Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has survived a motion of no-confidence after crossbench MPs refused to support Labor’s attempt to topple his minority Liberal government.
The vote in the 35-seat House of Assembly ended weeks of political uncertainty following the July election, which left the Liberals governing with crossbench support.
Speaking after the vote, Rockliff acknowledged the crossbench members didn’t necessarily have confidence in him personally, but had rejected Labor’s “political games”.
“Parliament has spoken today, emphatically spoken today. They’ve elected a minority government to get on with a job,” he said.
The premier said he would dedicate himself to working with crossbench members, having chosen not to take on any ministerial portfolios.
“I want every single member of parliament that has been elected to have a win for their communities and the people that elected them,” he said.
Rockliff faces the challenge of balancing demands from progressive crossbench members while managing conservative elements within his own Liberal Party.
He has established a “foundations of stability” agreement as a framework for cooperation, describing it as a “living document” that other MPs are contributing to.
“We cannot get 100% of what we want 100% of the time,” Rockliff said.
The survival of the government means Tasmanians avoid another election, but Rockliff must now prove he can maintain crossbench support while delivering on policy commitments.
