Garland Rules Out Support For Rockliff

Garland Rules Out Support for Rockliff

By Tasmanian Times

Posted on 1 August 2025

Media release – Craig Garland, independent MHA for Braddon, 1 August 2025

STATEMENT ON CONFIDENCE AND SUPPLY

This morning, I contacted Premier Jeremy Rockliff to inform him that I will not be signing any agreement to provide his government with confidence and supply in this parliament.

In the previous parliament, I supported the no confidence motion brought forward by Labor Leader Dean Winter for a range of reasons—chief among them, the Premier’s mishandling of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium and the disastrous, wholly unsustainable budget delivered by his Treasurer.

Since calling the election, the Premier and his party have refused to acknowledge our dire financial situation or the deeply flawed way they have attempted to push through the stadium project—ignoring community concerns and seeking to bypass scrutiny by the Independent Panel.

While the Premier promised to do things differently after the election, the recent handling of the Marinus Link decision tells a different story. It was rushed, secretive and emblematic of a government that has learned nothing. The same arrogance, lack of transparency, incompetence and dishonesty continue to define this administration, with the Energy Minister on behalf of the Government, signing Tasmania up to yet another multi-billion dollar – behind closed doors – deal, without a mandate and without proper scrutiny, that will cost Tasmanians.

These are not the traits of a government I can support.

I will not waste my time or Mr Rockliff’s by entering into any formal negotiations with him, which is why I called him this morning to tell him as much. I also believe it is important to be upfront with the Tasmanian people about this.

At this stage, I believe the only party capable of delivering stable and responsible government is the Labor Party. I look forward to continuing discussions with Mr Winter.

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