A bitter grudge against the Greens is preventing Labor leader Dean Winter from becoming Tasmania’s premier – even though they hold the numbers he needs to form a minority government.
Winter has flatly refused to negotiate with the party’s five MPs, a stance that appears to trace back to a fiery clash in parliament four months ago, when he vowed he would “never, ever govern” with them.
His April outburst came after Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff bizarrely moved to censure him over his backflip on the Macquarie Point stadium.
“This has just reminded me of what a strong and good position it is from Labor to never, ever govern with the Greens,” Winter said at the time, calling the party “reckless” and “irresponsible” and Woodruff “ridiculous”.
“This is why minority parliaments do not work because of minor parties like the Greens trying to play politics with this place.”
“This is a serious place that should be filled with serious politicians and the leader of the Greens is not serious.”
Winter stuck to that hardline message all through the election campaign, repeating dozens of times there would be no deal with the Greens.
He insisted Labor would not compromise its values or its backing for key state industries – salmon farming and native forest logging in particular.
But now, with his sights set on Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s job, Winter needs the Greens’ numbers to take power. And Woodruff says he is still not speaking to them.
“If Dean Winter wants to be the premier of Tasmania – it’s a very big responsibility – he needs to step up and show the leadership required,” Woodruff said.
“Because I can tell him there will be a lot harder things over that four years that he would need to do as premier than sit down and have a conversation with the Greens.”
A no-confidence motion against Rockliff will be put when parliament returns on August 19. Whether it succeeds will depend on whether Winter’s Green grudge melts away – or not.
