by Bec Pridham, ABC
Two Tasmanian Liberal MPs say they will quit the party to sit as independents, pushing Australia’s only remaining Liberal stronghold into minority governance.
Bass member Lara Alexander and Lyons member John Tucker plan to resign later this morning as both party members and members of the parliamentary Liberal Party.
They will also leave their parliamentary positions, including memberships of parliamentary committees.
Both politicians will continue to serve their electorates as independents on the crossbench.
A press conference is scheduled for 11am.
Both have flagged concerns about future debt surrounding Hobart’s $715 million Macquarie Point Stadium, with Ms Alexander also taking issue with the transparency of government decision making, and Mr Tucker airing grievances against Marinus Link.
Read the full story here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-12/tasmania-liberal-government-in-minority-mps-defect-over-stadium/102333446
Media reelase – Rebecca White MP, Labor Leader, 12 May 2023
Unprecedented vote of no confidence in Jeremy Rockliff’s leadership
Tasmania deserves a government that is focussed on the right priorities for our state.
We know that health, housing, secure jobs and the cost of living are the top issues for Tasmanians.
But after ten years in government, it’s clear that Jeremy Rockliff and the Liberals are no longer capable of taking Tasmania forward.
The government is in disarray and is not delivering the stable majority government that they promised the Tasmanian people.
The government has got its priorities so wrong that its own members are quitting.
If they don’t trust the government, then why should the rest of the Tasmanian community?
This is what happens when a government takes its eye off the key priorities.
Mr Rockliff has to recall parliament next week to test that his government continues to have the confidence of the majority of members.
Labor has a positive plan for Tasmania focused on the challenges in health, housing and with the cost-of-living – which we strongly believe are the right priorities for the state.
Media release – Cassy O’Connor MP, Greens Leader, 12 May 2023
Rockliff Pays Price for Arrogance and Contempt
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has today paid the price for his arrogance, and for the contempt he has shown towards the many Tasmanians who are fiercely opposed to his billion-dollar stadium.
Tasmanians are experiencing our worst ever crises in healthcare and housing. Tens of thousands of people are living in poverty, and hardship. Rather than trying to fix these issues, the Premier has spent his entire time in the top job pushing forward an unneeded, unwanted and unaffordable stadium at Macquarie Point.
Not only has the Premier failed to listen to the chorus of opposition from Tasmanians from all walks of life, he has dismissed their concerns with obvious arrogance and contempt – even calling those who don’t want a stadium “anti-Tasmanian”.
Well, Jeremy, this is what you get. Prioritising Gill McLachlan demands over Tasmanians in need was always going to be a problem – you were too busy sucking up the men in suits from the mainland to realise it.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the days and weeks ahead, but one thing is clear – this stadium is far from a done deal. And Tasmanians from across the island are going to do everything in our power to make sure this billion-dollar white elephant is consigned to the history books.
Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Energy spokesperson, 12 May 2023
Liberals Must Answer Marinus Questions
The Rockliff Minority Government must answer the many questions still outstanding on the multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link proposal. As made clear by John Tucker and Lara Alexander today, this is an issue that people from all political persuasions are concerned about.
While the two former-Liberal MPs named up the Macquarie Point stadium as their number one issue, they made it clear Marinus Link was a close second.
We are not surprised these newly minted independents rated concerns about the Marinus secret deal and debt as a serious issue. Communities around the island have been given the cold shoulder by the Rockliff Government, and the Greens have also never received a straight answer after years of scrutinising this opaque proposal.
To be clear – the Greens are strong supporters of more clean energy, but we don’t believe Marinus Link is the best approach to tackle climate change. It will do nothing to push down Tasmania’s growing industrial emissions, and the project’s infrastructure will destroy vast swathes of carbon-rich, biodiverse forests and landscapes.
Tasmania should be using our limited finances to invest in electrification, and in local renewables close to industry and settlements.
Michael Ferguson and Guy Barnett have repeatedly refused to tell Tasmanians the truth about the multi-billion-dollar debt they’re signing us up for.
Now they are in a Parliamentary minority they should think twice about maintaining their insultingly secretive approach to Marinus Link.
Media release – Andrew Wilkie, independent Member for Clark, 12 May 2023
Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, will speak at tomorrow’s Stop the Stadium Rally at Parliament Lawns.
WHEN: 12:00pm TOMORROW (Saturday) 13 May 2023
WHERE: Parliament Lawns, HOBART 7000
“I’m looking forward to proudly stand alongside my community in opposition to the proposed AFL stadium at Macquarie Point,” Mr Wilkie said. “It is a slap in the face for the many Tasmanians doing it tough right now, like those waiting years to see a specialist and years more for surgery, and the 4,500 people languishing on the housing waiting list.
“Macquarie Point is also too special a place for a development which will look at best like a monument to stupidity, at worst like a giant bed pan. Tasmania does not need, does not want, and cannot afford this stadium.”
