Rouge MP’s that are constantly talking about “bringing down the government” may see their wishes come true, with Tasmania’s Premier now threatening to hold an early election.
Jeremy Rockliff says he will call an early election if defectors John Tucker and Lara Alexander don’t change their ways or stop holding the state “to ransom”.
In letters sent to the Liberal-turned-Independent MPs, Rockliff blames them for forcing the state government into minority and says their actions are making parliament “unworkable”.
“The truth is, it has become clear that Mr Tucker and Mrs Alexander are no longer honouring the Memorandum of Understanding they signed in May last year that promised to provide the stability and certainty that Tasmanians need,” Rockliff said in a statement.
“Despite the Government upholding and delivering on our end of the agreement, namely declaring the Macquarie Point Stadium a Project of State Significance and publishing the AFL agreement in full, Mr Tucker and Mrs Alexander are not honouring the intent of the agreement.”
He accused the pair of continuously shifting their demands and threatening to withdraw their support unless they have their way.
“Mr Tucker and Mrs Alexander were elected as Liberal Members, on a platform of providing stable, majority government and in my view they owe it to Tasmanians to honour that commitment for the term of Government,” Rockliff said.
Rockliff has proposed a new agreement to provide stability and certainty while allowing independents to raise concerns on behalf of constituents.
If not called earlier, the next state election is scheduled for 2025.
On Tuesday, Tucker called the Liberal party “terrified”, saying they were “engaged in a civil war and … desperately looking for scapegoats”.
“There would scarcely be a single Tasmanian under any doubt about my complete and utter disagreement with the direction of the Rockliff Liberals, nor would there be any doubt that I would ever again touch a Liberal membership ticket with a barge pole,” he said.
“By naming me and ruling out some phantom interest in rejoining the Liberals, the party is simply trying to cover its embarrassment over the volcanic preselection insurrection by party members.”
“It is no wonder the Premier is desperate to avoid an election because he knows that despite the problems in the Labor Party he simply cannot and will not win.”
