Tasmanian Labor's bid for minority government set to fail after Greens withhold support   

August 19 2025
ABC News


Rosalie Woodruff announces the Greens will not support a no-confidence motion in Jeremy Rockliff's Liberal government.

In short:
The Tasmanian parliament officially opens on Tuesday, where it was foreshadowed a motion of no-confidence in Jeremy Rockliff's Liberal government and a confidence in a Dean Winter Labor government would be moved, the second no-confidence motion this year.

However, Labor's attempt to form minority government, following on from a poor showing at the July 19 election, seems to have failed after the party refused to negotiate on key issues with the crossbench, on whose votes Labor needed.

What's next?
With the Greens and two key independent MPs saying they will not support Labor's motion, it is set to fail — meaning Mr Rockliff's Liberals will remain in power.


Tasmanian Labor's bid for minority government is set to fail after the Greens and key crossbenchers announced they won't be supporting a no-confidence motion it if it is raised when parliament returns on Tuesday.

Labor won 10 out of 35 seats at the July 19 state election — eight short of a majority.

Labor, led by Dean Winter, could only have formed government by getting the backing of the five Green votes, as well as three crossbenchers.

Backing his decision not to offer solid policy concessions to the crossbench — unlike Premier Jeremy Rockliff — Mr Winter said he was confident he had "put his best foot forward".

"I said at the start of this process that I'm prepared to work with the crossbench on getting the best outcomes for Tasmania, but I'm not going to compromise on my values or beliefs," he said earlier on Monday.

The Liberals have offered policy concessions, including a review of salmon farming operations, the discontinuation of funding for the greyhound industry, and abandoning plans to expand native forestry, while Labor has been unwilling to do so.

Mr Winter said he is still committed to moving a no-confidence motion on Tuesday.

"Confidence needs to be tested tomorrow — I think it's really important for Tasmania that we get the certainty out of the election."
At a press conference later on Monday, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said she was "disappointed and frustrated" by recent discussions with Labor.

"We have spoken numerous times, on the phone and in person with Dean Winter and other members of Labor, about the issues we promised Tasmanians we'd fight to get changes around," she said.

Dr Woodruff said it was a "united decision" by the Greens to not support any proposed no-confidence motion.

Woman with blonde hair speaks on a green lawn
Kristie Johnston says Labor has "failed" to give the crossbench a reason to vote for it.

Independent Member for Clark Kristie Johnston also said she could not "actively express confidence in a Labor government".

"I have sat in a number of meetings with crossbench members over the last four weeks, where we have tried very hard to ensure that the Labor Party has every opportunity to put its best foot forward, to change for Tasmania, to give the Tasmanians a change they expect," she said.

"They simply have failed."
On Sunday, former former-Labor-turned-independent MP David O'Byrne said he intended to offer a guarantee of confidence and supply to a Rockliff Liberals government, if a motion was moved.

"At the end of the day, my focus has been on who can form a stable majority government,"  he said.
Mr O'Byrne said he believed the Liberals were the only party capable of forming a workable government.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, Mr Rockliff said he welcomed "members of the crossbench indicating they will not support the Leader of the Opposition's no-confidence motion tomorrow".

"The time for political games is well and truly over.





'Time for political games well and truly over': Rockliff says
With no sign of Labor, it might mean we have to wait until tomorrow's opening of parliament for a comment on today's events.

In a very brief statement on Monday afternoon, Jeremy Rockliff said he welcomed "members of the crossbench indicating they will not support the Leader of the Opposition's no-confidence motion tomorrow".

"The time for political games is well and truly over. We must get on working together for all Tasmanians."