Disgruntled Labor supporters are abandoning their party and switching to the Liberals as Tasmania prepares for another election, according to veteran Liberal MP Eric Abetz.
The former federal senator, now a state MP, says traditional Labor voters are expressing frustration with Opposition Leader Dean Winter’s role in toppling Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s minority government through a no-confidence motion.
“Labor voters everywhere, as I’ve been out on the streets, are coming up and saying ‘Eric, never thought we’d be voting Liberal, but what Dean Winter has done is just so immature, so irresponsible, we’ve got to give you guys a go’,” Abetz told Sky News.
The snap election was triggered when Winter, the Greens and crossbench MPs Craig Garland, Kristie Johnston and Andrew Jenner voted together to successfully pass the no-confidence motion against Rockliff.
Despite losing the vote, Rockliff refused to step down and instead requested a new election. The governor approved the move after Winter ruled out forming a coalition government with the Greens.
“Dean Winter and the Greens don’t choose the leader of the Liberal Party,” Abetz said.
“We determine that. If they don’t like the leader, have a vote of no confidence in the government, but don’t try and pick us off one by one. We’re a united team and we fight together.”
Abetz pointed to a recent Pulse Tasmania poll where almost 6,000 people voted on their preferred leader. Rockliff received more than 5,600 votes, while Winter drew just 340.
Abetz claimed Tasmanians were “red hot angry with Dean Winter” for forcing another election barely a year after the last poll, with both major parties now campaigning for majority government.
“All we need is another four seats, Labor to achieve that need twice as much, eight seats. They’re not going to get there,” Abetz said.
“The minority parliament regrettably has not worked despite our best endeavours. They’ve blown it up.”
“We’ve got to get the mature adults back in the room with a majority Liberal government under Jeremy Rockliff.”
