Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff loses no confidence motion

Tasmania’s embattled Liberal premier has visited Government House just hours after he lost a no-confidence motion by just one vote.

Tasmania’s embattled Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff has lost a no-confidence motion by just one vote after two days of fiery debate, triggering expectations of a snap election.

But the decision on an election is not expected to be made until next week, when Governor Barbara Baker is back in the state.

Instead, Mr Rockliff visited Government House on Thursday evening to see the administrator, Chief Justice Christopher Shanahan to seek to permission to resume parliament next week to pass legislation to ensure public servants, including teachers, nurses and police officers, can be paid.

“It’s at that point when, the Bills go through both houses of Parliament, that I will seek an audience with Her Excellency, the Governor of Tasmania, to hold an election,” Mr Rockliff told reporters.

“But my most, highest priority right now is to ensure that we continue to fund our essential services that all Tasmanians need.”

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff (centre) has vowed to seek a new election if a no-confidence vote is successful. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The shattered Premier was speaking after a gruelling two days following the decision by Labor leader Dean Winter to table a motion for a vote of no confidence on Wednesday.

Mr Winter cited the Premier’s handling of the state’s ailing economy, turmoil around the Spirit of Tasmania replacement ferries and the AFL stadium project.

Members voted on the motion on Thursday afternoon, and it was passed 18-17.

The Speaker of the House, Labor’s Michelle O’Byrne, had the deciding vote.

Ms O’Byrne said nobody could expect her to vote with a Liberal government as a Labor member, and referenced the long history of Speakers voting with their parties.

She acknowledged that the “stability of the parliament is fundamentally under question” and said a supply Bill must be prioritised.

Mr Rockliff said he respected Ms O’Byrne’s decision, and acknowledged their friendship, but said losing the confidence of the Parliament has made him “broken-hearted”.

“In my personal opinion, this is a very sad day for Tasmania,” he said.

“It is a sad day as well because I put a lot on the line for this parliament.

“It wasn’t easy to get a 35-seat parliament over the line, but I believed it was the right thing to do. And I still believe it was the right thing to do.

“It’s an eclectic mix of people from all sorts of backgrounds, which is what a parliament should be.

“And I wanted it to work. And I still want it to work.”

Mr Rockliff said although he’s been rolled out of government, Mr Winter will be next.

“You might get rid of me mate but they’re coming for you as well,” he warned.

He said the election will be one that “Tasmanians don’t want and that Tasmanians cannot afford.”

“But be that on Mr Winter’s head,” Mr Rockliff said.

Mr Rockliff warned Mr Winter he would be to blame for an election Tasmania “could not afford”. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tassie budget survey’s comedic timing

A survey with shockingly good timing dropped on Thursday, revealing just how much Tasmania hates the proposed budget.

Nearly half of Tasmanians thought the budget was bad for the state, compared to just over a quarter who thought it was good, a survey from Enterprise Marketing and Research Services shows.

A total of 57 per cent of the 500 people surveyed also said they oppose the Macquarie Point Stadium enabling legislation, with only 30 per cent in support.

The poll was taken over this Monday till Thursday, spanning over the two days of the no-confidence debate.

Tasmanians do seem to be very involved in the debate, as an anti-stadium petition on change.org has surpassed 30,000 signatures – the petition also calls for a referendum and Mr Rockliff’s resignation.

A pro-stadium petition created in response by a footy fanatic has rapidly gained about 20,000 signatures, and could be catching up.

As Opposition Leader Dean Winter comes under fire for calling the no-confidence vote, a survey has dropped that may be in his favour. Picture: NewsWire / Richard Jupe

‘I had to’, Opposition Leader says

Mr Winter has defended calling for a no-confidence vote, despite backlash.

“I can’t stand idly by and let this premier ruin Tasmania’s budget. He has taken Tasmania from having no net debt to having $11bn worth of net debt,” he said on Wednesday, during the lunch adjournment.

