Media release – Rebecca White MP, Tasmanian Labor Leader, 24 March 2024
Labor will respect the vote of Tasmanians
It’s clear from the election result that no party can form majority government.
I am proud of my team, proud of the plan we have laid out to address Tasmania’s challenges of health, housing and cost-of-living, and I look forward to continuing to work towards a better future for the state however the final numbers unfold.
I have said from the outset that Labor was campaigning to win the endorsement of the community to elect a majority Labor Government and it is clear from the votes that have been counted to date that this is not possible.
I have also been clear that Labor will not do any deals with minor parties or independents and we asked Tasmanians to vote for Labor if they wanted to change the government.
While there has been an overwhelming shift in votes away from the Liberal party they still hold the most seats in this election and convention will dictate that they will be asked by the Governor to form government.
A 12 per cent swing against the Liberals proves Tasmanians have emphatically rejected the reason Mr Rockliff went to an election, returning an even larger crossbench than before.
Jeremy Rockliff’s declaration of victory last night was desperate and ignored the fact that his party still has a long way to go before forming government.
The first test for Jeremy Rockliff will be to survive the party room meeting that will be made up of very different alliances now that Eric Abetz joins with Michael Ferguson.
Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 24 March 2024
Labor Gift Liberals Government
Today, it appears Labor have gifted the Liberals government. It’s bitterly disappointing for those Tasmanians who put their faith in Rebecca White, hoping she was truly committed to making change.
Twelve hours in, with many seats still up for grabs, and the Labor Party have walked away from the opportunity voters gave them to improve Tasmania after a decade of Liberal harm.
Instead of considering their options, and working with the crossbench, Labor appears to have picked internal politics over possibility, and action.
Tasmanian voters sent the major parties an emphatic message yesterday about doing politics differently. It’s utterly disappointing that Labor has failed to listen to the community.
They’ve abandoned renters, homeless people, patients and paramedics, and the LGBTIQA+ community to an even more conservative and heartless Liberal government.
Despite Labor’s attack ads, dodgy posters and scare campaigns, one thing seems clear. It isn’t the Greens and independents gifting the Liberals four more years – it is Labor.
Media release – Michael Ferguson, Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Planning, Member for Bass, 24 March 2024
Labor Splits As White Prepares For Deal With The Greens
It is clear from her comments last night that Labor Leader Rebecca White is actively contemplating a deal with the Greens to try and form Government, Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson said today.
“Prior to and during the election campaign, Ms White ruled out a deal with the Greens time and time again”, the Deputy Premier said.
“It is now crystal clear that Ms White is planning to break that commitment.
“Where-ever the final numbers land, it is crystal clear that the only way that Labor can possibly form Government is by doing a deal with the Greens.
“In fact, on the numbers, there is no conceivable scenario where Labor can form Government without doing a deal with the Greens.
“As Labor Senator Helen Polley said last night, the ALP cannot form a “credible and legitimate government with just 10 members so far.”
“In contrast, the Liberals have multiple paths to forming government, and none of them include the Greens.
“With the memories of 2010-2014 haunting them, it is also understood that significant sections of the Labor Party are resisting Ms White’s attempt to drag them into the Green mire.
“Before voting even closed, Ms White was scrambling to save her leadership at any cost, by getting her party’s approval to do a deal with the Greens.
“On Friday, she took the first step of calling an emergency PLP Meeting.
“And, today, the final tick is being sought from the Administrative Committee of the ALP – a committee that Ms White must consult before deals can be done.
“Any attempt by Ms White to deal with the Greens would be a gross betrayal of Tasmanian voters, and must be rejected by her Labor colleagues”, the Deputy Premier concluded.
RULE 16.10 of the Australian Labor Party Tasmanian Branch Rules:
The Parliamentary Labor Party and its members shall not enter into a power sharing or coalition arrangement with any other political party where a member of that political party holds a ministerial or any other position within the Cabinet.
Further in the event the Party finds itself in a position to form a minority government following a state election, the Parliamentary Labor Party shall not form a minority state government unless the Administrative Committee on behalf of the ALP membership has firstly been consulted.
