Media release – 10 April 2024

Rockliff reaches agreement with Jacqui Lambie Network

An agreement that delivers stability and certainty has been reached between Premier Rockliff and the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN).

The three new members of the JLN, Miriam Beswick, Andrew Jenner, and Rebekah Pentland, have agreed to provide confidence to the Rockliff Liberal Government on all confidence and censure votes, guarantee supply to support all appropriation and revenue bills, and support the Government on parliamentary motions that bind the Government.

“All parties have entered into this agreement with goodwill and trust, and I am confident that this agreement will provide the long-term certainty and stability the Tasmanian people expect,” the Premier said.

“Importantly, the agreement ensures that the Tasmanian Parliament functions at its best and serves the best interests of Tasmanians.

“I thank the JLN for their productive and collaborative approach that they have taken as we have worked towards an agreement.

“I look forward to working with the JLN and taking action on the things that matter to Tasmanians.”

 

Media release – Jacqui Lambie Network, 10 April 2024

JACQUI LAMBIE NETWORK TO PROVIDE CONFIDENCE AND STABILITY TO ROCKLIFF GOVERNMENT

Today the Jacqui Lambie Network has reached an agreement with Premier Jeremy Rockliff, to provide confidence and stability in support of the Rockliff Government.

Recently elected JLN MPs, Miriam Beswick (Member for Braddon), Andrew Jenner (Member for Lyons), and Rebekah Pentland (Member for Bass) recognise the importance of providing a stable government and a workable Parliament for the benefit of the people of Tasmania.

Transparency and integrity are the key guiding principles that underpin the basis of the agreement between the JLN and the Rockliff Government, which includes:

  • The implementation of the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings;
  • An independent review of State Finances and the proposed AFL Stadium;

  • Political Donation reform;

  • A ‘beefed up’ Integrity Commission; and,

  • Reviewing and strengthening RTI processes.

The JLN ran in the recent state election to provide Tasmanians with a choice of a fourth political party that cares about representing  the people of Tasmania, with integrity and transparency.  The three new MPs are fully committed to delivering on their promise to ensure greater transparency, accountability and integrity in our Parliament.

They look forward to working with the Rockliff Government to serve the best interests of all Tasmanians.

Media release – Rosalie Woodruff, Tasmanian Greens Leader, 10 April 2024

Comments re agreement

“It seems Jeremy Rockliff has learned nothing. Two thirds of Tasmanians voted for someone other than the Liberal party, and a diverse Parliament has been elected. But rather than showing they understand the need to change their ways, the Liberals have gone back to the same old approach of saying it’s their way or the highway.

“The conditions that have been set by the Liberals to allow them to govern with just 14 out of 35 seats are shockingly onerous and do not reflect what Tasmanians voted for.

“Many Tasmanians will be deeply disappointed to see the first official act by JLN MPs has been to push the Parliament towards being less transparent and less accountable than it could be – especially given they have not received any concrete or specific commitment to reform. A nod, a wink, or a review is not the same as getting an ICAC or any other real, meaningful change.

“We hope the independents the Liberals are now courting to help form government do not go down the same road.”

Transcript of media conference with Kristie Johnston, independent MHA for Clark, Parliament Lawns, Hobart, 10 April 2024.

Transcript of media conference with Kristie Johnston, independent MHA for Clark, Parliament Lawns, Hobart, 10 April 2024

Kristie Johnston

What we have seen today is the Jacqui Lambie Network members effectively sign an agreement which silences and gags them and makes them nothing more than puppets of the Liberal Party. It’s effectively a coalition government that we have now.

The Lambie Network Agreement with the Rockliff government effectively says that they will provide government with supply and confidence with the exception of any malfeasance or corruption. The remainder of the agreement basically stifles debate, gags them considerably, and prevents them from hearing evidence of any such malfeasance or corruption. It’s an absolute dog’s breakfast, and quite frankly, silences and gags them.

Journalist – Adam Langenberg

You seem to hate all of this agreement. But which are the bits that you hate the most?

Kristie Johnston

Concerningly the Jacqui Lambie Network party have given away their ability to vote on their conscience, as they see fit to represent their community. Essentially, they’ve given away their ability to vote on procedural motions, which means that debate in the Parliament will be gagged, particularly on no-confidence motions.

