Defiant Premier must quit now: Labor

Premier Jeremy Rockliff must stop defying the will of the Tasmanian parliament and resign to break the currently political deadlock, Labor says.

On left Labor member for Braddon Shane Broad speaks the day after the Premier Jeremy Rockliff met with the Governor to request an early election. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Premier Jeremy Rockliff must stop defying the will of the Tasmanian parliament and resign to break the currently political deadlock, Labor says.
More Rockliff was the subject of a no-confidence motion in the House of Assembly on Thursday.

He visited Governor Barbara Baker on Tuesday night, asking for an election, a request that wasn’t immediately granted.

The Governor says it may take until the end of the week to unscramble the state’s political crisis.

Deputy premier Guy Barnett and Premier Jeremy Rockliff. House of assembly returns to pass budget essentials. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A new Liberal leader, a Labor minority government or an election are among the possibilities.

Labor’s Shane Broad said Mr Rockliff could help matters greatly by resigning, as is the convention after losing a no-confidence motion.

“A week ago, the parliament voted no confidence in Premier Jeremy Rockliff, and yet this still drags on,” he said.

“Now we haven’t had an election granted by the Governor, and she is going to take her time to make a decision.

“We’ve got to this point because of Jeremy Rockliff and his refusal, refusal to resign. The parliament voted no confidence in him for three reasons, the budget management stuffing up projects: major projects like the Spirits and his plan to sell Tasmania’s assets.

“What we know is now he hasn’t had his election granted, and that the members of his own party are starting to do the numbers to roll him.

“What he should do is the honourable thing and resign.”

Should Mr Rockliff resign, the leading contenders to take his job are Eric Abetz, Michael Ferguson or deputy Premier Guy Barnett.

Mr Abetz is widely thought to be the leading contender among those familiar with the likely outcome of a party room vote, although is believed to be just short of the majority needed.

Originally published as Defiant Premier must quit now: Labor