Michelle O’Byrne is expected to challenge Mark Shelton for role of Speaker of the House

Liberals are set to quickly meet its first hurdle when state parliament returns if Labor MP elected to role. How it could happen.

Labor member for Bass Michelle O'Byrne at the Tasmanian Labor Party event at the Invermay Bowls Club as the votes are counted in the 2024 Tasmanian State Election. Picture: Patrick Gee

A political scientist says if Labor MP Michelle O’Byrne is elected Speaker of the House of Assembly on Tuesday it will show the government was “in serious trouble”.

Professor Richard Herr said it would be surprising if the Jacqui Lambie Network MPs rejected the government’s nominee, former speaker Mark Shelton.

“It would be something of a violation of the JLN agreement to support her and not to support the government’s nominee,” he said.

“It would show the Rockliff government was in serious trouble.

“It would indicate sufficient dissent from their agenda to vote for an Opposition person.

“Jeremy Rockliff called an early election because he was being nibbled to death by procedural motions in the last parliament.”

The Greens will support Ms O’Byrne but she will need the support of three other MPs to get the numbers for the coveted position.

Speaker Mark Shelton. Final question time in the Tasmanian parliament for 2023. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Greens leader Dr Rosalie Woodruff said in the last parliament Mr Shelton had “showed himself to be a consistently partisan Speaker”.

“With this in mind, there is simply no way we could support Mr Shelton to continue in this crucial role,” she said.

“Michelle O’Byrne has put herself forward as the alternative, and we will be supporting her.”

Prof Herr said in 1989 former Liberal Premier Robin Gray lost power after his own nominee for Speaker was rejected by Labor and independent Green MPs who then successfully carried a no-confidence motion.

Tassie Haunts, Parliament House ghost, strange noises have been heard regularly in the halls of Parliament House, long-serving Labor MP and Government Speaker Michael Polley at the doorway to the Party Room

Labor MP Michael Polley, who was then elected Speaker and went on to become Tasmania’s longest-serving Speaker said in the 1950s it was not uncommon for a speaker to come from a party not in government.

“It’s a test for members but it would be a good thing for the parliament to have a Speaker separate from the governing party,” he said.

“Michelle will rise to the occasion and be fair.”

Labor leader Dean Winter has ruled out a no-confidence motion on day one of parliament and says Ms O’Byrne is the “best person for the job”.

The Bass MP has been a member of the House of Assembly for 18 years and also served in the federal parliament for six years.

“I think she will be the most qualified new Speaker the parliament has seen in a very long time,” Mr Winter said.

“She is hugely experienced, very qualified and somebody who would be fearless and fair in the chair and that’s what the whole parliament wants.

“She’s a great candidate and the best person for the job.”

Budget Estimates, Michelle O'Byrne MP. Picture: Chris Kidd

Ms O’Byrne said if elected she hoped she would “improve the standing and reputation of our parliament by being fairer and less partisan”.

“A larger and more diverse parliament brings its own challenges so it is essential that all members have the right to be heard, raise questions and expect answers,” she said.

“Hopefully this will counter the frustrations that previous parliaments have experienced.”

Ms O’Byrne said government ministers had many opportunities to put their views forward but “parliament is where members can speak for their constituents”.

“Parliaments by design can be confrontational and challenging but it should also be respectful and deliver for the community,” she said.