Tasmanian Labor party stand firm on no-confidence motion as Greens call for delay

Labor has doubled down on its plans for a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff, despite claims parliamentary theatrics would divert from more pressing issues.

Dean Winter Labor member for Franklin. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Labor has doubled down on its plans for a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff, despite claims parliamentary theatrics would divert from more pressing issues.

Leader of Opposition Business Dean Winter said if the no-confidence motion foreshadowed for next Tuesday succeeds, he expected an election would be called.

“Irrespective of whether we went back on time, which is next Tuesday or a week later if we hadn’t have offered a pair, we were always going to be moving no confidence in the premier and in his government,” Mr winter told ABC radio on Wednesday.

“How could we not given what we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks.

“Tasmania actually needs a government that’s capable of governing.

“This is a government that is falling apart and we can all see it.”

If the motion is put to a vote, the numbers are expected to be tight, with the government commenting just nine certain votes in the 25-member House of Assembly.

Two independent members have pledged to back the Liberals on matters of confidence, pointing to a tied vote, if the Greens and other crossbenchers back Labor.

Mr Winter said the Liberals would do no better under an alternate leader.

“You can shuffle the deck chairs around on the Titanic but you’re still on the Titanic – and that’s what this government looks like.

“It’s this is a government that said there’s going to be a strong stable majority government under Peter Gutwein in 2021.

“Instead we’ve got a weak, minority, unstable government under Jeremy Rockliff and they’re falling apart at the seams.”

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff called for the vote to be delayed and for matters relating to the Commission of Inquiry to take priority.

“We are now hurtling towards a parliamentary week where politics is put first instead,” she said.

“This simply isn’t good enough, and both the Liberals and Labor have a role to play in ensuring the COI Budget Bill passes as quickly as possible.

“The Greens are today proposing terms of agreement for parties to subscribe to in order to ensure the parliament fulfils its obligation to victim-survivors and the wider community by passing this Bill before considering any other business.”

Originally published as Tasmanian Labor party stand firm on no-confidence motion as Greens call for delay