Tasmanians set for early election after no-confidence vote against premier succeeds
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The news: A no confidence vote against Tasmania's Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockcliff has succeeded, likely paving the way for the state's voters to head to an election.
The context: The vote was split 17-17 before Speaker of the House, Labor's Michelle O'Byrne, cast the deciding vote.
Rockcliff is now expected to ask the state's governor to call an election.
In a speech delivered before casting her deciding vote, O'Byrne said "in this process, the die is cast, and the state is on the inexorable path to another early election".
The state held an early election in March last year as the minority Liberal government sought to boost its position, but it still fell short of a majority.
On Tuesday, Labor Opposition L:eader Dean Winter said he had tabled the motion to hold a vote of no-confidence “because [Rockcliff has] wrecked the budget, because he's planning to sell our power companies, our ports and our public transport, and because no one can trust him after the handling of the Spirit of Tasmania fiasco”.
The Tasmanian state budget, released last Thursday, forecast net debt would hit $7.3 billion in FY26 before reaching $10.8 billion in four years’ time.
It also forecast four consecutive years of deficits. However, this was expected to shrink from more than $1 billion in FY26 to $236 million in FY29 before hitting surplus in FY30.
What they said: After the vote, Rockcliff said it is "a sad day" and accused the opposition leader of diminishing the parliament.
Speaking about the upcoming snap election, Rockcliff said it will be one that "Tasmanians don't want and Tasmania cannot afford".
The sources: Tasmanian State Parliament livestream, ABC News
