Labor is stepping up calls for Premier Jeremy Rockliff to resign, following the no-confidence motion it brought against him in parliament last week.
Opposition MP Shane Broad said the premier should follow convention and step down to resolve the current political deadlock.
“A week ago the parliament voted no confidence in Premier Jeremy Rockliff and yet this still drags on,” Broad said.
“We’ve got to this point because of Jeremy Rockliff and his refusal to resign.”
Broad said the parliament voted no confidence in him for three reasons: “Budget management, stuffing up projects, major projects like the Spirits and his plan to sell Tasmania’s assets.”
But Rockliff hit back at a press conference today, accusing Labor leader Dean Winter of pushing the motion purely out of self-interest and fear of his popularity with Tasmanian voters.
He said things had been “working well” in both the state and parliament before last week’s vote.
“Dean Winter saw an opportunity to blow that up for his own selfish grab for power,” the premier said.
“In the process, he deceived the parliament, misled the parliament when it comes to his true motivations and he needs to be held accountable to that.”
Rockliff also made it clear he will not be stepping aside for a new Liberal leader.
“I have the support of my party room. I was elected by the Tasmanian people. We are delivering for Tasmanians and I want to continue to deliver,” he said.
“What Dean Winter has done is ensure that he has deceived the crossbench, deceived the parliament and the Tasmanian people because his motivations were clearly to get rid of me and me alone so it makes it easier for him to win an election.”
Governor Barbara Baker is currently considering “all available options” after meeting with Rockliff on Tuesday evening for 40 minutes, during which he formally requested an early election.
Meanwhile, reports suggest growing unrest within the Liberal Party, with seven caucus members said to be pushing for a leadership change to avoid a second snap election in just over a year.
When asked whether Eric Abetz or Michael Ferguson had tested numbers against him for the Liberal Party leadership, Rockliff replied: “No.”
