Labor leader Dean Winter has refused to rule out launching another no-confidence motion against Premier Jeremy Rockliff, despite his last attempt leading to an election that delivered Labor its worst result in more than a century.
Speaking on ABC Radio this morning, Winter was repeatedly pressed on whether he would again test Rockliff’s support on the floor of parliament if the premier tries to govern without crossbench backing.
“That’s a hypothetical what happens going forward. We’ll see what happens,” Winter said when asked directly about moving another no-confidence motion.
Winter’s original no-confidence motion in June was widely seen as a strategic blunder that handed Rockliff a sympathy vote and allowed the Liberals to paint Labor as destabilising.
Even so, Winter stood by the move, claiming it stopped Tasmania from heading towards financial disaster.
“I don’t regret the decision we made on no-confidence in this premier,” Winter said.
“If we hadn’t have done that, then we would have just passed through the worst budget in Tasmania’s history with $11 billion worth of debt.”
Winter said it was now up to Rockliff to prove he has the numbers to govern, particularly with some crossbenchers who previously backed the no-confidence vote.
“The premier, I think, should test his own confidence in the event that he can’t get to 18,” he said. “It will not be a stable parliament if he cannot secure four additional votes on the floor.”
So far, the Liberals have secured 14 seats in the state election and will need four crossbench votes to reach the 18 required for confidence and supply.
Winter has positioned Labor as the fallback option to form government if Rockliff fails to lock in that support.
“Jeremy Rockliff has the first opportunity to form a government,” Winter said.
“In the event that he can’t, no one wants an early election, [so] Tasmanian Labor will continue to have those conversations to avoid an early election.”
“I’m finding it difficult to see how Jeremy Rockliff, if he continues down this same path, can secure the support of those crossbenchers.”
Winter insisted he still has the backing of his Labor colleagues, but admitted the road ahead bringing the budget into line will not be easy.
“This is going to be the biggest challenge of my life if I’m lucky enough to be premier of this state,” he said.
