Tasmania parliament: Parties blame each other for slow year

State parliament is on track to one of its least productive years in more than a decade — with the major parties blaming each other for slow progress of legislation.

Minister Nic Street. Question time state parliament. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

State parliament is on track for one of its least productive years in more than a decade – with the major parties blaming each other for slow progress of legislation.

Midway through the parliamentary year, there have been 14 Bills introduced into the House of Assembly and eight passed through both houses.

In 2022, there were 50 Bills introduced and 42 passed, the year before the figures were 61 and 32.

The busiest year in recent memory was 2013, when 82 Bills were introduced and 73 passed.

Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly Dean Winter said the number of Bills being debated in state parliament has been on a steady decline.

“After 10 years in office, the minority Rockliff government is in disarray and has clearly run out of steam,” he said.

“There is so much dysfunction and disunity under Jeremy Rockliff’s leadership that parliament is not able to do the job it is supposed to do – represent Tasmanians.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Grant Viney

“In contrast, Labor is a united team with a positive plan to fix the issues that matter most for Tasmanians – health, housing and cost of living.”

Leader of the House Nic Street said the problem was Labor.

“Labor’s woeful track record of wasting parliament’s time has been on full display this year like never before,” he said.

“They have chosen to focus on personal attacks and attempted gotcha moments, derailing parliamentary sitting days sometimes for several hours each week.

“For them to turn around and complain about any supposed lack of progression of Bills is the height of hypocrisy.

“The Rockliff Liberal government has a strong legislative agenda and with eight sitting weeks remaining this year, will continue to work hard to deliver on the things that matter the most to Tasmanians.”

Ella Haddad Labor Member for Clark. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Among the Bills awaiting further consideration is reforms to electoral donations.

Labor’s Ella Haddad said it should be top of the agenda – particularly given talk of an early election.

“The Bill should have been the first order of business for the Legislative Council in March, but instead, was relegated to last on the list.

“Now here we are in the winter parliamentary break, with no sign of movement on the Bill, and an early election looking likely to push it back further on the agenda.

“Even if it is passed, Tasmania would still have the weakest political donation laws in the country, but this Bill is an important start to ensure parties and candidates would have to disclose donations they receive as well as their campaign spending.”