Tasmanian Greens to test new independents, John Tucker and Lara Alexander, with short-stay push

The Tasmanian Greens will test the resolve of two Liberal defectors by pushing for a crackdown on short-stay accommodation. What they’ll propose >>

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor.

The Greens will test the strength of an agreement between Premier Jeremy Rockliff and newly minted independents, John Tucker and Lara Alexander, by moving a motion in parliament to crack down on short-stay accommodation.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the party would use private members’ time this week to seek to allow local councils to refuse short-stay permits for whole homes.

It comes after Mr Rockliff attempted to stave off parliamentary chaos by giving a range of concessions to Mr Tucker and Mrs Alexander, who defected from the Liberal government over concerns around the Macquarie Point stadium and the Marinus Link interconnector projects.

In the memorandum of understanding he signed with the pair, it was agreed they would not support any Labor or Greens motions in the lower house “subject to negotiation with the Premier”.

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor.

Ms O’Connor said she hoped Mr Tucker and Mrs Alexander would back the Greens’ motion.

“What we’re proposing in Greens’ private members’ time is a motion that requires the Planning Minister to rewrite Planning Directive No. 6 in such a manner that would give councils the authority to ban whole homes from going onto the short-stay market,” she said.

“We need to unleash local government so that they can prevent out-of-control short-stay listings and help to put downward pressure on rents.”

Independents John Tucker and Lara Alexander with Premier Jeremy Rockliff in Launceston after reaching an agreement to work together. Picture: Rob Burnett

Planning Minister Michael Ferguson said further restrictions on short-stay accommodation “won’t fix the housing shortage, building more homes will”.

“It seems Ms O’Connor isn’t aware that discretions already often apply to whole-home short stay accommodation,” he said.

“In addition, and this is not something that we encourage, if a council seriously believes that placing additional limits on new short-stay accommodation is somehow desirable for their community, then they have, and have always had, the ability to seek to apply local restrictions.”