Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff returns to 'Liberal-Green alliance' as parliament to resume

Tasmania is set for an ongoing minority Liberal government after a snap election, a hung parliament and a failed bid by Labor to seize power.

Parliament will sit on Tuesday for the first time since the July 19 poll delivered the Liberals 14 seats and Labor 10, both short of the 18 mark required for majority.

Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff was recommissioned as premier but his ongoing support was set to be tested by a Labor no-confidence motion in parliament.

Labor leader Dean Winter’s attempt to court the cross bench hit a fatal bump on Monday when the five-seat Greens, whose support his party needed, said they could not back the motion.

Kristie Johnston and David O’Byrne, two of five independents on the cross bench, have also declared they won’t support Labor.

“I welcome members of the cross bench indicating they will not support the leader of the opposition’s no-confidence motion,” Mr Rockliff said.

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

The Liberals have in recent days made several policy concessions, including a pledge to ban greyhound racing by 2029 and launch a review into the state’s salmon industry.

Labor has refused to shift on policy in negotiations with the Greens, but did offer a broad working framework and an independent MP as treasurer.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said she was disappointed and frustrated with Mr Winter’s “refusal to budge”.

Mr Winter, whose party’s 26 per cent of the primary vote was its worst result in more than a century in Tasmania, accused Mr Rockliff of selling out traditional industries.

“Tasmania has witnessed the birth of a Liberal-Green government,” he said.

“The Greens had a choice to make. They have chosen to support the Liberals.”

Dr Woodruff said the Greens’ lack of confidence in Labor wasn’t a vote of support for the Liberals, but she did acknowledge Mr Rockliff had made concessions.

The July 19 election was triggered after Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion in June citing Tasmania’s ballooning debt and his infrastructure mismanagement.

The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, have governed in minority since 2023.

Ms Johnston said the cross bench “tried very hard” during negotiations to ensure Labor could put its best foot forward and deliver change.

“They simply have failed. Being more collaborative, they haven’t done that,” she told reporters.