No place to hide for underperformers as parliament holds minority government to account

Michael Ferguson’s resignation indicates another shift of power in Tasmania’s parliament, which could change how leaders act, Political Editor David Killick writes.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Return to the House of Assembly question time. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Monday’s resignation of Michael Ferguson from cabinet signals another shift in the balance of power between the executive and the parliament.

For most of the decade the Liberals have been in power they have been in majority, or within cooee of it — or at least they’ve acted like it

There have been notable exceptions of course, where legislation like voluntary assisted dying and transgender law reforms have made it through the lower house but for the most part, ministers knew they would hold their jobs for as long as they had the confidence of the Premier, regardless of the protests and rhetoric of oppositions and the crossbenchers.

Those times look to be gone.

Former Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson. Return to the House of Assembly question time. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Seeing a deputy premier removed by the threat of a no-confidence motion for poor performance must be a sobering moment for the other lacklustre performers.

What if non-government MPs decide it is taking too long to close Ashley Youth Detention Centre, to improve school retention rates, to fix elective surgery waiting lists or ambulance response times or public transport? Who is safe then?

What if non-government MPs want a higher standard of transparency or want the ministerial code of conduct more rigorously enforced?

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Return to the House of Assembly question time. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

If this has a sobering effect on this government, that is a good thing. This is the parliament Tasmanians elected and these are the checks and balances built into our system.

Greater accountability should lead to better outcomes.

Mr Rockliff has listened and says he will conduct a review of government business enterprises. It seems an obvious reform that is overdue.

The Premier might well be displeased about their role in the toppling of his deputy.

There are a few boards and executives who would be right to take heed of the new wind that is blowing.

Originally published as No place to hide for underperformers as parliament holds minority government to account