The Greens will vote against Labor’s no-confidence motion tomorrow, blocking Dean Winter’s bid to form government and paving the way for Jeremy Rockliff’s Liberals to continue in minority.
Leader Rosalie Woodruff confirmed the decision on Monday after weeks of failed talks with Labor and an unwillingness to negotiate on key policy issues.
“Unfortunately, yesterday, Labor sent us a letter with confirmation of their final position on policy and they have refused to make any changes at all on the key issues that the Greens promised we’d fight for after this election,” Woodruff said.
“No change on their position on the stadium, no change on that money going into health and housing instead and no change on protections for the marine environment and our beautiful forests.”
Labor won 10 seats in July’s state election and needed eight more from the six crossbench MPs – including at least two Greens – to form government.
Woodruff said the Greens found Labor’s approach to negotiations “hostile” and “contemptuous”.
“There was nothing professional in the way that they were dealing with us,” she said.
“It’s not a good place to start to work collaboratively on the serious issues that face Tasmania.”
She said Premier Jeremy Rockliff, by contrast, had made meaningful commitments on banning greyhound racing and protecting forests.
“Jeremy Rockliff obviously understands the minority parliament dynamics that he’s working with and Dean Winter does not,” she said.
“And so it is with great disappointment and frustration that the Greens have come to a united decision that we do not have confidence in Dean Winter’s Labor being the next government for Tasmania.”
Woodruff also made it clear the Greens’ decision not to back the motion should not be seen as support for the Liberal government.
“We certainly do not have confidence in Jeremy Rockliff and the Liberals. They’ve brought Tasmania to a mess but we’re in a situation where Labor is not offering a viable alternative,” she said.
“They have not shown any interest in compromising at all on the big issues we promised Tasmanians we’d fight to deliver in the parliament. Labor owe it to the Greens to respect the people who voted for us as well.”
Labor has acknowledged the Greens’ decision in a post on social media.
“The Greens have just sided with Jeremy Rockliff and Eric Abetz to form a Liberal-Green government,” the party wrote.
