Transcript of media conferences with Kristie Johnston, independent MHA for Clark, Meg Brown, Labor MHA for Franklin, and David O’Byrne, independent MHA for Franklin, Parliament Lawns, Hobart, 9 April 2024.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

How do you feel to have been confirmed to be elected?

Kristie Johnston

It’s a real privilege and an honour to be elected by the people to represent them as an independent voice in Parliament. It’s been since 1948 since an independent has been re-elected as an independent to the House of Assembly. So it doesn’t happen very often, as we can see. It’s a huge honour to be asked by the people of Clark to represent them.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

Are you in a different position now sitting in the middle of a balance of power Parliament [inaudible]

Kristie Johnston

We’re still at very early stages, quite clearly. I think everyone in Parliament is wanting to work to make sure that this Parliament works for the Tasmanian people. There a lot of things to sort out in terms of logistics of how that might be But I think there’s there’s goodwill from all parties.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

[inaudible] provide support, or confidence and supply but non binding to any particular positions on anything?

Kristie Johnston

Certainly I’ll be considering every issue on its merits. So whether that’s bills, whether it’s motions, or whether that’s a motion of no confidence, it needs to be decided on its merits. I think Tasmanians expect a mature Parliament that does that, that listens to the arguments on both sides, and then decides what’s best for Tasmanians and not vote according party lines.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

Are you looking for anything in return for that?

Kristie Johnston

I don’t do deals, my vote is not for sale. But what I do want to see is a government that’s accountable, that acts with integrity, that’s honest, open and transparent. So I’ll be looking for those hallmarks of what a good Parliament should be, that will decide my vote, whether it’s good for Tasmanians and whether it’s the right thing to do. That will be what influences my vote.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

The last time it became every day Labor throwing up no-confidence motions, censure motions, and they were broadly supported by [inaudible] benches. Do you have to think more carefully now about supporting any of those kinds of motions, because there’s [inaudible]?

Kristie Johnston

Certainly every issue should be dealt with on its merits and should be considered carefully. In the previous Parliament I did support a number of censure motions and no-confidence motions because the case was made out that there was wrongdoing or something that was amiss. Equally this time around, I’ll give each each motion consideration and proper consideration. And I expect that everyone would do that.

The ramifications of a no-confidence motion does not mean that a government falls, it means that there’s an issue to be dealt with. And what I would hope is that we see honesty and integrity in parliament where we don’t have to have those no-confidence motions time and time again.

Journalist – Elliott

Do you have more power in this new Parliament given that your support may be [inaudible]?

Kristie Johnston

The numbers certainly show the strength of the crossbench. And certainly I think that’s how Tasmanians wanted their Parliament to look: they wanted to have a strong crossbench which spoke out for them, acted in their interest not in party interests. So the influence of the crossbench is much greater this time around. I welcome that, I think that’s a fantastic outcome for Tasmanians.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

Does the crossbench need more resources?

Kristie Johnston

Certainly the crossbench does need need more resources. It’s important that we get the right information. As I say when you’re considering issues on its merits, you need to see the evidence base, you need to have the capacity to listen to all the stakeholders, to be able to analyse the information before you and that requires resources.

Tasmanian Times

Yesterday the Jacqui Lambie Network newly-elected members said that they would consider supporting legislation brought by Labor or the Greens or presumably the crossbench, so do you have any issues yourself where you would consider bringing forward legislation and what might it be?

Kristie Johnston

Certainly I’d be very keen to speak with the colleagues in Parliament about those particular issues. I’ve been very vocal on a whole range of issues including a ban on conversion practices, around the racing industry, on strengthening the Integrity Commission. There are a lot of things that the community want dealing with, the Commission of Inquiry and the government’s response to that.

What I will be doing is reaching out to every one of those Members of Parliament and seeking their cooperation and their collaboration to make sure we get a better outcome for Tasmania. I would hope that all parties would do the same thing as well.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

What does the government need to do [inaudible] an effective working relationship with the crossbench?

Kristie Johnston

I think honesty and integrity are very important aspects that the government needs to improve on when it comes to working with the crossbench. To be open or honest. To work and listen with the crossbench in terms of respecting the fact that the crossbench have been legitimately elected and they are a strong crossbench this time around. A willingness to understand that sometimes the government aren’t going to get it their way. But that’s okay because what we are wanting to see is a representative Parliament where the voice of the people is heard not the voice necessarily of just the government or one particular party.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

How do you feel? You’re confirmed as an MP in Tasmania’s state Parliament.

