Blurb from Constitutional Clarion
This video is about how the caretaker conventions operate in Tasmania, in the context of a dispute about the Rockliff Government’s proposal to enter into a major agreement on the Marinus Link Project while the caretaker period continues. At the time of making this video, the outcome of the general election on 19 July 2025 was still being determined, with counting and the distribution of preferences under the Hare-Clark proportional voting system continuing. No major party has won majority support in the lower House of the Tasmanian Parliament and it is unclear which party will command the confidence of the House.
In the meantime, the Tasmanian Government is being pressed by the Commonwealth Government to make a ‘Final Investment Decision’ about the Marinus Link Project which involves laying electricity transmission and fibre-optic cables between Tasmania and Victoria. The caretaker conventions require consultation with the Opposition in relation to major policy decisions and major contracts during the caretaker period. Consultation, however, has been limited and the Opposition has claimed that it was inadequate for it to make an informed decision. This video discusses the application and status of the caretaker conventions, whether they can be enforced, who can enforce them and their purpose.
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