Governor Barbara Baker is carefully considering her options after a 40-minute meeting with Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Government House on Tuesday evening, where he formally requested an early election.
“Following their conversation, Her Excellency is now taking the time necessary to give due consideration to all available options,” Official Secretary David Hughes said in a statement shortly after Rockliff left at 6:30pm.
“By the end of the week the premier will meet with Her Excellency again.”
The meeting came hours after emergency funding bills passed the parliament to ensure public servants receive pay beyond July 1.
The governor now faces three distinct paths to resolve Tasmania’s political uncertainty following last week’s 18–17 no-confidence vote in Rockliff’s leadership.
The first is for the Liberals to replace Rockliff as leader and test whether a new premier can gain the confidence of the house.
This would require finding a leader capable of securing crossbench support, potentially avoiding an election.
The second option would see the governor invite Labor leader Dean Winter to try to form a minority government.
Winter, who brought forward the no-confidence motion, would need the backing of both the Greens and crossbenchers.
The third, which appears to be Rockliff’s preferred route, would be to grant his request and send Tasmanians back to the polls in mid-July.
“I remain committed to serving the people of Tasmania,” Rockliff said in his own statement after the meeting.
”I respect the need for Her Excellency to take the appropriate time to consider important matters of state.”