Meg Brown

I’m ecstatic. I’m so excited to get my feet under my desk and make a difference for the electorate of Franklin.

Journalist – unidentified

What are the most important issues for you?

Meg Brown

Definitely health, housing. Education is a major thing that’s happening for everyday Tasmanians. Every conversation that I had on the doors during my campaign was regarding those issues and those are things that I’m definitely passionate about.

Journalist – Elliott

Do you think Parliament needs some younger voices? [inaudible]

Meg Brown

I think diversity in our Parliament is only ever a good thing.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

What kind of MP would you like to be?

Meg Brown

I would like to be somebody that truly listens to our community and champions the issues that really matter to them.

Journalist – Elliott

And how do you feel like, do you feel like you’ve had adequate resources and support? And do you feel for JLN candidates going in potentially without the support of a party?

Meg Brown

I’m incredibly proud to be part of the Tas Labour Party. And I am truly grateful for all the resources that I’ve been given and I’m excited to make a difference for Franklin.

Journalist – Lucy MacDonald

[inaudible] collaboration across the political spectrum [inaudible].

Meg Brown

I think that we’ll all be working across the board with our crossbench to make sure that we are really delivering positive impact for our communities.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

Looking at how overwhelming it must be as a new MP [inaudible] able to show you the ropes?

Meg Brown

I’m so grateful to be part of the Labor Party, absolutely. And I have been overwhelmed with the amount of support that I’ve been given from my parliamentary colleagues as well as the rank and file members of our party.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

You mentioned it was a different campaign this time around. Can you explain a little more about that?

David O’Byrne

Well, I suppose, I’ve been a member of the Labor Party for 30 years, I’ve campaigned for many Labour Party candidates as a part of a team. I’ve been a part of four Hare-Clark elections as a part of a team. And this election was my first as an independent and so a very different dynamic. I was able to really pick my own lane and make decisions about the best things that I thought that I could represent people on.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

Were people putting one against David O’Byrne than just the Labor brand?

David O’Byrne

I think any person that gets elected in a Hare-Clark environment, regardless of whether you get a number one vote or a preference, I think it’s validating to get elected to Parliament. It’s an opportunity to hold true to your values. And it’s an opportunity to deliver for the people that have elected you.

So I think every person is validated by election, my first as an independent. I was, you know, quite humbled by the strong vote, it was a very clear vote in favour of me returning to the state parliament and representing people so I was happy with that. And it does give me an opportunity really to now strike out and and really make sure that people know what I stand for and the issues I feel strongly about.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

Is there any kind of ‘sticking it to those who didn’t want you back in the Labor Party’, does that give you any satisfaction?

David O’Byrne

The satisfaction is being able to continue the job that I love doing, and that’s representing the people of Franklin and trying to make a difference for Tasmania. Other people will cause you know, will create some judgements around other people’s decisions. But I’ve always said allow the people of Franklin to make up their mind. And they have, they’ve spoken, and I would ask people to respect that.

Journalist – Lucy MacDonald

[inaudible] needs the support of some of the crossbench in order to govern. Will you guarantee confidence and supply?

David O’Byrne

Well, I think as one of 35 members, I will be one voice. I’ve spoken to the Premier, we’ve had some discussions about what Parliament may look like, and under what circumstances a confidence and supply commitment can be given from me.

I’ve also made a commitment to the people of Tasmania that I will do my level best to make sure that this is a good Parliament, that this Parliament works for Tasmanians. At the minute, Jeremy Rockliff is the only one putting his hand up to be Premier and to form government. So I’ll have a conversation with him, we’ll talk about what that looks like.

Certainly on the floor of Parliament is important for any government, for any cabinet. But that doesn’t mean that it’s a blank cheque. It doesn’t mean that I’m going to roll over and have my tummy tickled I can tell you. There are issues I feel strongly about and and I’ve raised those issues with this government over the last decade, and I’ll continue to raise them. But I will work constructively. And I will work in a positive way to make this Parliament work because Tasmanians have asked us to make it work.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

What is your starting point? Is it support to govern but it doesn’t go any further?

