Tasmanian government: Premier Jeremy Rockliff will receive support from former Liberal MPs John Tucker and Lara Alexander

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has secured confidence and supply from two independent MPs who sensationally defected from the Liberal Party. Here’s what it means for government >

Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Tourism, Jeremy Rockliff at the opening of a new aircraft hangar in Cambridge. Picture: Linda Higginson

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has secured confidence and supply from two independent MPs who sensationally defected from the Liberal Party, ensuring he is able to govern in minority.

The deal with Bass MP Lara Alexander and Lyons MP John Tucker - who last week quit the government due to concerns about a perceived lack of transparency around the Macquarie Point stadium project - comes as Treasurer Michael Ferguson prepares to hand down the state budget on Thursday.

Flanked by Mrs Alexander and Mr Tucker in Launceston’s Civic Square on Saturday morning, Mr Rockliff said he had held “a lot of conversations” with the pair in the last week.

“I commend John and Lara for their willingness to engage with me in very good and productive discussions in the interests of all Tasmanians,” he said.

Premier Mr Jeremy Rockliff and Lara Alexander & John Tucker, Civic Square Launceston. Picture: Rob Burnett

“The discussions … [we’ve] had … have led to us having an agreement and that agreement of course guarantees the confidence and supply of the house in government.”

Mr Rockliff said he had agreed to make the stadium a project of state significance, which he said would allow the parliament to “have more engagement, more say, more consultation” in relation to the plan.

Mrs Alexander said it had been a “difficult week” but “ultimately the transparency is what prevails at the end of this week”.

Mr Tucker said “this is a great day for transparency” and that the Premier had agreed to publicly release the deals the state government had made with the AFL and the federal government over the stadium.

The Greens have foreshadowed an amendment to the budget, seeking to defund the $715m stadium, while Labor is expected to move a motion of no confidence in the government when parliament returns.

The former Liberal MPs-turned Independents will throw their support behind the Premier, despite abandoning the party. Picture: Rob Burnett

The Liberals now have just 11 MPs in the 25-member House of Assembly.

Mrs Alexander and Mr Tucker previously guaranteed confidence and supply to the government but said their support was conditional on Mr Rockliff releasing further information about the “deals with the federal government” over the stadium and the Marinus Link interconnector.

The Premier has addressed Mrs Alexander’s and Mr Tucker’s concerns, summarised in a memorandum of understanding below:

• The Macquarie Point Stadium project to be progressed through the

Projects of State Significance and removed from Major Projects. Mrs

Alexander and Mr Tucker will not support any motion or legislation

seeking to stop the Macquarie Point Stadium project pending the

outcome of the Project of State Significance process.

• The AFL agreements to be published as soon as possible, subject to

confidentiality requirements, and any material not published will be

provided to Members of Parliament on an in camera basis.

• The government to brief Mrs Alexander and Mr Tucker on any

Legislation or other significant matters as requested.

• The Premier to engage weekly with Mrs Alexander and Mr Tucker to

work together in a positive and constructive manner.

• Mrs Alexander and Mr Tucker to provide supply by voting to pass all

Appropriation and Revenue Bills.

• Mrs Alexander and Mr Tucker reserve their rights regarding the

Government’s non-Budget legislation and all other Government matters

before the Parliament.

• Mrs Alexander and Mr Tucker to provide confidence by voting in favour

of the government on any no confidence motion.

• Subject to negotiation with the Premier, not support any Labor or

Greens legislation in the house.

Deal or no deal: Premier to reveal next move after rogue MPs exit

Earlier: The Premier today will reveal his next move in a surprise announcement alongside two MPs who rocked government last week when they announced their departure from the Liberal party.

It comes as there have been calls for transparency around any minority government deals, as speculation mounts Independent Member for Lyons John Tucker and Independent Member for Bass Lara Alexander have come to an agreement with Premier Jeremy Rockliff.

Mr Rockliff will make the announcement alongside the two MPs at Launceston’s Civic Square at 11am.

In contrast with last Friday when they publicly resigned from the Liberal party, Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander were not commenting on their negotiations with the government on Thursday.

The Liberals will need Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander’s support to survive a vote of no confidence to be moved by Labor when parliament resumes next week.

Attending a tourism business launch at Cambridge on Friday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff was maintaining a positive outlook.

However Mr Rockliff would not confirm if a deal had been struck with his former backbenchers.

“I believe I have the support of Lara and John. We’ve had productive conversations throughout the week, I’m very thankful for those...let’s move forward on behalf of all Tasmanians,” he said.

Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Tourism, Jeremy Rockliff at the opening of a new aircraft hangar. Picture: Linda Higginson

Mr Rockliff said he was also sure he had the support of Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said given Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander blamed a lack of transparency around the proposed Macquarie Point stadium as a factor in their resignation, they must be open about any deal.

“We can’t be having here a secret deal to cover up a secret deal over the stadium,” Ms O’Connor said.

“We’re calling on John Tucker and Lara Alexander to be up front with Tasmanians about what, if anything, they have agreed with Premier Jeremy Rockliff to prop up his government. We are also concerned that at the time of their announcement the new independents said they were leaving their committee positions and it now seems they did not.

“It’s odd that you might effectively blow up a government over transparency concerns and seven days later not have been transparent about your negotiations with the Premier of a minority government. I've tried to get hold of John Tucker and he’s not responding to my texts. So it tells me there has been an agreement reached.”

Shadow sports minister Josh Willie said Mr Rockliff must be more transparent about the deal that has been done with the AFL over Tasmanian team and a stadium.

“The stadium mess that will cost Tasmanian taxpayers $1 billion is still infuriating the community,” Mr Willie said.

“And the Liberals still have the wrong priorities for this state. It’s time for Premier Rockliff to come clean and release the secret deal with the AFL and show Tasmanians exactly what he has signed taxpayers up to.”

Mr Willie said Tasmanians should be able to see all the clauses in the AFL deal.

He reiterated Labor was a strong supporter of an AFL team but did not believe the state should spend $1bn on a new stadium.

State parliament resumes on Tuesday and the state budget will be delivered on Thursday.