Last Liberal govt on a knife-edge as Tassie independents stand firm

A key independent Tasmanian MP warns he will move a no-confidence motion unless key demands are met.

Independent John Tucker reveals his ultimatum to the Tasmanian Liberal government in Launceston on Thursday. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

The future of Tasmania’s minority Liberal government is on a knife-edge, after a key independent warned he would move a no-confidence motion unless his key demands were met.

Independent ex-Liberal MP John Tucker on Thursday morning indicated a willingness to negotiate a new deal to prop-up the Rockliff government.

However, he warned Premier Jeremy Rockliff - Australia’s last Liberal Premier - would need to drop demands the two ex-Liberal independents agree not to vote for non-government amendments and motions.

And he said the Premier must honour parliamentary motions by delaying development of an AFL high performance centre, and by installing CCTV in abattoirs.

“If the Premier and his deputy are fair dinkum about wanting the government to run full term, there is no reason that can’t happen - however that is a big if,” Mr Tucker told reporters.

The other independent ex-Liberal MP, Lara Alexander, has already indicated she will not tolerate being bound to only support government-backed motions and amendments.

However, it is understood talks between the Premier and two independents scheduled for Friday will go ahead and Mr Tucker suggested the Premier may have shifted ground.

Mr Rockliff has until the resumption of parliament on March 5 to negotiate a mutually acceptable deal with the independents, or else ask the governor for an early election.

He said Mr Tucker’s comments had not changed his position but that the Friday talks would proceed. “I want certainty and stability for Tasmania, and that is what I intend to deliver,” the Premier said. “I look forward to tomorrow’s meeting.”

Mr Tucker, who sees work on an ALF high performance centre as pre-empting a parliamentary decision on a proposed AFL stadium, said his and Ms Alexander’s May deal to support the government had never been a “blank cheque”.

“The Premier has until March 5 to comply,” he said. “I will not provide continued confidence and supply to a government which seeks impose minority rule over the majority.”

He rejected the Premier’s comments last week that the two independents – who quit the Liberal Party over the government’s handling of the AFL stadium and Marinus Link projects – kept “moving the goalposts”.

Unless Mr Rockliff decides to ask the governor for an election – not due until May 2025 – it appears the state is in for a period of protracted uncertainty, as the Premier tries to strike a new deal with the two MPs.

“I will never ever sign up to be handcuffed, muzzled and sidelined from any meaningful contribution to the parliament,” Mr Tucker said.

“The Premier knows that and I can only conclude that his real intent is to call on an election and he’s trying to find someone else to blame.”

While a compromise could conceivably be reached on how the MPs vote, and on speeding up installation of CCTV in abattoirs, the $70 million AFL high performance centre could be a more difficult issue to resolve.

The government’s deal with the AFL granting the state an AFL team sets deadlines for progression of the centre, with failure to comply potentially risking the entire agreement.