Transcript of media conference with Jeremy Rockliff, Premier of Tasmania, Executive Building, 29 September 2023.

Jeremy Rockliff

This morning I met with the Attorney General Elise Archer MP. I requested and received her resignation from Cabinet. Yesterday I was made aware of information in relation to remarks Ms Archer had made outside what had already been reported. Those remarks are unacceptable by any standard and unequivocally fall short for expectations for a minister of the Crown. As a consequence of this Ms Archer is no longer a member of my cabinet.

As I said this week, if culture is to change in this state it requires leadership and accountability. And that starts from the top. I cannot accept a culture of belittling and a culture whereby people are not valued and respected for the work they do, and indeed, the people that they are. Pending permanent arrangements being announced in coming days, Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson will be acting Attorney General and I will take the remaining portfolio responsibilities.

Ms Archer has been a long standing member of our team. Ms Archer was the first female speaker in the House of Assembly and Ms Archer has served in the cabinet since 2017. Ms Archer has enacted significant reforms in the Tasmanian Parliament and I thank her for her service.

Journalist – unidentified

As a senior member of your government, how do you think these actions and allegations reflect on the overall integrity of your government, Premier?

Jeremy Rockliff

I expect a very high standard. And I lead by example when it comes to a high standard in terms of the culture and people being valued within the workplace, but also a very strict Ministerial Code of Conduct. I said this week that culture and changing culture in Tasmania is absolutely paramount. And if culture in this state is to change it requires leadership and accountability, and I intend of course to demonstrate that. That accountability starts at the top with myself as Premier.

Journalist – unidentified

The comments from Ms Archer about yourself being gutless, what do you make of that?And I guess, do you feel like your firm position on this is in some way a direct retribution of that?

Jeremy Rockliff

No.

Journalist – unidentified

Is your government falling apart Premier?

Jeremy Rockliff

No, no, we have been very fortunate to have a very capable team and a depth of talent within our ministry as well within our parliamentary Liberal Party. And in coming days I will of course be announcing a new minister in our government and look forward to that, and I will be having conversations with my colleagues over the course of the next few days.

Journalist – unidentified

Apologies, retribution was probably the wrong word from me, I probably meant response. Do you feel that requesting the standards you expect to see from Cabinet ministers is a show of strength in your leadership?

Jeremy Rockliff

Can I say very clearly Josh the comments as reported today from Ms Archer and the comments about me are absolutely nothing to do with my decision today. I, of course, had a conversation with Ms Archer this morning. I asked for her resignation and I received her resignation.

Journalist – unidentified

Elise Archer says your government refuses to support strong women. Is that fair?

Jeremy Rockliff

I reject that utterly. We have some very strong and capable women, all of them within my parliamentary Liberal Party. I value and respect each and every one of them, the work they do as members of Parliament, the work they do in the Ministry as well. I would utterly reject that. I do utterly reject that.

Journalist – unidentified

Obviously we saw the danger of predicting recounts a few months ago with the Greens. Are you expecting that Simon Behrakis will fill that position?

Jeremy Rockliff

I understand that Ms Archer is also resigning as a Member of Parliament and as a Member for Clark. That will require a recount and that will be in the hands already of the Tasmanian people who cast their vote in the electorate of Clark in 2021. And the Electoral Commission of course will determine the next number for Clark.

Journalist – unidentified

It’s one thing to ask a minister to resign but what specific steps is your government going to take to improve overall culture within your government and to boost standards and integrity.

Jeremy Rockliff

Well, I’ve had a number of conversations with my cabinet and my team about respect in the workplace and the very high standards that I demand of not only people as Members of Parliament but particularly as ministers of the Crown. We have had a motion of respect report delivered by the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Equal Opportunity Sarah Bolt, accepted those recommendations which are being enacted now and I am committed to ensuring that the strong accountability, respect within the workplace and respect of each other as human beings irrespective of the positions that we hold in and across government.

Journalist – unidentified

Are you concerned by the possibility of Labor moving a no-confidence motion when Parliament returns? And are you concerned by the possibility of will you be proroguing Parliament at all given Ms Archer’s resignation?

Jeremy Rockliff

The Labor Party has been and will continue to be a destabilising force within the Tasmanian Parliament. That is not in the interest of the Tasmanian people, that is up to them. I’ll be seeking advice with respect to the timeline of an election of a new Member of Parliament and make my decision accordingly.

