The Liberals have announced a plan that will force MPs who resign from their party mid-term to forfeit their seats in Parliament under new legislation to be introduced within their first 100 days.
The “Stability Clause” would be implemented under a re-elected majority Liberal Government to stop rogue MPs from once again bringing down the parliament.
“At the last two elections, Tasmanians have voted for a majority Liberal Government, but this has been stolen away by individual MPs resigning from their parties and continuing to sit in the Parliament as independents,” Liberal Leader Jeremy Rockliff said.
“In many cases, these MPs have proceeded to vote against their original parties and against policies for which they and their party campaigned for at the previous election.”
He singled out Liberal-turned-Independents John Tucker and Lara Alexander for leading the state into a period of “great uncertainty”, saying they were quick to “turn their backs on their party … and cause chaos”.
“They have benefited from significant party campaign resources in order to be elected. They have been supported by their party volunteers at the election. They have been voted for by their respective communities on the basis of representing a particular party, its values and its policy platform,” he said.
“If re-elected, we will amend section 34 of the Constitution Act to provide that if an elected member ceases to be a parliamentary member of the political party for which they were elected, then their seat becomes vacant and a recount occurs.”
But Tucker argued that Rockliff himself is to blame for the state’s situation.
“The Liberal Party’s latest attempt to take total control of the Parliament should be flatly rejected by voters at Saturday’s state election,” he said.
“It not only proposes to boot out MPs who move to the crossbench, but anyone who votes against the party position on anything.”
“The reason Tasmanians are voting in another early election is once again a unilateral decision by the Premier.”
