Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has confirmed that Labor has rejected an offer to form government, despite her party expressing a willingness to work together and avoid another state election.
The offer was made following Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s defeat in a no-confidence vote, brought by Labor leader Dean Winter, which has left Tasmania facing the prospect of a second election in just over a year.
“On behalf of the Greens, I have already made it clear to Mr Winter that we are open to working in the best interests of Tasmania to form government,” Woodruff said in a statement following the 18-17 vote.
“At the time of writing, he has rejected our offer. We will keep trying.”
Rockliff visited Government House on Thursday evening to advise the Lieutenant-Governor that an election would be required unless Labor could reach an agreement with the Greens.
However, Winter has ruled out any deal or arrangement that would see the two parties form government, having previously described the Greens as “not a serious party”.
“The Greens will always work collaboratively and look to having a working arrangement to form government,” Woodruff told Pulse outside parliament.
“We’re open and we’re always working in the best interests of Tasmanians.”
Labor currently holds 10 of the 35 seats in the House of Assembly, while the Liberals have 14 and the Greens hold five.
Five independents and one Jacqui Lambie Network MP also sit in the lower house.
