Speaker Sue Hickey to make decision to remain a Liberal, resign or become an independent

UPDATED: Speaker Sue Hickey has revealed whether she will remain a member of the Liberal Party or become an independent –and what the Government did to sway her decision.

UPDATED: ROGUE Speaker Sue Hickey has remained a member of the Liberal Party — for now.

Ms Hickey on Friday declared she would remain a Liberal after negotiating with Premier Will Hodgman for a 50-bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in greater Hobart.

She had threatened to leave the party, which would push the Government into minority, after she was overlooked in Mr Hodgman’s recent Cabinet reshuffle.

“This is a gift, if you like, to the people of Tasmania that I’ve been able to negotiate because of this particular set of circumstances,” Ms Hickey said of the rehabilitation commitment.

“The Premier committed today, work starts today … I see it being done very, very shortly.”

Mr Hodgman fronted media 45 minutes before Ms Hickey but made no mention of agreeing to build a rehab centre.

COMMENT: UNHAPPY MARRIAGE CONTINUES

Speaker Sue Hickey outlines her future in the Tasmanian parliament. Full story: http://bit.ly/2YBqriO

Posted by The Mercury Newspaper on Thursday, 4 July 2019

Asked what offers he had made to keep Ms Hickey on-side, Mr Hodgman said: “Nothing. I agreed to continue to work constructively, positively, to focus more on the people of Tasmania who elected us just 15 months ago to deliver on that election, but also to spend more time on important policies and things we can do to improve the lives of Tasmanians and less time on ourselves.”

Questions sent to the Government after Ms Hickey’s press conference on how the rehabilitation facility would be funded and a timeline for planning and construction were not answered.

Ms Hickey made no guarantees that she would not walk from the Liberals before the 2021 state election, nor that she would not speak out in future or cross the floor on legislation that she did not believe was right.

“I don’t have any issue with me speaking out even though it’s not been traditional,” Ms Hickey said.

“I think (my threat) brought everything to a head.

“Sometimes when you’re in a family or a marriage … you have to burst the ulcer to get things to be cleared up and move forward.”

Speaker Sue Hickey at her announcement on Friday. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Ms Hickey had described Mr Hodgman’s leadership as “weak” as early as Monday.

She said she had no regrets about having threatened to leave the Liberals but said in future “probably we’ll do quite a bit more talking before I make a statement”.

The Clark Liberal MHA said she made the decision to remain a Liberal on Thursday night.

Labor leader Rebecca White said the Government was in chaos.

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EARLIER: SPEAKER Sue Hickey will remain a member of the Liberal Party.

The maverick Speaker threatened to resign and become an independent after Premier Will Hodgman did not award her a ministry in Sunday’s Cabinet reshuffle.

That would have ruined the government’s majority, calling into question whether the Liberals would remain in power.

In a statement, Ms Hickey revealed she had “several meaningful conversations” with the Premier on issues she believed were important to Tasmania before making her decision.

“I have reiterated my intent to provide the government with confidence and supply,” she said.

“I am prepared to work constructively with the Prermier, but I am firmly committed to seeing a change of focus on the important issues facing Tasmanians.

“The Premier understands my position and has shown strong leadership in seeking to address my concerns.”

Premier Will Hodgman says Speaker Sue Hickey will remain a member of the Liberal Party #politas

— Emily Baker (@emlybkr) July 5, 2019

Mr Hodgman had previously vowed he would lead only a majority Liberal government.

Mr Hodgman scheduled a press conference 45 minutes before the Speaker was set to reveal her hand at 1pm, revealing he understood Ms Hickey would remain a member of the Liberal Party.

Ms Hickey’s decision appears timely with today’s Government Gazette shows the Premier’s going on leave from July 7 to 22.