David O’Byrne

Well, it’s really about the I suppose the workings on the floor of Parliament. The Parliament needs to work. I think we saw in the last couple of sitting periods in this House that the House did descend into chaos. It descended into a mess because of all the procedural motions, and the motions that were really designed not necessarily to achieve a policy outcome but to achieve a political outcome.

So we do need to provide a level of certainty on the floor of Parliament. We do need to provide some consistency. But that doesn’t mean that the issues that are important to me and the people that I represent are not going to be raised. So debates will occur, more focused on the policy and the issues as opposed to the personalities.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

Does that mean day 1 we get in there and Dean Winter throws up a no-co for Nick Duigan because it’s something to do with the Northwest Transmission Line, that would have taken 40 minutes out of the day last time around, is that something you’d be looking to support?

David O’Byrne

If that’s the tactical decision of the Opposition to do that, well, I think the floor will work that out pretty quickly.

Journalist – unidentified

[inaudible]

David O’Byrne

I think in terms of my role, I think it’s important that if I’m one of the independent members that provides the Rockliff government with security on the floor of Parliament, that these issues are resolved. These issues are working, we’ve got some goodwill in not only the ministers but the whole of government in responding to the issues that I’ve been raising and the community been raising for a number of years.

So I think there’s a bit of work to do. I think initially, if you start talking about individual issues, you’ll soon get lost. I think it’s important that as a Member of Parliament as an independent Member, that clearly is in a zone where we can decide, you know, the survival of a government, we’ve just had an election, we’ve got to give him a chance to make it work.

We’ll look at the infrastructure and the scaffolding that needs to be put in place to make it functional. And then we start to get down into the issues to make them work and I will give them – as long as I know there’s goodwill, as long as I know that they are working openly and transparently with the Tasmanian people, then this government will survive.

Journalist – Lucy MacDonald

That doesn’t necessarily mean support for the government’s 2030 Strong Plan [inaudible]

David O’Byrne

I’ve heard that statement 2030 Strong Plan, about a million times on ads and and on press conferences. I reckon the people of Tasmania haven’t got a clue what that means. What they do care about and what they do know is that we have got a public transport system that is collapsing. We’ve got a health system an education system and a housing system that does not work for Tasmanians. And there’s a whole range of issues across the portfolios that Tasmanians want to be sorted. 2030 Plan? Well, you know, that’s a slogan. I’m focused on the issues.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

Michael Ferguson seemed to get a lot out of joy out of winding you up during question time last year. Is that maybe one thing you’d look forward, and maybe you don’t just come up?

David O’Byrne

Question Time is an interesting period in a parliamentary day. There’s, you know, there’s a bit of bravado there. There’s always a bit of to and fro, but maybe, maybe they will need to think before they engage their voice.

Tasmanian Times

Is the role of Speaker something that you would consider?

David O’Byrne

No.

Journalist – David Killick

Is there an alternate reality here where you could have been Labor leader in this situation? Would you have handled things differently from how Labor’s handled things?

David O’Byrne

I’ve found in life that dealing with alternate realities is a very dangerous thing to do.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

Well not as an alternative reality, how do you feel about how quickly Labor threw in the towel?

David O’Byrne

I think at the end of the day, when you’ve got 28-29% of the vote, and you only have 10 members in a parliament of 35, I think that would create some difficulties in trying to govern in a functional way. But I must admit, I was surprised at how quickly the white flag was flown, because there’s a whole range of negotiations that we all know happen in minority Hare-Clark environments, where the orders of the day the functions of the House and some key issues where you’re negotiating and it’s all about leveraging those negotiations and the Labor Party dealt themselves out of that. Ultimately, the show will move on and and we’ll see what happens in the coming months in Parliament.

Journalist – Lucy MacDonald

Michael Ferguson was on radio today saying they clearly had a mandate for their 2030 Strong Plan, that’s basically the policies they put out during the election campaign. Do you think that the Tasmanian public handed them a mandate?

David O’Byrne

I think the Tasmanian people have handed a Parliament of diverse views. And I felt overwhelmingly in the community whether it was the seat of Franklin or wherever I went during the election or the last 12 months, they just want Parliament to function. So whatever slogan you put with it, I don’t really sign up to a mandate for any party in this Parliament. But what I will sign up to is actually trying to make things better for Tasmanians.