Tasmania’s Liberal government has been recommissioned after weeks of political limbo after a snap election that failed to deliver either major party a majority.
The premier, Jeremy Rockliff, met with the governor, Barbara Baker, on Wednesday at Government House to formally ask for his minority government to remain.
Baker accepted the request after Rockliff told her he expected to gain the confidence of the lower house, the governor said.
Just hours after the premier was reappointed, the state’s Labor leader, Dean Winter, said a motion of no confidence would be tabled on the first day of the new parliament, either by Labor or a crossbencher.
“It is clear we need a parliament that will work together and Tasmania Labor stands ready to work with the crossbench to deliver Tasmanians a stable parliament and a stable government that can last four years,” Winter said.
“Tasmanians can be assured that any motion we move will not result in another election, it will result in either a Liberal government or a Labor government.”
Rockliff said on Wednesday he would serve as premier for a full four-year term.
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“Through sensible communication, everyone working together, pragmatism, working together on policies, working together in the best interests of Tasmanians, this is a government and a parliament that will last the full term,” he told reporters after the governor confirmed his appointment.
“What we want to do, by evidenced of today, is get on with the job,”
He said he had taken “learnings” from the previous parliament which was cut short by a vote of no confidence.
“We want to build on the progress that was made in terms of how parliament works for the betterment of all members of parliament and, of course, that means the betterment of all Tasmanians. And move forward.”
In a statement, the governor explained why she appointed Rockliff despite his inability to demonstrate a majority backing in parliament.
“In a hung parliament, where no one clearly holds the confidence of the majority of the House of Assembly, the incumbent has the right to remain in office in order to test the numbers in the House of Assembly and for parliament to have the final say in who should be premier,” Baker said.
“I consider the convention of incumbency applies in the current circumstances.
“I shall reappoint the premier.
“It is better for confidence to be determined inside and not outside the parliament.”
Rockliff and his cabinet are set to be sworn in next week, before state parliament returns in a fortnight on 19 August.
The governor said the detailed reasons for her decision would be published on her website later on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Rockliff said he had not secured supply and confidence agreements with key crossbenchers but thought it was “not necessary” in this instance.
The final makeup of Tasmania’s parliament is 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP and five independents.
The 19 July election was triggered after Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion, prompting the state’s second election in 16 months.
A key sticking point in forming government is the major parties’ backing of a new $1bn stadium in Hobart, which the Greens and some independents oppose.
