Tasmania’s Premier and Opposition Leader Engage with Independents Amidst Hung Parliament Scenario
The political landscape in Tasmania has taken a dramatic turn as both the Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, and the Opposition Leader, Dean Winter, are actively courting the support of independent Members of Parliament (MPs) following the announcement of a hung parliament in the recent election. The election, which took place on Saturday, saw the Liberal party securing 14 seats and Labor obtaining 9 seats, with vote counting still in progress.
The outcome underscores a significant shift in Tasmania’s political dynamics, with the election stage-setting yet another minority government scenario, just 16 months after the last election. Premier Rockliff, of the Liberal party, declared his intent to form a minority government, acknowledging the necessity of working with crossbenchers to achieve this.
In addressing the media on Sunday, Rockliff emphasized the importance of forming a cabinet and underscored the electorate’s demand for an end to political games, emphasizing the need for a parliament that can work collaboratively over a full four-year term. He expressed his optimism that crossbench MPs will recognize the Liberal party as the entity best positioned to forge a functional government due to its substantial seat count.
On the other side of the political aisle, Dean Winter, leading the Labor party, has reluctantly acknowledged the potential for forming a government if the Liberals fail to secure the necessary support from left-leaning independent politicians. Winter has engaged in preliminary discussions with several crossbench members, offering to adopt a more collaborative approach. He has affirmed his commitment to upholding Labor’s policy agenda, including support for a $945m stadium project, a proposal which faces opposition from the Greens and some independent members.
Key independent MPs, such as the re-elected Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland, have shown reluctance to quickly align with either major party, indicating a high level of scrutiny in their decision-making process. Johnston has declared she would assess each policy on merit rather than entering into formal agreements for confidence and supply.
The political situation remains fluid, with the final outcome of the election in three undecided seats pending, potentially delaying the formation of a stable government and associated legislative processes, including approval for the AFL stadium – a critical project for both major parties.
In this delicate political environment, Tasmania’s future governance will be shaped by negotiations and collaborations between major parties and independent representatives, reflecting a widespread voter sentiment away from traditional parties towards more diverse political affiliations.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/liberal-and-labor-leaders-court-crossbenchers-after-snap-tasmanian-election-delivers-another-hung-parliament
