“Pretty disappointing” is how new Franklin independent Peter George has described the Liberals’ latest attempt at making minority government work.
Speaking to supporters after the release of the ‘Foundations of Stability’ document on Tuesday, George said he was surprised the proposed protocols weren’t already standard practice.
He said Jeremy Rockliff handed the draft document to independents with just “an hour or two’s notice” before making it public.
“What amazes me is that this is apparently new. This is exactly what should have been happening,” George said.

“It’s just normal parliamentary protocols between interested parties operating in a parliament.”
George said he felt neither major party, both now “romancing the indies” after “bagging” them out on the campaign, had fully come to grips with the realities of power-sharing after Saturday’s state election.

“I think my concerns are that the Liberal Party doesn’t seem to realise that it’s operating a minority. It’s not running the parliament. It has to be a collaboration,” he said.
His comments came after meeting Labor leader Dean Winter on Tuesday – their first sit-down, which lasted “a bit less than an hour”.
“No policy talk or anything along those lines. We haven’t met before,” George said.
“Useful to get to know the people that you’re going to be working with in parliament.”
The draft stability agreement includes proposals for regular meetings with ministers and a dedicated crossbench liaison office.