Party reactions: Liberals’ days are numbered as party eats itself alive, Labor says

Labor leader Rebecca White has declared her party is ready to go to the polls and “fight an election” in the wake of the state government’s latest reshuffle – saying they’d be lucky to survive the fortnight.

Labor leader Rebecca White at parliament lawns. Picture: Chris Kidd

The Liberal government is “eating itself alive” and would be lucky to survive the fortnight before Parliament returns, Labor leader Rebecca White says.

Declaring herself ready for an election and her party ready to form a government if elected, Ms White said it was time to go to the polls.

“This is a government that just lurches from crisis to crisis and over the weekend, we’ve seen them engulfed in an even bigger mess than anyone probably imagined possible,” Ms White said.

“The Premier still today doesn’t know whether parliament is going to return on the 17th of October, he doesn’t even know if there’s going to be an early election called. He doesn’t seem to be in control of his party room.

“He doesn’t seem to be in control of his cabinet or the broader party of the Liberal Party. And you have to ask if you can’t manage the government, how can you manage the state?”

Labor leader Rebecca White at parliament lawns. Picture: Chris Kidd

Ms White said Labor did not have confidence in the government – foreshadowing a possible motion which could topple the incumbents when parliament resumes.

“If the premier does bring back Parliament as we would expect him to do, he can’t depend on us to provide him confidence,” she said.

“We’re ready to fight an election and we’re ready to form government.

“I’m lucky to be surrounded with a very talented group of people who would make excellent cabinet ministers.

“We work well together and we are focused on what Tasmanians need from their government and that is a government that’s looking after their interests, not tearing itself apart, which is what we see the Liberal government doing today.”

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the government was on the ropes.

“The Liberals are now in terminal decline after a decade of internecine and rottenness,” she said.

“The Liberals are acting in the most dishonest and failed manner for Tasmanians just at the time that people expect them to stand up and be strong, they are instead weak and internally focused.

“What we see on display is, is chaos and it is not putting the interests of Tasmanians first.

“I’m not going to speculate on what the Premier might do, except to say that I think the Premier should put Tasmanians first and get back into Parliament and get on with the job of working collaboratively on the issues that really matter to Tasmania.

“The commission of inquiry is a top one, but also health and housing and critical services and climate action and preparing us for a very dangerous summer [bushfire] season.”

Dr Woodruff said her party would also vote against the government if a vote of no-confidence was held in parliament.