Newly elected Franklin independent Peter George has warned Tasmania’s major parties to drop rigid negotiating tactics if they want a stable minority government.
George, who received more primary votes than any other candidate in his electorate, said both Labor and Liberal had already drawn concerning “lines in the sand”.
“That’s not how minority government works. That’s certainly not how collaboration works,” George said following “short” and “polite” conversations with party leaders on Monday.
The new MP, who was backed by $60,000 in funding from Climate 200, said he would not be “rushed into” any agreements while vote counting continues across Tasmania’s five electorates.
Speaking to News Breakfast, George said his victory reflected growing public frustration with major parties that “tend to represent the corporates” over everyday Tasmanians.
“A lot of Tasmanians now understand that neither the Liberal Party nor the Labor Party really represent them anymore,” he said.
George’s campaign focused heavily on opposition to the Macquarie Point stadium and salmon farming and concerns about the state’s $13 billion debt.
With Tasmania facing its second consecutive hung parliament, George said stability would depend on the major parties accepting the new reality.
“There’s never going to be a majority government in Tasmania. It’s always going to be a minority government,” he said.
“It will not be the independents who bring down another government within four years.”
“It’ll be on the old parties for refusing to listen to what the electorate has given them.”
George said he remained “open to either option” when it comes to which party should form government.
“I want to see a parliament of 35 people roll up their sleeves and do some serious work across political lines,” he said.
“That’s why I’m an independent so that I can talk to both Labor and Liberal. So let’s hear what they have to say. Let’s hear what their plans are for rebuilding Tasmania’s future.”
The final make-up of Tasmania’s 35-seat parliament is yet to be officially confirmed, as counting continues under the state’s Hare-Clark electoral system.
At present, the Liberals have secured 14 seats, Labor nine, the Greens five and independents four.
