Tasmanian Liberals strike confidence deal with ex-Lambies Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland

They may be rebels to Jacqui Lambie but two freshly-minted independent MPs have thrown a lifeline to Tasmania’s Liberal minority government.

Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland in state parliament. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Two expelled Lambie MPs will have more power to vote against Tasmania’s Liberal minority government under a revised confidence and supply deal.

Rebekah Pentland and Mir­iam Beswick late on Tuesday signed the new agreement, ensuring that the Rockliff Liberals can continue to govern despite having only 14 seats in the state’s 35-seat assembly.

The deal was needed after the two MPs were booted out of the Jacqui Lambie Network when they pushed back against what they saw as Senator Jacqui Lambie’s interference in state issues.

“This agreement is about continuing to provide a stable government that offers security to Tasmanians and Tasmanian businesses,” Ms Beswick said.

It also grants the two a far freer hand to vote against the Liberals, including on motions that would bind the government. This had been banned under the JLN’s deal with the government.

The two MPs will back the government on confidence motions, except in cases of corruption, malfeasance or “serious misbehaviour”.

They are free to support censure motions but have promised to avoid backing such votes if they are “frivolous or opportunistic”.

While otherwise free to vote as they please, the two have agreed to warn the government when they intend to vote against it.

Some aspects of the previous JLN deal, which became defunct when they left the party, remain, including government commitments to reviews of the Integrity Commission, Right to In­formation laws and political ­donation rules.

As well, the government re-commits to closing the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

The government has avoided agreeing to other commitments wanted by the two MPs, including budget responsibility measures recommended in a recent report by economist Saul Eslake.

Mr Rockliff thanked the two MPs for “their productive and collaborative approach”.

The government is yet to release a revised deal with the remaining JLN MP, Andrew Jenner, who also wants more freedom to vote against the government than under the former deal.

The government has confidence and supply assurances from two other independents.