Speaker Sue Hickey reaffirms support for Government as Health Minister condemns gender law reform as ‘social experiment’

Speaker Sue Hickey has staked her claim as a rebel, pushing back against the influence of the conservative religious faction in the Liberal Party.

Speaker Sue Hickey read a statement before the start of Parliament indicating her ongoing support for the Hodgman Liberal Government. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

UPDATED: SPEAKER Sue Hickey has staked her claim as a rebel, pushing back against the influence of the conservative religious faction in the Liberal Party.

Ms Hickey yesterday defended the role she played in passing controversial transgender law reforms through the Lower House of State Parliament.

And she took aim at the “extreme Right”, rejecting criticism from state Health Minister Michael Ferguson and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

She also revealed her stance had prompted a torrent of vile online abuse.

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Legislation passed by the House of Assembly on Tuesday night makes the recording of gender on Tasmanian birth certificates optional, among other reforms.

It was condemned yesterday by Mr Ferguson as a “social experiment”.

“It’s a matter of regret, it’s very disappointing,” he said.

“I think Tasmanian parents will be disgusted that the Labor and Greens parties are doing social experiments on their kids and taking their sex off their birth certificates.”

But Ms Hickey said she hoped her role in crossing the floor to support the laws showed people there was more to the Liberal Party than religious social conservatism.

“I think people have to realise the Liberal Party has a very strong right-wing Christian element and I would hope that I can give hope to other people who are interested in Liberal values that you can be a Liberal without necessarily being extreme Right,” she told reporters.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson during question time today. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

She signalled that there would be other issues on which she would consider to cross the floor as a matter of principle.

“I wouldn’t say in the next few weeks, but there’s bound to be things that will test the friendship over the three and a half remaining years,” she said.

“I think every person should look at their politician and just see whether they’ve got the courage of their convictions, whether they should be voting as a rubber stamp. I’m not one of those type of politicians.”

University of Tasmania political scientist Kate Crowley said Ms Hickey’s stance was smart politics.

“This is nimble politics. This is politics on the issue, not on the political party. It is true independence,” she said.

“It’s actually making Parliament work the way it was intended. It wasn’t meant to be run by political parties.

“She’s broken the major party mould and shown her allegiance to Tasmanians.

“We’re not used to it. We’re used to seeing a major party get their way.

“Voters reward them. They like people who get on with the issues and put aside party nonsense. She has shown she’s a reformist, she’s not a party politics hack.”

Ms Hickey said her decision to support the amendments and the legislation had attracted both positive and negative feedback.

“There’s lots of people, very happy people, saying ‘Good on you, very courageous, brave decision’, et cetera, et cetera,” she said.

“But there are some others which are some of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen and this is typical of being female in public life. If I was to show you some of them, I think you’d be appalled.”

Ms Hickey said she was not worried about whether her decision to cross the floor would affect her preselection prospects.

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EARLIER: State Health Minister Michael Ferguson has condemned the changes to the legislation governing birth certificates in Tasmania as a “social experiment”.

Legislation passed by the state’s Lower House last night has made it optional for parents to record the gender of their child on birth certificates.

Mr Ferguson said he was disappointed with the changes.

“That’s a matter of regret — it’s very disappointing,” he said today.

“I think Tasmanian parents will be disgusted that the Labor and Greens parties are doing social experiments on their kids and taking their sex off their birth certificates.

“We’ll be taking very clear advice from the experts and from our departments about what the full impact of what they’ve done is going to be and what prudent steps the Hodgman Government can be doing next.”

Greens Rosalie Woodruff and Cassy O'Connor after the passage of transgender law reforms in the Tasmanian Parliament last night. #politas pic.twitter.com/0KuNJfIR37

— David Killick (@DavidJKillick) November 20, 2018

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor, Labor's Ella Haddad and Attorney General Elise Archer after the passage of transgender law reforms in the Tasmanian Parliament on Tuesday night. #politas pic.twitter.com/yCrPE9a7Te

— David Killick (@DavidJKillick) November 20, 2018

Mr Ferguson maintained that the Government remained strong and united.

“Sue Hickey and all of our team remain a majority Liberal government,” he said.

“What we have seen yesterday was very clearly Labor and the Greens doing a deal, keeping it secret and trying to derail what was an essential step in making sure Tasmanian legislation complies with federal legislation.

“Sue Hickey herself has made it clear that she is part of the majority Liberal government and has guaranteed confidence and supply and I think that’s the point that Tasmanians deserve to know.

“Sue Hickey has been a steadfast supporter of our legislation — except for yesterday. Obviously she has strong feelings about that, but we’ll continue to work as a Hodgman majority Liberal government.”

Michael Ferguson chats with David O'Byrne and Rosalie Woodruff in State Parliament yesterday ahead of the vote. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Ms Hickey earlier made a statement confirming her support for the Liberal government.

In state parliament this morning, Ms Hickey made a short statement confirming that she would continue to support the government.

Yesterday, she crossed the floor 11 times to support Labor and Green amendments enacting reforms to laws affecting transgender and gender diverse Tasmanians.

Ms Hickey said she had promised to support the Government on matters of confidence and supply and to vote for legislation on its merits.

“As I’ve indicated very clearly to the House previously, I have guaranteed support for a majority Liberal Government for the term of this Parliament on matters of supply and confidence,” she said. “That remains the case.”

“I also indicated at the outset that on all other matters, I will always consider my position on legislation on the merits of the argument, which is what I did yesterday.

Speaker Sue Hickey talking on the phone after voting against the Liberal Government for the first time yesterday. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“Nothing has changed with my position. The Liberal Government was elected with a mandate to deliver on its plan, and I have voted with the Government on every piece of legislation in its plan to deliver on its agenda.

“Whilst I may have disagreed with the Government on the social issue debated yesterday, my guarantee on supply and confidence remains in place, and there is no minority government.”

Premier Will Hodgman said the Government remained in control of the Parliament.

“The reality is that we are governing in majority, and that’s exactly what Tasmanians elected us to do just 263 days ago,” he said.

Labor has asked a series of questions of Premier Will Hodgman, quizzing him on whether he intends to continue governing despite Tuesday’s setbacks. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“The Tasmanian people said they wanted a continuation of a stable majority Liberal government that delivers on its plan.”

Labor has asked a series of questions of the Premier. quizzing him on whether he intends to continue governing despite Tuesday’s setbacks.

Mr Hodgman rejected the questions as “inane”.