State by state, the Australian Liberals seem locked in a battle to see who can make their branch of the party the most un-electable. It’s almost as if these clowns want to lose. Tasmania is the last remaining Liberal holdout — for now.
The prospect of that continuing just got a little bit less likely. Despite running one of the best-performing economies in the country — all the more remarkable, given Tasmania’s aged population and dearth of mineral resources — Tasmanian Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff gambled on a beer and circuses move.
Which is backfiring badly.
The nation’s only remaining Liberal government has been plunged into minority, with two MPs quitting the party, largely in anger over plans for a $715m Hobart stadium.
When Rockliff announced the stadium alongside PM Anthony Albanese, the PM was booed and pursued by small crowd of hecklers. But the anger at what is seen as a wasteful indulgence is clearly bipartisan.
Lyons Liberal John Tucker told The Australian he would resign from the party and sit as independent, providing confidence – for now – to the government led by Jeremy Rockliff.
Bass Liberal Lara Alexander has flagged the same move to the ABC, sending the government reeling into minority and having to negotiate with independents or opposition parties to pass all legislation.
The Liberals, re-elected in May 2021 with 13 seats – a majority of one in the 25 seat House of Assembly – will now have 11, with Labor holding 8, the Greens 2 and cross-benchers 4.
Tasmanians have a particular horror of minority government, after years of a shambolic Labor government dog being wagged by the Green tail. So much so that “Minority Government Now!” was a bumper sticker rallying cry.
Thanks to Rockliff’s determination to get a Tasmanian AFL team, with the AFL demanding the new stadium as a condition, we’re back to minority government.
Both MPs […] represent electorates where many voters see no benefit in the stadium, particularly at a time of crises in health, housing and cost-of-living.
Ms Alexander told the ABC she “just can’t get my head around” the stadium and her concerns had not been significantly addressed Mr Rockliff.
“For me as an accountant, as an economist, as a person that has worked in a not-for-profit sector, it’s really hard for me to understand this particular investment,” she said.
Mr Tucker has expressed similar concerns, as well as about the Marinus second undersea power interconnector. Both MPs, among others, have concerns about decision making in government and a perceived lack of focus on “bread and butter” issues.
Which could be said for, not just the Liberals, but the entire political class. Labor and the Greens indulge in boutique issues like climate change and refugees to pander to the wealthy brow-furrowers of inner city Melbourne and harbourside Sydney. The only problem is that the Liberals, like National in New Zealand, seem only ever to tag along in their wake, shouting, “Us too!”
It is unclear if Mr Rockliff’s leadership will survive the turmoil. His Treasurer, Michael Ferguson, is known to be ambitious and may be able to bring the two defectors back into the fold. This may be intent of the resignations.
The Australian
And there’s the rub. This can all go two ways: if the Liberals get their act together, Tasmanians’ aversion to minority government may bring voters back to the fold. If they can get their act together.
Ferguson is a nice enough bloke, but hasn’t exactly shone in his ministerial responsibilities so far. Whether he can haul the party back from the blue-green brink of oblivion is a big if.