Updated 9:40am, Wednesday: Labor leader Dean Winter has confirmed he will this morning be moving a motion of no-confidence against Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
It comes after the Tasmanian Greens confirmed they would support the motion.
“The deals the Premier struck for minority government after the last election have collapsed,” Winter said.
“Three independent members of the crossbench have lost confidence in the Premier due to his financial mismanagement, his appalling handling of the Spirit of Tasmania project and his plan to privatise Tasmania’s most precious assets.”
“And the state budget confirmed Tasmania would never get the change it needs under this Premier.”
Earlier: Jeremy Rockliff’s 14-month-old Liberal minority government could be toppled when parliament resumes today, with Labor leader Dean Winter tabling a no-confidence motion that has already secured backing from three crossbench MPs.
The motion, announced during Winter’s budget reply speech yesterday, targets Rockliff over what Labor calls a “wrecked” budget featuring a third consecutive billion-dollar deficit and debt projections nearing $11 billion.
“It is clear the Premier has given up. There is no real attempt to fix this budget,” Winter said, challenging crossbench MPs to show their true opposition credentials.
Three crossbench members – Andrew Jenner, Craig Garland and Kristie Johnston – have indicated support for the motion.
The Greens hold the swing vote, with Deputy Leader Vica Bayley saying the party will meet this morning to finalise its position before parliament sits.
Not all crossbenchers, however, are on board.
Former Lambie MPs Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland say they will stick to their supply and confidence agreement, while independent David O’Byrne has warned that toppling the Liberals could “kill the stadium”.
Rockliff remained defiant on social media last night, arguing that ousting his government before the budget passes would hurt the state.
“It seems Dean Winter and the Labor Party are hell bent on forcing Tasmania to an early election,” he said.
“An election just over 12 months since the last one. That’s the last thing Tasmania needs. That’s the last thing Tasmanians want.”
If the motion succeeds, it could force Rockliff to resign or spark Tasmania’s second election in just over 12 months.
