New independent MP George Razay will today support Jeremy Rockliff’s minority government, citing the need for stability.
In his first unofficial speech to parliament on Tuesday, the Bass MP said he would vote against a no-confidence motion put forward by Labor leader Dean Winter.
“Today I feel sad and disappointed that on my first day in Tasmanian parliament and without having any previous working relationship with government and parliamentarians, I have to decide on the future of Tasmanian government,” Razay said.
“So you could imagine the enormous pressure i have been under in making my decision today.”
Before declaring his position, Razay spent 20 minutes outlining what he described as Tasmania’s worsening health and wellbeing over the past three decades.
The former Launceston doctor said he entered politics after studying Australia’s slide down the global happiness rankings.
“Australia within three decades has turned from the easiest going, laid-back, happy-go-lucky nation into a stressed and anxious society,” Razay said.
He said Tasmania had become one of the nation’s sickest states, with more than 40% of Tasmanians living with at least one chronic health condition.
Razay blamed lifestyle changes, wealth inequality and what he called “rushing syndrome” for the decline.
“Everybody’s in a hurry, everybody’s in a rush. They do not have time to chat or do leisure activities,” he said.
Despite those concerns, Razay said Tasmanians had voted for stability and “detest going to another election”.
“I’m therefore giving my support to the current government led by the Honourable Premier Jeremy Rockliff and I’m therefore voting against the no confidence motion,” he said.
“I hope in the future we reflect [back on] … the no-confidence motion – perhaps it might have been the best thing happened to Tasmania – because it had created a new parliament that work on openness with collaboration and stable government.”
Razay joins fellow independents Kristie Johnston and David O’Byrne, as well as the Greens, in ruling out support for the motion.
