Rogue MPs who plunged Tasmanian Liberal government into minority stay mute ahead of budget – ABC News
Two members of parliament, who quit as Liberals citing concerns about a lack of transparency on the part of the Tasmanian government, have given a radio interview in which they gave very little away about how they'll play their hands when parliament returns next week.
John Tucker and Lara Alexander held a media conference to announce their resignations from the Tasmanian Liberals last Friday, and followed it up with media interviews early in the week.
They were then silent for several days.
They broke that silence at 5pm yesterdaywith an interview on ABC Radio Drive.
Unlike the interviews they gave at the time they announced their resignations, this time they had very little to say.
The government, which was plunged into minority after losing the two backbenchers, is now in a precarious situation.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff, however, says he is "confident" he would survive a motion of no confidence in parliament.
He said he had been having "productive discussions" with Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander throughout the week.
"I believe I have the support of Lara and John," he said on Friday.
But while the "productive discussions" appear to have left Mr Rockliff feeling confident about surviving a motion of no confidence something Labor has flagged its intention to bring on when parliament sits on Tuesday the details of those discussions are anybody's guess.
Mr Tucker said he and Ms Alexander had been "working cooperatively with the premier and we'll be making a comprehensive statement in the near future".
He repeated that line five times, in response to questions about whether the premier had his support and whether he would support the state budget aspects he was willing to confirm a week ago.
He repeated the second part of that that a comprehensive statement would be made in the near future, twice more.
Ms Alexander said at 5pm on Friday "right now at this time of the day it's probably not the right time to discuss any details" of the pair's discussions with Mr Rockliff.
"It's very difficult for me to go into the specific details, but, having said that full transparency and of discussions and that will be made very clear when the time comes," she said.
Mr Tucker previously said he wouldn't support or instigate a motion of no confidence, and Ms Alexander said a week ago that she wouldn't instigate such a motion, but she didn't rule out supporting one brought by someone else.
She told ABC Hobart Drive a week later that "if the vote of no confidence in the premier is going to destabilise the government, well, obviously it's not what we're about and it's a bit difficult now to talk about hypothetical motions as well, or anything that will come forward next week".
Her position on the budget has also been something of a mixed bag, initially saying she would guarantee supply, then that she would vote against a budget that included funding for the Macquarie Point stadium, then in the most recent interview that "we will need to have a little bit more of a discussion there around the stadium funding".
Here are the steps to get breaking news alerts on the latest Tasmanian stories directly to your phone.
Download the ABC News app Apple App Store | Google Play
Mr Tucker diverted from his script to say "I haven't seen the budget so I'm not prepared to make a statement until I've seen the budget".
It's not clear whether the two new independents will provide the details of their discussions with Mr Rockliff and what may or may not have been agreed to before parliament returns on Tuesday.
Ms Alexander and Mr Tucker's evasive answers on radio prompted text messages from listeners who questioned why they even went on radio.
Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander had a responsibility to to the Tasmanian people to be up-front about their discussions with the premier.
"It's odd that you might effectively blow up a government over transparency concerns, and seven days later not have been transparent about your negotiations with the premier of a minority government," Ms O'Connor said.
"To leave it to the day before parliament or on the floor of the house is untenable and we don't think it's particularly honourable. We're seven days in now, it is more then enough time now we need to hear what it is."
Some skerricks of information did drop out during Friday's radio interview, however. Ms Alexander said she had not seen the deal the government has signed with the AFL something she has been calling for.
She also said it had been a "very difficult week".
Mr Tucker said he would "never say never" when asked if he would return to the Liberal Party.
Ms Alexander said she had no intention of doing so.
They both said they believed they would be able to ask questions during parliamentary question time. They both said they had not been offered the Speaker of the House role.
Mr Tucker also said he had received during the week a briefing on the Marinus link project.
His concerns about that project were among the reasons he cited for quitting the party.
He said that briefing had raised more questions for him.
A week on from the bombshell resignations, however, Tasmanians are left wondering as the two new independents hold their cards close to their chests.
Set the ABC News website or the app to "TasmaniaTop Stories"from either the homepage or the settings menu in the appto continue getting the same national news but with a sprinkle of more relevant state stories.
