motion, Mr Rockliff said the Liberals' decision to move on certain policy areas was an "acknowledgement that people have spoken". "And this acknowledgement that we are in minority government, and we must respect the views of others." He might have won the day, but there's no denying Mr Rockliff has his work cut out for him. He has to deal with a largely progressive crossbench that would like him to go much further than he has when it comes to his promises on the salmon industry and native forest logging. (They'd end both). On a side note, given the crossbench has been willing so far to accept what Mr Rockliff is offering, it seems they at least know how to compromise. Though Labor might argue otherwise. On the other hand, Mr Rockliff has some very conservative voices in his party who are probably hoping that now they have survived the no-confidence motion, the hard asks are over. Bad news: That work is just beginning. If it wants to survive, the Liberals will need to continue to negotiate, to be up-front, transparent and, yes, compromise. On the face of things, the Liberals — at least some of them — seem aware of this. Members of the crossbench, including the Greens, say Mr Rockliff's language and concessions suggest he has an understanding of how minority parliament needs to work. And the Liberals have made moves that go beyond policy and speak to the way they are hoping to approach this new parliament. They have set up a multi-partisan budget panel that had its first meeting last week. The premier has chosen to forgo any extra portfolios so he can focus on dealing with the crossbench. And they have employed former Liberal MP Nic Street, who is well-liked across the parliament, as a crossbench liaison officer. A position that was desperately needed last time. If they stay on this trajectory, maybe, just maybe, things could work out. After all, they cannot afford to be complacent. They would be remiss to think the crossbench won't throw them out again. Sure, Labor's current tack appears to be doubling down, but they could change course. And Labor is right: Values-wise, they do have far more in common with the crossbench. Look at the legislation they teamed up to pass in the last parliament. If the Liberals forget who is allowing them to stay in power and Labor discovers the ability to compromise, Tasmania could see another change in government. For now, though, Labor is busy licking its wounds and maybe considering a new leader. And there appears to be enough "goodwill" across most of the parliament to try to find a way to make it work for the people they are representing. So hopefully, now, the drama is over (a solid two months after parliament blew up). To borrow a Liberal phrase, they can all just "get on with the job".
