Premier Jeremy Rockliff has accused Labor leader Dean Winter of cutting a secret deal with the Greens to form government.
Speaking to the ABC, Rockliff blasted Labor’s disappearance from the public eye in recent days. The party has not spoken publicly since Sunday.
He suggested Winter was negotiating behind closed doors, despite ruling out any deal with the Greens during the campaign.
“The issue we’ve got is, of course, Dean Winter and the Labor Party have completely gone to ground. No one knows about the secret dealings with the Tasmanian Greens,” Rockliff said.
“He said he would not do a deal with the Greens. He can only be in government with a deal with the Greens.”
“And there’s no way, let me tell you, that if Dean Winter becomes premier with the support of the Greens, there’s not going to be a massive nudge and a massive wink.”
“Someone will pay. And if I was in a traditional industry right now, or indeed if I was a recreational hunter or a fisher right now or a farmer right now, I’d be very worried about what Dean Winter is doing behind the scenes.”
Braddon Liberal MP Felix Ellis also called on Winter to give up any attempt to form a minority government.
“Labor’s vote went backwards. The party ended up with its lowest vote on record in more than a century. The Liberals won the most seats,” he said.
“The only way Labor can snatch this election is by accepting confidence and supply from the Greens.”
“Mr Winter must abandon his continuing arrogant push to grab power. He needs to accept the will of the people and concede.”
Winter is expected to end his four-day media silence this afternoon with an appearance at Bell Bay.