They’ve also agreed to support the government on any issue or any motion that might bind the government. That effectively means that any motion put forward by the crossbench, or the opposition to hold the government to account – for instance, to ask them to provide or to form to provide information to the House – would be voted down by the Jacqui Lambie Network with the government. That would mean that information like that information related to Marinus Link would not have been provided to the House of Assembly. That is is deeply disturbing information.

That is deeply disturbing and fact is it puts them in a position where they don’t receive vital information, which ought to inform them about the merits of the way that they vote. They won’t be receiving information about corruption or malfeasance. They won’t be receiving information about budget positions, about issues that the government is dealing with that are quite serious, whether it be the stadium, Marinus Link and the Commission of Inquiry. They are simply voting with the government at every time.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

Do you think this is what Tasmanians have voted for the Jacqui Lambie Network because they were sick of the major parties wanted?

Kristie Johnston

I understand that what some in the Jacqui Lambie network has been saying is that they want to stand on integrity and transparency. And they are values that everyone in Parliament should hold dear to. But effectively what they have done by signing this agreement is give the government a blank cheque to do as they will. That is simply by offering unconditional support effectively to the government by not allowing debate when it comes to issues of corruption and malfeasance. That is deeply disturbing. And I think the Tasmanian community elected and wanted to see elected a different kind of Parliament.

Journalist – Adam Langenberg

You seem to be saying they’ve sold the farm. Do you think they get enough back in return for it?

Kristie Johnston

It looks certainly what they’ve asked for in return is light on detail. There’s not even an end date to the agreement. I am deeply concerned about the Commission of Inquiry response of the government and the fact that it seems effectively they have increased the year for closure of Ashley by one year. That is deeply concerning to me.

It’s concerning to me, that we don’t understand yet what they mean by ‘beefing up the Integrity Commission’. Of course, we want a stronger Integrity Commission, but the details are lacking in that particular agreement. And I am very concerned they might be railroaded by the Rockcliff Government. Certainly they have very little power in this agreement to have a voice.

Journalist – Judy Augustine

Should they at least have tried to get something in return for this?

Kristie Johnston

I would hope that my approach to negotiations – that every issue has been dealt with on its merits – would be the way that they would approach negotiations with the government. What clearly we have here is the Jacqui Lambie Network with some values and ideals they took to the constituents in the election, which unfortunately have to trade those away now and give them up because the government effectively bound them with their vote.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

As much of their voice as this takes away, it only gets the government to 17. Is it a crucial that you David and Craig who are in the middle don’t break ranks to give the government that 18th seat that would allow them to act as a majority government?

Kristie Johnston

It’s incredibly important that I think the entire Parliament understand that you’ll have a Tasmania people at this election. They didn’t have confidence in the Rockcliff government to elect a majority Rockliff government. They are very concerned about integrity and transparency. So it is on the crossbench and the members of the crossbench to uphold those concerns and to hold this Parliament to account. I hope that my crossbench colleagues do that and do that strongly because that’s want Tasmanians want.

Journalist – Adam Langenberg

So there’s no chance of your signing a similar agreement?

Kristie Johnston

I will not be signing any such agreement. My stance always been that I will decide each issue on its merits. My vote is not for sale. And I will decide on conscience what’s right for Tasmanians.

Journalist – Judy Augustine

Are you still in talks with the Premier?

Kristie Johnston

Look, I did have a conversation with him late last night I’m always happy to talk with the Premier. But we’ll see where we go from here.

Journalist – Adam Langenberg

Do you get the feeling he’s got one of Craig Garland or David O’Byrne over the line.

Kristie Johnston

If I suspect we’ll know more later this afternoon when he makes an announcement of his ministry, and I suspect he’ll be revealing more about what arrangements he might have for Parliament in coming days.

Journalist – Josh Duggan

David’s been around for years. I don’t imagine he’s going into these naive. Are you concerned that Craig Garland as another newcomer, like these Jacqui Lambie Network MPs, that they might not have the right people around them to let them know when they’re being sold magic beans?

Kristie Johnston

I want to reach out to all my crossbench colleagues and indeed all my colleagues in Parliament to collaborate and to talk about the issues around transparency and integrity. It’s incredibly important that we do so.

And I invite Craig and David and the Jacqui Lambie Network colleagues to reach out and let’s have an open and frank discussion about how we can make Parliament work for the people. At the moment what we’re seeing is that Parliament is going to work for the Rockliff government and that’s not what the people wanted.