Tasmanian Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s poll threat to rebels

Tasmania is on course for an early election, with Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff imposing new demands on two independents they are unlikely to accept.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has threatened to call an early election unless two ex-Liberal independents agree to a new deal. Picture: Linda Higginson

Tasmania is on course for an early election, with Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff imposing new demands on two key independents they are unlikely to accept.

Mr Rockliff has since May last year relied on the support of two ex-Liberal independents to govern in minority, but on Friday demanded they stop supporting non-government motions and amendments – or else trigger a poll.

“They have continued to shift the goalposts, and threatened to withdraw confidence and supply unless they get their own way,” Mr Rockliff said, accusing independents Lara Alexander and John Tucker of holding Tasmanians “to ransom”.

“While the (existing) agreement binds Mr Tucker and Mrs Alexander not to support non-government legislation, this is being ‘gamed’ by Labor and the Greens, who are instead moving binding political motions.

“Their support for such political motions by Labor and the Greens, coupled with repeated statements about bringing down the government, is bad for business and investor confidence, and is damaging Tasmania. This cannot go on. I will not allow the government or Tasmanians to be held to ransom.”

However, later Mr Rockliff insisted he did not “want an election”, only “stability” and was open to negotiations with the two independents at a meeting scheduled for February 9.

“We need to have sensible discussions – cooler heads need to prevail,” he said, while insisting his new demands were “a line in the sand”.

Labor opposition leader Rebecca White accused Mr Rockliff of unfairly blaming the independents. “This is Jeremy Rockliff’s problem,” Ms White said.

“He has to take responsibility and he needs to demonstrate to Tasmanians that he’s either got the balls to call a date … or take it full term and stop all this chaos.”

Ms Alexander immediately rejected the terms of the new deal, saying it would leave herself and Mr Tucker with less power than backbenchers, and unable to support positive amendments put forward by non-government MPs.

“He wants to turn us into lapdogs,” she told The Australian, adding that she was not even sure the Premier’s bid to limit her voting rights as an independent was legal or constitutional.

She accused the Premier, a Liberal moderate, of “bullying” the independents, both conservatives, and of manufacturing a crisis to blame them for an early election.

“This was all premeditated – he wants an early election but doesn’t want to be seen as the one who caused it, so he wants us to be the scapegoats,” Ms Alexander said.

Mr Tucker was yet to respond but was already threatening to withdraw confidence over what he sees as the government’s failure to deliver parliament’s wishes on an AFL stadium and animal welfare measures. “I’m still thinking about what I’m going to do,” he said.

Mr Rockliff has given the two ex-Liberals, who quit over the government’s handling of the AFL stadium and Marinus Link power project, until the resumption of parliament on March 5 to sign his new deal.

However, it appears likely he would visit the Governor to request an election well before then should they clearly reject it, potentially as early as next week.

The election is not due until May 2025. The Liberals, in power since 2014, are seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive term.

Latest polling, by EMRS in November, had Liberals on 39, Labor 29, the Greens 12 and “others” 19.

The state’s business community urged all MPs to provide stable government. “The business community and the broader community both need certainty that their government is getting on with the job of providing the strong leadership that the state needs,” said Michael Bailey, chief executive of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Tasmania’s lower house will increase from 25 members to 35 members under changes to apply at the next election. The change lowers the quota needed for a seat under the Hare Clark voting system, meaning more independents and minor party MPs are likely to be elected.