“I can’t stand by and let this premier ruin this state and so Tasmania Labor needs to stand up. “Stand up for Tasmanians who want good health care, who want an education system that supports Tasmanian young people, who want a government that is focused on supporting them.

“I want to bridge the gap between Tasmania and the mainland.”

Mr Winter said the Labor Speaker of the House, Michelle O’Byrne, is supporting the no confidence motion, and it’s his job as leader of the opposition to protect the rights of Tasmanians.

Labor leader Dean Winter said he had no choice but to call the no confidence motion against the Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Privatisation was a core focus for Mr Winter, who said assets should remain in the public domain.

“We are ready to take this premier on every single day, and we’re ready to fight on privatisation,” he said.

“This is a core issue for the Labor Party. We believe that these assets should remain in Tasmanian public ownership.”

He criticised Mr Rockcliff’s current budget proposal, and the accumulation of debt it would mean for the state.

“(Tasmanians) want a government that’s actually there for them, that’s prepared to make the decisions to support our state,” he said.

“They don’t want a premier who’s going to put our future on the credit card.”

As he spoke, Mr Winter continually declared he was “standing up for Tasmanians” and that he “had to” (move the no confidence motion).

The proposed AFL stadium is a key point of contention in the no-confidence vote debate. Picture: Supplied

Morning Recap

Debate has now adjourned for lunch, and will resume at about 2.30pm.

Despite Labor bringing the no-confidence vote mainly over the Tasmanian state budget that was handed down last week, debate has largely focused on the controversial AFL stadium.

Liberal MP Rob Fairs “Fairsy” has said he’s “haunted by the vision” of those poor children who will be crushed by the Tasmanian Devils AFL club being decimated.

Mr Fairs also questioned whether Mr Winter is capable of maths, since he has not recognised he will need the Greens to form government.

The Spirit of Tasmania ferries has also been a hot topic as the ships meant to be delivered in late 2023 are now not expected to be in use until late 2026.

Labor disappeared (briefly)

Former Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson questioned where all the Labor MPs have gone.

“I note that Labor have given up on prosecuting their own no-confidence motion, which I find extraordinary,” he said.

“To think that the Labor Party have moved the motion in the belief that they have the numbers and they’ve actually given up on the debate.

“About four or five consecutive speakers, not from the opposition.

“It’s amazing the number of Labor members who have not yet spoken in pursuit of their motion.”

Labor MP Jen Butler has since risen as the 28th speaker, and said her support for the no-confidence vote “hasn’t come lightly” but that Mr Rockliffe has not had his “finger on the pulse,” unlike his predecessors.

It seems unlikely a vote will be called before debate adjourns for lunch at 1pm.

The Spirit of Tasmania delays are also a central focus as the debate continues into its second day. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Matray

What the hell is going on?

Independent MP Rebekah Pentland has laid into Opposition Leader Dean Winter by accusing him of being an opportunist.

“The rest of the country is looking at us today and thinking: ‘what the hell is going on?’,” she said.

“I am well aware this is a no-confidence motion about the Premier, but the Labor leader has made the last 24 hours all about him.

“He is today relying on the support of the party he promised he would never do a deal with to try and bring down a premier … his behaviour over the last 24 hours has seen him lose respect.

“In my eyes, tailoring a no-confidence motion and putting pressure on the crossbench is like loading a gun and asking someone else to pull the trigger.

“It says to me that the opposition leader is more interested in becoming the premier than he is in making the parliament work for the benefit of our state.”

It’s been crossbench and Liberal city today, as a Labor member is yet to speak in the debate.

Can’t afford a new stadium, MP says

Independent MP Craig Garland said he would only work with a new leader of the Liberal Party if they ditched the stadium.

“I want the government to press pause on the new stadium, to recognise you can’t afford the new stadium right now,” he said.

“Go back to the AFL and tell them this, because when you’re in a $7bln black hole and you stop digging.

“This debt trajectory must change and as I said in my public letter to the Treasury and the government, I’m not prepared to saddle Tasmanians with this level of debt.