Here's a taste of the latest stories from Tasmania
Continued here:
Rogue MPs who plunged Tasmanian Liberal government into minority stay mute ahead of budget - ABC News
- Liberals open to a third term for Metsola at helm of EU Parliament - politico.eu - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Liberals spent a century building the federal government. Now Trump is using it against them. - Inquirer.com - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Liberals hit highest point in the seat projection - The Writ - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Liberals are playing legal hardball with First Nations over drinking water - - Investigative Journalism Bureau - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Returning to the centre may be the only way the walking dead Liberals can rise again - The Guardian - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- 7 Things: Busloads of liberals come to Alabama and accomplish nothing, aldotcom's election interference continues, and more... - Yellowhammer News - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- The black box that is the Liberals fiscal plan - The Globe and Mail - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama warns liberals against pigeonholing Trump voters, says they didn't know what else to do - AOL.com - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Its their choice: Angus Taylor brushes off defection of two ex-Liberals to One Nation - Capital Brief - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Group of Ontario Liberals want to align membership rules with federal Party changes - QP Briefing - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- How credible is the Liberals economic strategy? - Pearls and Irritations - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Ontario Liberals should ask hard questions about a riding nomination, not wave them away - Canada's National Observer - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Hollywood director rips White liberals as 'smug and captured,' says there is 'no group worse' - Fox News - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- Face it, Jewish liberals: You have no friends on the left - New York Post - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- Adam McKay Slams White Liberals, Democratic Party: They Are the Worst - The Hollywood Reporter - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- Adam McKay Slams Democratic Party, White Moneyed Liberals as The Worst | Video - TheWrap - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- On the Liberals' Undemocratic Supermajority in Committees - Sherwood Park News - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- Martin Regg Cohn: Ontarios Liberals have been stuck in Loserville. Heres someone who might lead them out - Toronto Star - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- Liberals accused of 'letting the cat out of the bag' during interview on $22.5 billion tax cut plan - Yahoo Lifestyle Australia - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- Simpler tickets, stronger rights: Liberals and Democrats ahead of the European Passenger Mobility Package - EU Reporter - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- Push to overturn SA fracking ban to be blocked by One Nation, Liberals - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- The Ontario Liberals arbitration hearing on Scarborough Southwest is set to May 20: A document is pushing back on Erskine-Smith allegations - QP... - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- Hollywood Director Says He Has No Regrets After Ditching the Democrats: White Liberals Are The Worst - Mediaite - May 13th, 2026 [May 13th, 2026]
- View from The Hill: Post-Farrer, Liberals will struggle with awkward questions about their relations with One Nation - The Conversation - May 13th, 2026 [May 13th, 2026]
- ANALYSIS: Why Lee Fairclough thinks she can pull the Liberals back into the premiers office - TVO - May 13th, 2026 [May 13th, 2026]
- Liberals hit polling high, but the summer of quiet discontent is approaching - The Hill Times - May 13th, 2026 [May 13th, 2026]
- Opposition MPs critical of Liberals' shakeup of House committees: they stacked them on steroids, says Conservative MP Brassard - The Hill Times - May 13th, 2026 [May 13th, 2026]
- Liberals and Nationals launch comprehensive 10-year economic plan (Media Release & Speech) - Liberal Party of Australia - May 13th, 2026 [May 13th, 2026]
- Why the fight against antisemitism is one all liberals must join - The Scotsman - May 13th, 2026 [May 13th, 2026]
- Is Becky Druhan set to join the N.S. Liberals? - Halifax Examiner - May 13th, 2026 [May 13th, 2026]
- Liberals say never ever to coalition with One Nation after Farrer loss - SBS Australia - May 13th, 2026 [May 13th, 2026]
- Data Centers: The Issue Uniting Liberals and Conservatives - The New York Times - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Liberals, Conservatives haggle over a deficit that is both smaller and larger - CBC - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Liberals are pitching a brand new police agency for financial crimes. How would that work? - CBC - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Liberals on better-than-expected ground, plan to spend billions on skilled trades in economic update - CBC - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Ontario Conservative MP says Liberals tried and failed to get her to switch sides - CBC - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Sky News Australia. . Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson says the Victorian Liberals will help deliver services to the residents of the Nepean... - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Conservatives accuses Liberals of blocking scrutiny into $300M program - Western Standard - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Liberals eye capital from airports, other assets to grow sovereign wealth fund - The Globe and Mail - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Liberals promising improved bottom line in today's spring economic update - CBC - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Letters to the editor: The Liberals think its a good idea to borrow yet another $25-billion. Letters to the editor for April 29 - The Globe and Mail - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Another MP leaving the Liberals as former minister Wilkinson takes EU post - CBC - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- How will the Liberals solve the skilled trades shortage? - CBC - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Liberals table first fiscal document in seven years that wont need opposition votes - iPolitics - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Tories accuse Liberals of stifling public debate as committees move behind closed doors - Yahoo News Canada - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Legislation the Carney Liberals plan to change for economic update measures - The Hill Times - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Liberals unveil economic update with $37.5B in new spending - CBC - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Why the Victorian Liberals can't afford to lose this weekend's by-election - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Javier Blas: Now, even liberals want the world to drill for oil - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Liberals and Nationals to preference One Nation in blow to Michelle Milthorpe in Farrer byelection - The Guardian - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Afternoon front page: Liberals vow action on international student overstays; choosing the ideal governor general; and more - Yahoo News Canada - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Top Links 1078 The stealth manufacturing boom in the US. How will the world pay for the US AI boom? The Xi Jinping school of journalism & the... - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Carneys Liberals Are Governing like ConservativesJust More Politely - The Walrus - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Shocking Inside Story of How the Liberals on Supreme Court Put Lives of Conservatives in Jeopardy - Megyn Kelly The Devil May Care - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Sunday Scrum | What will the Liberals do with a majority, and how will the opposition react? - CBC - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Ontario Liberals Introduce Bill to Ban Online Sports Betting Ads - Covers.com - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Gladus gift to the Liberals may turn out to be a Trojan horse - The Hill Times - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Liberals Love Making Fake Narratives about Trump - AM 870 The ANSWER - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Liberals Don't Want Trump to Win Against Iran - AM 870 The ANSWER - April 21st, 2026 [April 21st, 2026]
- Why the Liberals may pay a price for the party's increasingly big tent - National Post - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Senator bill calls on Liberals promise to expand veteran recognition - The Globe and Mail - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Liberals suddenly love the pope: Bill Maher - Washington Examiner - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- VIDEO: Are Trumps policies spurring more Mass. liberals to turn to guns? - WGBH - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Liberals can rule again if they take a simple lesson from their defeat but Taylors Trumpian plan strays from the light - The Guardian - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Paul Keating statement in full: Angus Taylor has chosen to walk away from the Liberals best instincts on immigration - The Guardian - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Young Swiss liberals launch initiative to curb size of government - lenews.ch - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Letters to the editor: Five MPs have jumped ship to join the Liberals surely what is more surprising is that the number remains so low. Letters to... - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- 'I don't see a huge shift in priority now that a majority has been obtained': Analyst on Liberals' - CTV News - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Keating attack: Liberals under Taylor have defaulted to racism - AFR - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Afternoon front page: Canada pays the price for Liberals' bad judgment; reassessing gender care; and more - Yahoo News Canada - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Politics Insider: By-elections expected to push Carney Liberals into majority territory - The Globe and Mail - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Why the Liberals may pay a price for the party's increasingly big tent - unpublished.ca - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Liberals in Talks with Three Quebec Conservative MPs to Bolster Majority in Parliament - thedeepdive.ca - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Liberals Gain Seat on Wisconsin Supreme Court, Adding to Firewall in Voting Cases - boltsmag.org - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- Liberals Add to Edge on Top Wisconsin Court With Taylor Win (1) - Bloomberg Government News - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- Liberals will try to expand their majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a Tuesday election - channel3000.com - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- Liberals expand majority in Wisconsin Supreme Court: 3 key takeaways from Tuesday's election night results - New York Post - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- The Liberals add another floor crosser. What does that mean for the parliamentary math? - iPolitics - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- Davis: Thats Why Liberals Always Lose Is a Cop-Out - The Dartmouth - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu crosses floor to Liberals - The Globe and Mail - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]