Tasmanian Premier Reinstated Amid Unresolved Election Deadlock

The governor says that in the case of a hung parliament, the existing premier is entitled to test support on the floor of the House of Assembly.

Tasmanian Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia on March 24, 2024. AAP Image/Rob Blakers

Tasmania’s Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff will continue leading the state after receiving the governor’s endorsement to form a minority government, ending nearly three weeks of political uncertainty.

Rockliff visited Government House on Aug. 6, formally requesting Governor Barbara Baker to reappoint his government following the July 19 election, which delivered no clear majority.

The governor agreed, stating that in a hung parliament, the existing premier is entitled to test support on the floor of the House of Assembly.

“It is better for confidence to be determined inside and not outside the parliament,” Baker said in a statement.

The July 19 Tasmanian election delivered an unchanged 14 seats for the Liberals and 10 for Labor, while independents rose to five and the Shooters gained one, leaving the Greens steady on five.

The Liberal Party currently is four seats short of a majority. The Liberal cabinet is expected to be sworn in early next week, ahead of the parliament’s return on Aug 19.

No Deals Yet with Crossbench

Although Rockliff has not secured formal supply or confidence agreements with any of the 11 crossbenchers, he said that such arrangements were “not necessary” at this point.

Speaking to reporters, the Liberal leader said, “We established rules and procedures in the last parliament to ensure greater transparency and accountability. The work we’re engaging in now with the crossbench is exactly about that.”

Asked whether he feared facing another no-confidence motion, Rockliff responded, “It’s up to another member of parliament to put forward a motion of that nature ... it’s not needed for us as a government to put forward such a motion.”

Labor Still in the Game

Opposition Leader Dean Winter is continuing talks with crossbench MPs in an effort to form an alternative government.

He has ruled out any deal with the Greens but confirmed discussions with independents have intensified in recent days.

The stalemate follows a turbulent few months for the state. Rockliff’s previous government collapsed in June after a no-confidence vote, prompting the snap election—Tasmania’s second in 16 months, and its fourth in seven years.

A key point of contention remains the proposed $1 billion AFL stadium in Hobart, backed by both major parties but opposed by the Greens and some independents. The project has become a litmus test for support in parliament.

While Rockliff maintains that his government is ready to “get on with the job,” it remains to be seen whether he can hold the confidence of the chamber once parliament resumes.