Minority government arrangements and changes in parliament
On 24 August 2024, Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) party leader Jacqui Lambie announced the party had expelled MPs Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick over what she described as issues of accountability, transparency and integrity. [10] Both MPs subsequently became independents in the parliament, briefly reducing the government's confidence and supply numbers to 17 out of 35 seats. Shortly thereafter Pentland and Beswick issued a joint statement clarifying they would remain in parliament as independents, and that both would sign a new confidence and supply agreement with the government. [11] This agreement was confirmed on 27 August 2024. [12]
Following the expulsion of Pentland and Beswick, Lambie announced she would not run candidates in Tasmanian state elections in the future. She also apologised to Rockliff for government instability after her party 'imploded'. [13]
In September 2024, Andrew Jenner, the sole remaining JLN member, confirmed he was no longer party to the original confidence and supply agreement signed by the three original JLN members and the government, and that he would not sign up to a new confidence and supply arrangement. [14] In an interview with WIN News, Jenner clarified he had provided the Premier with only a "verbal agreement" for confidence and supply. [15]
Jenner and Beswick joined the National Party in June 2025. [16] [17]
Changes in the Tasmanian parliament after the 2024 election
No-confidence motion and snap election
On 4 June 2025, opposition leader and Labor leader Dean Winter tabled a motion of no confidence to parliament. [18] Winter moved the motion one week after the government released the state budget, which forecast four deficits and debt reaching $10.8 billion in the 2028–29 financial year, and labelled it "the worst budget in the state's history". [19] Other issues pertinent to debate on the motion in the parliament included turmoil and delays regarding replacement ferries for TT-Line (more commonly known as Spirit of Tasmania), the Macquarie Point Stadium project in Hobart, and the slated privatisation of some of Tasmania's state-owned assets. [20] [19] The motion specifically sought no confidence in Premier Jeremy Rockliff, as opposed to the government, though Rockliff stated he would request a snap election if the motion was passed. [21]
On 5 June 2025, the no-confidence motion passed 18–17, attracting the support of all 10 Labor MPs (including the Speaker Michelle O'Byrne who provided the casting vote in favour of the motion), 5 Greens MPs, 2 independents (Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland) and Andrew Jenner of the Jacqui Lambie Network. Until the motion, Johnston had provided confidence and supply to the government, whilst Jenner had previously characterised himself as having given a "verbal agreement" to the government. [15] Among the negative votes were all 14 Liberal MPs and 3 independents (Miriam Beswick, Rebekah Pentland and former Labor leader turned independent David O'Byrne). [22]
Following the motion's passage, Rockliff visited Lieutenant-Governor Christopher Shanahan to request a special recall of parliament for the following Tuesday, at which parliament considered and passed emergency supply extension bills, to ensure government employees continued to be paid beyond 30 June 2025, when the previous year's budget expires. [23] [24] Shortly after the passage of the supply bills, Rockliff visited Governor Barbara Baker to ask for an election to be called. [25] Following this meeting the Governor released a statement noting she was "taking the time necessary to give due consideration to all available options", which could include requesting another Liberal MP try and form a minority government or ask Labor to form one. [25] [26] The next day the Governor met with Labor leader Dean Winter, where Winter reaffirmed his party would not form a government with support from the Greens. [27] Later that evening the Governor released a statement granting Rockliff's request for a snap election to be held on 19 July, finding "there is no real possibility that an alternative government can be formed". [3]
The gap between the July 2025 election and the preceding March 2024 election was the shortest gap between Australian state elections since the 1956 and 1957 Queensland state elections. [28]
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