Minority Liberals hit another cross bench bump

[Pelican Press 0]

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********* Liberals hit another cross bench bump

Tasmania’s ********* Liberals have been dealt another curve ball, with a cross bench MP opting not to sign a formal deal to support the government.

The Liberals, who were re-elected in March, hold just 14 of 35 lower-house seats and require four votes from a six strong cross bench to pass legislation.

An agreement with three Jacqui Lambie Network MPs for confidence and supply fell apart in August when Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland were kicked out of the network.

Ms Beswick and Ms Pentland inked a new deal to support the Liberals as independents.

Remaining network MP Andrew Jenner announced on Monday he would not sign a new confidence and supply agreement with Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s government.

Mr Rockliff, however, said Mr Jenner had provided a verbal commitment of confidence and supply.

“What Andrew does is up to Andrew. He’s a very valued member of parliament. We’ll work with all crossbenchers,” Mr Rockliff told reporters.

The Liberals have the numbers to govern thanks to written support from independents Kristie Johnston and David O’Byrne.

But Mr Jenner’s refusal to pen an agreement with the Liberals means the government has signed deals with one fewer MP.

Mr Jenner took a ****** at the ******** Party’s budget management and Mr Rockliff’s refusal to back the Labor opposition’s push to “ban” pork barrelling.

The 2024/25 budget, delivered on Thursday, revealed Tasmania’s debt was on track to more than double to $8.6 billion in four years.

“It is nothing more than blatant vote-buying at taxpayers’ expense,” Mr Jenner said of election commitments made by the Liberals.

“Over three elections (the Liberals have) made promises totalling more than $4 billion

“Its unfunded election commitments have been a big factor in the rapid deterioration of public finances and the headlong plunge into … debt.”

Labor MP Josh ******* said the premier was in a “complete mess” and was a long way from the stability he had promised.

In 2022, Tasmania’s Integrity Commission found grants of taxpayer money offered by the Liberals during the 2018 election campaign were not fair or value for money.

Mr Rockliff on Sunday described Labor’s push for every government grant to go through an independent assessment process as “bull *****”.

“Labor out-spent us at three-to-one (at the most recent election) … spending like ******** sailors,” he said.

“I’m not going to hand over election commitments to bureaucrats.”

Mr Rockliff said the budget, including a record $5.1 billion for infrastructure, was right for the times despite leading economist Saul Eslake warning spending should be scaled back.

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