Deal to secure new MPs is Rockliff pulling the wool over the eyes of inexperienced, little Lambies

ANALYSIS: Jeremy Rockliff was criticised for not being much of a negotiator when he dealt with the AFL. Nobody would level that accusation today, writes Political Editor David Killick

Tasmanian State Election 2024, Premier Jeremy Rockliff in the tally room, Hotel Grand Chancellor. Picture: Chris Kidd

Jeremy Rockliff must feel like Gillon McLachlan did the day he flew out of Hobart with a signed deal for a taxpayer-funded stadium in his back pocket.

Today, Mr Rockliff looks a lot like he learned some keen negotiation skills from the masters.

The deal so quickly signed by the three new Jacqui Lambie Network MPs trades an astonishing level of loyalty for a handful of things the government was either doing anyway or which deliver an uncertain result at an indefinite time.

The Lambie Network MPs have agreed a deal to be more loyal to the Liberal Party than even the Liberal Party’s own MPs — who are not bound to inform their party in advance if they intend to vote against it.

Newly elected members of Tasmanian Parliament, Member for Braddon Miriam Beswick, Member for Lyons Andrew Jenner, and Member for Bass, Rebekah Pentland of the Jacqui Lambie network at Parliament Lawns, Hobart, Monday, April 8, 2024. Picture: Linda Higginson

The party that trumpeted accountability and integrity has signed a deal that will arguably make parliament less accountable and transparent.

In return, they get the promise of an office each in Parliament House, something independent MPs get anyway.

The Greens gained ministries when they backed Labor into power in 2010. The Lambie Network were given four extra staff, a meeting room and a few chats with the Premier.

Mr Rockliff has promised to refer public servants accused of misconduct by the Commission of Inquiry to the appropriate authorities, something that has already happened.

He’s agreed to close Ashley Youth Detention Centre during this term of government, which was going to happen anyway.

The Lambies get a briefing on the budget, just like the media, business organisations, and non-government organisations.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff votes at Sassafras Primary School booth. Tasmanian State Election 2024. Picture: Patrick Gee

The Premier has agreed to reviews of the Integrity Commission, RTI laws, and political donations, work the parliament and the Law Reform Institute have already done.

It was apparent from their press conference this week the Lambie Network candidates were somewhat underprepared for the task ahead.

They have repeatedly said they have not yet been able to see “the books” as if the hundreds of pages of the State Budget, the Revised Estimates Report, The September Quarterly Report, and the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report were not sitting prominently at the top of the Treasury website.

Nor had they so much as glanced at the Commission of Inquiry’s report, JLN MP Andrew Jenner had to apologise — sort of — for glibly describing it as “a bit of light bedtime reading”, to the abject horror of victim-survivors.

Acknowledging they had not so much as gotten their feet under the desk, they can be forgiven for not being across the finer detail, although it seems odd they don’t seem to have picked up a newspaper or watched a local TV news bulletin in recent years.

Mr Rockliff was criticised for not being much of a negotiator when he dealt with the AFL. Nobody would level that accusation today.

But the incoming government is still one seat short of a majority. Two of the remaining independents have played this game before. They won’t be led like little Lambies.