Last Liberal Premier in Australia Calls Election After Rogue MPs Fail to Commit to Supply

Crossbench MP John Tucker threatened to ‘bring the government down’ if his demands were not upheld.

Premier of Tasmania, Jeremy Rockliff speaks during a press conference in Hobart, April 29, 2023. Tasmania looks set to have its own AFL team after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged an additional $240 million to the state government to build a new waterfront stadium in Hobart. AAP Image/Loic Le Guilly

Ending weeks of speculation, Tasmania’s State Premier Jeremy Rockliff has announced his intention to call an early election, triggered by two cross-bench independent MPs who failed to commit to a confidence and supply agreement.

The next state election is pencilled in for 2025, but Mr. Rockliff said he would ask Governor Barbara Baker to call an early election on Feb. 14, after former Liberal MPs Lara Alexander and John Tucker, now operating as independents, continually lent their support to opposition motions and amendments in the house.