Defeat for Tasmanian Labor as no-confidence motion in Jeremy Rockliff fails, with brutal rebuke from crossbench

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he is “enthusiastic” about his government lasting a full four-year term but admits it won’t be easy, after three successive early elections.

Labor’s motion to test the confidence of the lower house failed to win any support from the crossbench on Tuesday, bringing an end to 10 weeks of political uncertainty.

The motion also included confidence in Labor leader Dean Winter as premier, which the Greens and other crossbenchers could not support, despite not having confidence in Mr Rockliff, either.

It means Tasmania is in a similar position, numbers-wise, to before the snap state election, with the Liberals still with 14 seats, Labor with 10, the Greens with five and six other crossbenchers.

Mr Rockliff said he did not expect further no-confidence motions.

“I believe all members of parliament that were re-elected, that were in the last parliament, have learnt a lot from the experience of the course of the last 10 weeks,” he said.

During two weeks of negotiation with the crossbench, Mr Rockliff promised to phase out greyhound racing in 2029, cancel plans to release more native forests for logging, and put a moratorium on the expansion of salmon farming.

Labor chose not to make promises to the crossbench, instead choosing an upper house independent to be its treasurer and introducing a “framework” for policies to progress through parliament.

Mr Rockliff said keeping the crossbench onside will be a key focus of his government, having twice failed to maintain its support in minority.

“I have not taken any ministerial portfolios because I am dedicating my time to ensure that I work with the crossbench,” he said.

“I want every single member of parliament that has been elected to have a win … have a win for their communities and the people that elected them.

‘Coronation of a Liberal-Green government’

Having formally conceded the election via the lost confidence vote, Labor will now spill its leadership.

The party’s three MPs who spoke during the no-confidence debate on Tuesday — Mr Winter, deputy leader Anita Dow and Clark MP Josh Willie — all strongly backed the party’s approach until the end in their speeches.

They were each critical of the crossbench for not accepting Labor’s proposal for government without making concessions.

This was reaffirmed via a statement from Mr Winter shortly after the final vote.

“Unlike Jeremy Rockliff, Labor won’t abandon workers or make deals behind closed doors. While Jeremy Rockliff caved in to the Greens and compromised his values for power, I stood by workers and did not,” the statement reads.

“Not only has the Liberals’ decade-old Labor-Green scare campaign been put to bed, but the Liberals are now in bed with the Greens themselves.

Labor lost three votes on Tuesday.

Liberal MP Jacquie Petrusma was elected speaker over Labor MP Jen Butler, and Ms Butler was then defeated by Greens MP Helen Burnet for the deputy speaker role, before the no-confidence motion debate could start.

The parliament will return on September 9.