Liberal minister Felix Ellis says Labor playing ‘silly political games’

Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson’s future in cabinet hangs in the balance after Labor demands he be sacked from the position for his “incompetent” handling of the ferries project. The latest.

Labor wants Michael Ferguson to set down from cabinet after Spirit saga

Labor leader Dean Winter has demanded Premier Jeremy Rockliff sack his embattled deputy Michael Ferguson from cabinet for his “incompetent” oversight of the Spirit of Tasmania ferries project.

The opposition is expected to move a motion of no-confidence in Mr Ferguson when parliament resumes on Tuesday.

Mr Ferguson has resigned as infrastructure minister but Mr Winter said on Thursday he should be also sacked as Treasurer.

“I think the Premier needs to remove Michael Ferguson from his cabinet,” Mr Winter said.

“I think it’s now is abundantly clear that this minister is incompetent and he is not truthful.

“The Spirits of Tasmania is the biggest infrastructure stuff up in Tasmanian history.

“I can’t find anything that comes even close to the level of debacle that has been overseen by Michael Ferguson.”

Minister Michael Ferguson currently Premier in relation to TT-Line Spirits inquiry. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Labor maintains that Mr Ferguson misled a parliamentary committee hearing in April 2022 when he said “there is not a view that the price has changed” about the project.

In fact, the original fixed price contract had been replaced with another fixed price contract which included a eight million euro additional payment to shipbuilder RMC.

Labor leader MP Dean Winter.

Mr Ferguson has denied misleading parliament, Mr Winter said it was time for him to go.

“I think it’s time for the Premier Jeremy Rockliff, to finally step in here. Where is Jeremy Rockcliff on this? He still hasn’t made a single statement about this,” he said.

“The minister, the worst minister for health of Tasmania has seen in decades, the minister that has fundamentally failed on the Spirits of Tasmania project, and a minister that has just overseen a budget that’s delivered a $1.5bn deficit: the biggest in Tasmania’s history by order of three times the previous record that he set himself.

“It’s time for Jeremy Rockcliff to outline what his plan is here, because it’s very clear that the parliament is losing faith and losing confidence in Michael Ferguson and the risk is that they lose faith and confidence in his government.”

Mr Rockliff is in the United States on a trade mission.

Seventeen of the 35 MPs on the floor of the House of Assembly are considered likely to back a no-confidence motion: Labor, the Greens, JLN MP Andrew Jenner and independent Kristie Johnston.

In the event of a tie, speaker Michelle O’Byrne votes with Labor on its motions.

The two former JNL independents and members for Franklin David O’Byrne are keeping an open mind and Craig Garland has not commented, but has no deal in place to back the government in no-confidence motions.

Liberal Minister Felix Ellis backs under-fire Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

During a press conference on Tuesday, Liberal minister Felix Ellis said people didn’t want stunts but Labor’s potential motion was “a stunt”, “another stunt” and (three times) nothing more than a stunt”.

“Let’s be very clear, though, Labor is simply planning a stunt. It’s a stunt that will disrupt the Parliament of Tasmania, and that would be bad news for Tasmanians,” he said.

“We saw last Parliament Labor continuing to persist with negative stunts, and the Tasmanian people rejected them for that.

“They also rejected people who supported that kind of disruption in our parliament.

“It’s important that parliament and government get on with the important work that they need to do to support the Tasmanian community.

“The Tasmanian don’t want politicians talking about themselves and bringing stunts into their parliament.”

— David Killick

Ferguson rallies support among his own ranks

Earlier: Felix Ellis has thrown his support behind Treasurer and Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson as Labor threaten the possibility of a no-confidence motion over his role in the replacement Spirit saga.

The embattled Deputy Premier is facing growing calls to resign from cabinet after allegations he bungled the rollout of the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries.

Mr Ellis condemned the opposition’s move, saying it would disrupt parliament and bring political instability to the state.

Liberal Minister Felix Ellis backs under-fire Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

“Now let’s be very clear, Labor is simply playing stunt … a stunt that would disrupt the parliament of Tasmania and would be bad news for Tasmanians,” he said.

“What the Tasmanian people don’t want to see is politicians engaging in silly political games.

“It’s important that parliament and government get on with the important work that they need to do to support the Tasmanian community.”

— Stephanie Dalton