After paralysing Tasmania for almost a week, the Rockliff government must now get on with the business of actually governing the state and ensure that Parliament resumes on 17 October.
Elise Archer’s confirmation that she is quitting the Parliament brings to an end the farce that has left Tasmania in limbo and highlighted the mess that Jeremy Rockliff has made of his government and his Premiership.
But Ms Archer’s comments in her resignation statement show the division, dysfunction and instability of the Liberals is anything but over.
Mr Rockliff has shown over the past week that he does not have what it takes to lead the state and that he has no plan for the future.
But he must finally show some fortitude and commit to Parliament resuming as scheduled on 17 October to get on with the important work of the Commission of Inquiry and other priorities for Tasmanians.
My offer to the Premier to provide a pair to offset the absence of a Liberal Member for Clark still stands, and Labor – and all Tasmanians – would expect Mr Rockliff to accept this offer.
So many Tasmanians have been hurt by the systemic failures of government agencies and we cannot afford to let the internal problems of the Liberal party overshadow this.
Not only that, but Tasmanians need urgent action to fix the mess the Liberals have made of our health system, education system, housing and cost of living over their 10 years in government.
The government’s massive internal divisions and instability are also impacting business confidence and growth and the state is now headed for $5.6 billion of debt.
In contrast Labor is ready to govern and this year we have put a number of our plans to the Tasmanian people in the key priority areas of health, housing, cost of living and education.
Tasmanians who were promised stable, majority government deserve so much better than a minority, unstable and dysfunctional government wracked by internal divisions and infighting.
Rebecca White MP
Tasmanian Labor Leader
