Tasmania’s Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he knew he would “risk losing [his] premiership” after making the “very difficult decision” to kick Elise Archer out of the Government on Friday.
In an interview with ABC Hobart, Premier Rockliff said he “knew the consequences” and “the uncertainty that [it] would cause” when making the decision but believes it was the “right call.”
“I have no regrets about making that call, and I’ll say that very clearly. Culture has to change, and it starts with me and it starts from the top,” the Premier said.
“I’ve been a colleague of Elise’s for 13 years, but it was the right decision and the right call and it was the principal thing to do.”
The Premier called Ms Archer’s claim that her comment about being ‘sick of victim survivors’, which led to her dismissal amid an investigation into bullying allegations, being taken out of context ‘rubbish.’
“I’m not sure what context that comment would ever be right.”
“So whatever context, it’s not the right call and I called it out and I’ve made the right decision.”
When asked about the possibility of Ms Archer staying in parliament as an Independent and potentially triggering an early election, the Premier said that was “in Ms Archer’s hands,” but he would expect full “confidence and supply” – something Ms Archer has said she won’t provide.
“[I would be] no longer part of the government. They have themselves to blame,” she said.
The Premier said “Ms Archer either comes back to the Parliament as a person that was elected a Liberal in 2021 and guarantees supply and confidence, just as John Tucker and Lara Alexander have done and we’ve been working well together and I commend them for that.”
“Or, Ms Archer does what she said she would do and resigns from Parliament and then allow another Liberal to come into the Parliament.”
“I don’t want an election … Tasmanians don’t want an election. There is too much to do. We have some very critical decisions to make.”
“My intention is to do what’s best for Tasmanians and my preference is to come back for the Parliament and to continue to get the job done.”
On Monday morning, the Premier announced Guy Barnett as Tasmania’s new Attorney General and Minister for Justice.
Minister Barnett will retain his portfolios as Minister for Health and Minister for Veterans Affairs.
Nick Dugian will be appointed as the new member of Cabinet and will take on the portfolios of Minister for Energy and Renewables, Minister for Parks, Minister for Heritage and Minister for Small Business.
Madeleine Ogilvie will take on Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation, Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs and Minister for the Arts.
Jo Palmer will return as the Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence, in addition to her portfolios as Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Minister for Community Services and Development and Minister for Disability Services.
Felix Ellis will become Leader of the House in the House of Assembly and Jane Howlett will now be the Deputy Leader of the Legislative Council.
Dean Young will become the Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Industry.
The Ministry will be sworn in at Government House tomorrow.
