Speaker Sue Hickey says she will remain independent in Tasmania’s State Parliament

SPEAKER Sue Hickey says she isn’t aware of any other issues which could cause her to cross the floor — but she said she would always vote on her conscience.

SPEAKER Sue Hickey says she isn’t aware of any other issues which could cause her to cross the floor — but she said she would always vote on her conscience.

Ms Hickey embarrassed the Government by crossing the floor on Wednesday night to help vote down mandatory sentencing legislation.

Today she said she didn’t know of other legislation in the pipeline that she would similarly oppose.

“There’s none that I’ve seen coming up before me just in the near future,” she said.

She said her allegiances were not in question.

GOVERNMENT TALKS UP MAJORITY AMID HICKEY HEADACHE

“I’m a strong supporter of the Liberal party. I want to support most of the things in their agenda. There will just be issues that I personally need to deal with.

“There is legislation that sometimes challenges my values.

“At my stage in life I am not just going to be told how to vote. I’m going to do it on what I believe are the best interests of every Tasmanian.

Speaker Sue Hickey arrives at a press conference regarding her vote against mandatory detention after question time. Parliament Question Time. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Ms Hickey said she did not relish her role wielding the deciding vote in tied, but she was determined to use it wisely.

“I’ve always made it perfectly clear to the party as an impartial speaker with the unfortunate position of having to have this casting vote, that I will always use my own personal judgment.

“I have to be able to go home and look at myself in the mirror at night and be comfortable with the decisions I have made.

“I am still very much a Liberal candidate, there is no dysfunction within the Government, I am still supporting Will Hodgman, but I stress that I am a liberal Liberal and we need to challenge things when they are not right.

“I don’t believe in groupthink, I believe in standing up for what you believe is right.”

Labor leader Rebecca White called on Premier Will Hodgman to resign.

“What we saw last night in the parliament was the Government lose another vote. In the last 12 months in the parliament they have lost numerous votes.

“It is quite clear now that they no longer have a majority.