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Premier Rockliff’s fate to be decided today as parliament votes on no-confidence motion

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Premier Jeremy Rockliff in parliament on Wednesday. Image / Pulse

Jeremy Rockliff’s three-year reign as Tasmania’s premier could end today as parliament resumes debate on a no-confidence motion that could bring down the Liberal government.

Rockliff spent Wednesday fighting to hold on to power, admitting the numbers are likely against him but insisting he’ll “fight to my last breath”.

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Labor leader Dean Winter appears to have secured the support needed to topple Rockliff, with backing from the Greens and three crossbench MPs.

The debate ran for eight hours on Wednesday before being adjourned at 7:30pm, setting up today as potentially the final day for both Rockliff and the Liberal government, which has held power since 2014.

Parliament will return on Thursday morning to decide the fate of the premier. Image / Pulse

“You’ve got, as I understand it, the support of enough people in this place to bring me down,” Rockliff said.

The premier’s troubles stem from what Winter described as the “worst budget” in the state’s history, with a forecast deficit of nearly $1.3 billion and net debt heading for $11 billion.

Labor leader Dean Winter is attempting to bring down Rockliff. Image / Pulse

The no-confidence motion also targets Rockliff’s handling of the Spirit of Tasmania ferry project and plans to privatise state-owned assets including TasNetworks, TasPorts and Metro.

Independent MP Kristie Johnston was first to publicly back the motion on Tuesday. She was soon joined by Craig Garland and Andrew Jenner from the Jacqui Lambie Network.

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The Greens confirmed yesterday they would support the motion alongside the 10 Labor MPs and even offered to form a minority government with the party.

The political chaos has thrown a cloud over Tasmania’s AFL future, with the $945 million Macquarie Point stadium, central to securing the Devils’ licence, now in doubt.

Young AFL players at the team announcement. Image / Pulse

Political strategist Brad Stansfield, who served as chief of staff to former premier Will Hodgman, painted a grim picture of the Liberal Party’s prospects yesterday morning.

“If there is an election, just to be brutally frank, the Liberals would be annihilated,” Stansfield said on his ‘FontCast’ podcast. “All over, red rover.”

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Stansfield declared the stadium “dead” as a result, while the Tasmania Devils’ Kath McCann broke down in tears at a press conference.

This led to Dean Winter being booted from the ‘Yes AFL Team, Yes Stadium’ Facebook group by its administrator and prompted prominent football figure Eddie McGuire to say the political instability had put the AFL licence at risk.

Kath McCann broke down during a press conference on Wednesday

Rockliff has repeatedly warned that a successful no-confidence vote would force Tasmania into an early election, just 14 months after the last.

“An election just over 12 months since the last one,” he said in a social media post. “That’s the last thing Tasmania needs. That’s the last thing Tasmanians want.”

The Greens want to avoid another costly election and have offered to work with Labor. Image / Pulse

The Liberals currently hold just 14 of the 35 seats in the lower house and need crossbench support to govern.

This is the third no-confidence motion levelled against the Liberals in recent months, but the first time Labor has supported one.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff is facing a no-confidence vote. Image / Pulse

If the motion succeeds, constitutional convention dictates Rockliff must resign and advise the governor to call an election.

Parliament is due to resume at 10am, with a vote expected by the end of the day.

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