Facebook post – Elise Archer MHA, Attorney-General, 29 September 2023

— untitled —

It has been my deep honour and privilege to serve my constituents in Clark and the people of Tasmania as Attorney-General and in all my portfolios.

Today, I have resigned as a Minister of the Crown and from the Liberal Party. It is also my intention to notify Her Excellency of my resignation from the Parliament of Tasmania as a Member for Clark.

It is clear to me that the leadership of the Liberal Party continues to fail to support ambitious women. It takes incredible strength and resilience to be a woman in a senior government role and to strive to be treated the same as male colleagues, despite many years of dedicated, hardworking service.

I am particularly proud of my achievements as the first female Speaker in the House of Assembly, and significantly in law reform over the last five years. It has taken a personal toll at times, however, I depart knowing that despite the events of recent days, this law reform will hopefully endure as my legacy for the people of Tasmania and my community, who I have loved serving over the last 13 years.


Media release – Dean Winter MP, Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly, 29 September 2023

Liberal government in utter disarray

The resignation of Attorney General Elise Archer shows a minority government in utter disarray – and is a betrayal of Tasmanians who were told they were voting for stable majority government.

Since the 2021 election, the Liberal government has lost one Premier, four Ministers, and a backbencher – as well as two members who defected to the crossbenches less than five months ago, and another Minister who has been referred to the powerful Privileges Committee.

It is clear that Jeremy Rockliff’s leadership is destroying the government. It is disintegrating before our very eyes.

This is no longer a functioning government – it is a last-gasp attempt to maintain the façade of any kind of government.

The allegations of bullying against staff in the Attorney’s office must by fully and thoroughly investigated to ensure the safety of government workers into the future.

In one of the most important weeks of the Tasmanian Parliament when Tasmanians were expecting real action on the Commission of Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recommendations, they have instead been left with an acting Attorney General and no confidence about how these recommendations might be implemented.

Tasmanians voted for a strong, stable, majority Liberal Government led by Peter Gutwein. Instead they got a weak, unstable, minority Liberal Government led by the fundamentally weak Jeremy Rockliff.

Media release – United Workers Union (UWU), 29 September 2023

UWU WELCOMES TASMANIAN CORRECTIONS MINISTER RESIGNATION

The United Workers Union (UWU) has welcomed the resignation of the Attorney-General Elise Archer, who also served as the Minister for Corrections.

Ms Archer leaves behind a department in crisis with record prisoner numbers, record assaults and record lock down hours.

Union members employed in corrections are hoping that a change of minister will usher in a change of culture at corrections which is currently marred with bullying, harassment and daily safety and security issues.

UWU corrections delegate Phil Pregnell said he hoped the Premier Jeremy Rockliff would stick to his word on having a low tolerance for workplace bullying.

“We hope that the Premier as the new corrections minister stands by his words that ‘I cannot accept culture of belittling and a culture whereby people are not valued and respected’ is pushed all the way down the chain in the justice department,” Mr Pregnell said.

“Currently, there is a culture of belittling and bullying that is commonplace. We have members that have been off and are still off due to this accepted culture which is destroying members’ mental health and lives.”

“We have seen targeted bullying against health and safety representatives that speak up against the failings of the system and nothing is done against the perpetrators.

“When you fail correctional officers, you fail prisoners and you fail the Tasmanian community.”

UWU is calling on a meeting with the Premier to discuss the systemic issues and failings within Tasmanian Department of Justice and the Tasmania Prison Service.

Media release – Equality Tasmania, 29 September 2023

ASSURANCE SOUGHT ON CONVERSION BAN

Equality Tasmania wants an assurance from Premier Jeremy Rockliff and acting Attorney-General, Michael Ferguson, that a ban on conversion practices will still be introduced by the end of the year.

The group’s call comes in the wake of the resignation from parliament of former Attorney-General, Elise Archer, who was working on conversion legislation.

Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

“We will write to the Premier and the acting Attorney-General asking for their assurance that the Government’s commitment to a conversion ban by the end of 2023 remains in place.”

“It has been a year and a half since the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute released its report calling for a conversion ban and the Premier committed to the reform.”

“Vulnerable LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians continue to be subject to the torture of conversion practices and the longer the State Government delays the more damage will be done.”

Mr Croome said other important reforms being pursued by Ms Archer should also not be delayed.

They include reforms to legislation expunging convictions under the state’s former laws against homosexuality and cross-dressing, and reforms to the Sentencing Act allowing stronger penalties for hate-motivated crime against LGBTIQA+ people.