Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam slams Jeremy Rockcliff no-confidence vote

A Liberal senator has slammed the success of a no-confidence vote against the Premier that will send Tasmanians back to the polls.

As Tasmania prepares to return to the polls, Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam has criticised the success of the no-confidence vote against Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday night.

The state’s embattled Liberal premier lost a no-confidence motion by just one vote after two days of fiery debate – a decision that ended his term as premier and toppled the minority government at 3.30pm on Thursday.

Mr Rockcliff visited Lieutenant Governor Christopher Shanahan at Government House early Thursday evening to inform him that he had lost the confidence of the parliament and to seek permission to resume parliament next week to pass legislation so public servants could be paid.

He has not yet stepped down as premier, with the date of an election yet to be determined.

The state’s embattled Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff has lost a no-confidence motion. Picture: NewsWire/ Nikki Davis-Jones

Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam has told ABC News he is “angry” with the result and the decision to head back to the polls.

“Thirty-five members of the Tasmanian government in their collective wisdom to not find a way to not send Tasmanians back to an election just baffles me,” he said on Friday morning.

“The Labor Party obviously had their concerns, they told us all what they were, but the beauty of a hung parliament, which is what the Tasmanian parliament currently is, is an opposition can work with a crossbench, and indeed the government, to make change.

“No gvernment has the capacity just to ram bills through, so I don’t understand why Labor, instead of putting this no-confidence motion forward and successfully so sending us to the polls, didn’t just seek to amend the Bill, or do the budget bills, or something similar.”

Senator Duniam said it was the responsibility of those who voted for the motion to “go out and speak … on why they’re going back to the polls”.

Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam said he was ‘angry’ at Thursday night’s outcome. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Dean Winter, but for his desire to be premier at any cost, did not need to send us here,” he added.

“I don’t know what the Labor Party actually is going to offer at this election.

“They didn’t offer an alternative budget of any substance, so what they’re going to be asking Tasmanians to vote for remains a mystery.”

The Liberal government will “reflect” on the recent happenings, but Senator Duniam, who was highly critical of the party’s federal campaign, believes a “constructive approach” rather than an election was needed.

“Woe betide any political party that forgets that they need to listen to the people they seek votes from and seek to represent in parliament,” he added.

“What we (federal Liberal) did wrong was we forgot to communicate with the people of Australia and they didn’t vote for us, of course.

Senator Duniam, who was highly critical of the party’s federal campaign, believes a ‘constructive approach’ rather than an election was needed. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“There’s a chance that if this election does come to pass that the Liberal Party can actually go out and make sure they are listening to the people of Tasmania and responding to their needs.”

Opposition Leader Dean Winter has ruled out forming a government with the support of the Greens and the crossbench.

Mr Rockcliff took the top job just 439 days ago in the election that marked the party’s fourth consecutive term since gaining power at the 2014 election.

Governor Barbara Baker is expected to return from overseas on the weekend before parliament resumes on Tuesday morning.

Originally published as Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam slams Jeremy Rockcliff no-confidence vote