Tasmanian parliament: Labor no-confidence motion against Jeremy Rockliff fails
The motion, moved by Opposition Leader Dean Winter, was met with a rare display of unity from all other sides, leaving Labor exposed and widely criticised.
The newly elected member for Franklin and former ABC reporter, Peter George, delivered one of the most scathing assessments of Labor's performance so far.
'Labor set about undermining the very notion of collaboration and compromise as it sought to lead a minority government,' Mr George told the House of Assembly.
'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.'
Mr George did not spare the Liberals either, describing himself as caught between a 'rock and a hard place' and criticising their inflexibility over the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium.
Labor leader Dean Winter moved a fresh no-confidence motion against the Rockliff government. Picture: NewsWire/ Simon Sturzaker
During the heated debate, Mr Winter continued interjecting across the floor while others spoke, drawing criticism from both sides and highlighting the opposition's disjointed strategy.
'We are here because the 51st parliament had no confidence in the Rockliff government. This parliament should have no more confidence,' Mr Winter said.
He acknowledged that the vote may not go his way but said he had stuck by his values, accusing the Premier of letting down workers in the greyhound, forestry and salmon industries.
'How could anyone ever invest with confidence with a premier willing to sell any industry out and whose word means nothing, and the letters he writes are now worthless,' Mr Winter said.
'No-one can ever trust you again, you have shown there is no job in Tasmania you will not sell out to save your own.'
He also attacked the Greens for allegedly abandoning public sector workers facing job losses, those waiting for public housing, and regional Tasmanians struggling to access healthcare.
Premier Rockliff, the only Liberal MP to speak on the motion, emphasised the need for collaboration in a minority government.
'We cannot ignore the fact that in minority government we must come together and agree on policy positions that reflect the wider will of the people,' Mr Rockliff said.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said 'the political games must end'.
'Minority government may well be here for decades to come, and that's why we need to listen, learn and continue to make progress. We might not always agree, but everyone deserves to be heard.'
He blamed Mr Winter for sending parliament 'right back where we were'.
Labor also accused the Liberals of having 'done a deal' with the Greens. Deputy Opposition Leader Anita Dow claimed the election of a Greens MP as deputy speaker showed collusion between the two parties.
'Another layer of the Liberal-Green deal has been exposed,' Ms Dow said.
'If it looks like a deal, and walks like a deal, it's a deal. Jeremy Rockliff has got in to bed with the Greens, and he's sold out Tasmanian workers to save his own job.'
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said her party could not back a motion that put Labor into power – but said the minor party did not have confidence in the Liberals either.
'We tried really hard to work with Labor,' Ms Woodruff said.
'Mr Winter showed no capacity or intention to negotiate with the Greens or to make policy compromises.
'Labor has nothing to offer. They continue to blindly back building a billion-dollar stadium the state doesn't need and clearly can't afford.'
Dean Winter's bid to unseat Premier Rockliff faces strong resistance in a minority parliament, with Greens and independents refusing to back the motion. Picture: Patrick Gee/NewsWire
Independent members also refused to back Labor. Kristie Johnston described the Liberals' concessions as 'purely altruistic' but criticised Labor's lack of preparedness to govern in a power-sharing parliament.
David O'Byrne echoed the sentiment, condemning the motion as a political stunt.
'Here we are again, groundhog day … because you want to score a political point,' he said.
'My vote today will be against this motion.'
Deputy Labor leader Josh Willie warned the crossbench that they would bear the consequences of keeping the government in power.
'When the government starts behaving like it always has, you will be stuck with them,' Mr Willie said.
'There will be no trigger for an early election, you will be stuck with this government for four years because you enabled it. You will own the poor decisions, the backflips, and the poor governance. Tasmania will be worse for it, and you will have to live with your decision.'
Labor's motion was defeated 24 to 10.
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Andrew Hedgman
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Andrew Hedgman is a journalist for NCA Newswire.
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