“It is completely unsustainable, it’s unethical and it is immoral.

“If the Liberal Party still want to govern its parliament and decide to change leaders, I say this: I would work with you if you need to abandon the stadium-enabling legislation and let the Tasmanian Planning Commission do this work and hand down its final report on the stadium.”

Hobart's proposed AFL Stadium at Mac Point is the decision-maker for many MPs as to how they will be voting on the no-confidence motion. Picture: Supplied

Only if Rockliff is Premier

Independent member for division of Franklin in southern Tasmania and President of the Southern Tasmanian Football League David O’Byrne said he will only support the Liberals if Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff stays in power.

“My agreement is with him. There are other members of the Liberal Government that I would not support being premier and my agreement is with him,” Mr O’Brien told ABC News.

“It is a working relationship with him as premier. He has been opened with me, honest with me and treated me with respect.

“We have not always agreed. We have been able to work on a few matters which I think are important to the state and so my agreement is in him and my confidence in his leadership. “That confidence would not be supplied to other members of the Liberal Government based on my Judgement of what is best for Tasmania.”

Mr O’Brien questioned why the motion was moved my opposition members who said “Well, the Premier needs to go. We don’t need to have an election. We don’t need the government to fall.”

“That brings into question why you are moving the motion. Is it just to get rid of Jeremy Rockliff who is a popular premier,” Mr O’Brien asked.

“Removing the Premier, in my view, just diminishes the parliament and diminishes the government.”

Independent senator said he will only support the Liberals if Mr Rockliff stays in power. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

No deal with Greens

Opposition Leader Dean Winter said his government will not be working with the Greens.

“I will not do a deal or form government with the Greens,” Mr Winter posted on X, amid the parliament debate.

“Jeremy Rockliff is calling his second early election in 16 months because he has lost the support of the parliament.

“We are going to an election because the Liberals have broken the budget and want to sell off Tasmania’s assets.

“Labor will never agree to selling off our state to multinational companies and mainland shareholders. That means higher power bills, worse services, and profits flowing offshore instead of funding our schools and hospitals.”

What are you going to do?

Addressing parliament ahead of the vote on Thursday, Greens MP Tabatha Badger insisted Mr Winter needs to reveal what he would do if Labor is asked to form government.

This would happen if the Lieutenant-Governor denies the Premier’s request for an election.

“It’s not clear what Labor’s plan actually is here,” Ms Badger said.

“Stand up and say what you are going to do, if the governor comes to you and says what are you going to do.”

Ms Badger called for a solution to be reached without sending Tasmanians to election.

About 15 more speakers are expected, with a vote expected later on Thursday afternoon.

Premier lashes ‘destructive’ motion

Mr Rockliff fronted media ahead of Thursday’s vote, calling it “divisive and destructive”.

“Today, if Mr Winter’s divisive and destructive motion is passed, I will be going to the Lieutenant Governor and seeking an election,” Mr Rockliff told reporters.

“This will be an election that Tasmanians don’t want and Tasmania cannot afford.

“Be that on Mr Winter’s head. This has been a selfish grab for power of which Tasmanians will look upon very poorly indeed.”

He said he had “a lot more fight in me”.

“We have built a better Tasmania,” Mr Rockliff said.

“We have invested in health. We have invested to keep children safe. We have invested in our schools, in community safety, and we have created an economy that is leading the nation, with record-low unemployment.”

He added he “cannot let Mr Winter’s selfish grab for power destroy what we have built over the course of the last decade”.

“The only job Mr Winter is interested in is mine,” Mr Rockliff said.

“And I am not going anywhere.”

Embattled premier’s D-Day

Tasmania’s parliament was set to resume its debate on the no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff at 10am.

MPs debated the motion for about 10 hours before parliament was suspended on Wednesday.

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.

Labor leader Dean Winter tabled the motion of no confidence. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Rockliff on Wednesday 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.

Originally published as Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff loses no confidence motion