Labor and Dean Winter’s bid for Tasmania’s government appears to have failed, with the Greens announcing they will not support Labor’s foreshadowed no-confidence motion.

Neither major party claimed a majority at last month’s state election, with the Liberals winning 14 seats and Labor 10 of the 18 seats needed to control the lower house.

Live updates, reactions and contributions from ABC readers.

2m agoMon 18 Aug 2025 at 5:01am

Kristie Johnston to speak

One of the crossbenchers, Independent Member for Clark, Kristie Johnston, is about to speak at a press conference.

3m agoMon 18 Aug 2025 at 4:59am

Winter ‘does not understand’ minority negotiations, Greens say

Ms Woodruff said she has had “intense discussions” with Mr Winter, but that he had “refused to budge” on key issues like the proposed Hobart stadium at Macquarie Point and the future of salmon farming.

“What is clear is that Jeremy Rockcliff obviously understands the minority parliament dynamics he is working in and Dean Winter does not”.

She also maintained the Greens did not have confidence in the Liberals either and re-iterated “we don’t trust the Liberals”.

“We would not be giving confidence to the Liberals in government, but what we will do is fight for change and we’ve heard some serious and significant changes from Jeremy Rockcliff.”

Labor posted to Facebook shortly after Ms Woodruff’s announcement to say the “Greens have just sided with Jeremy Rockliff and Eric Abetz to form a Liberal-Green Government”.

16m agoMon 18 Aug 2025 at 4:46am

Vote may still go ahead

This announcement by the Greens effectively ends Labor and Dean Winter’s tilt at forming government, Josh Duggan writes.

Labor won 10 out of 35 seats at the July 19 state election — 8 short of majority.

The party could only have formed government by getting the backing of the five Green votes on side, as well as three crossbenchers.

That means while tomorrow’s motion is doomed to fail — it may still go ahead.

Before the Greens made their announcement, Dean Winter held a press conference and was asked if there was any reason he wouldn’t move the motion.

He said that parliament had been recalled by the governor in order to test confidence, and therefore it needed to do so to provide certainty.

Labor may also want a formal record of the vote, so the party can in future to point to a “Liberal-Green” government.

28m agoMon 18 Aug 2025 at 4:34am

‘No compromise on beliefs’: Winter said before Greens announcement

My colleague Josh Duggan reports before the Greens made their announcement, Mr Winter held a press conference at a Tassal salmon processing plant south of Hobart.

(ABC News: Andy Cunningham)

Backing his decision not to offer solid policy concessions to the crossbench, 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.

He said Labor stood for a “strong salmon industry”, criticising the Liberals’ proposed salmon review and moratorium on the industry’s expansion.

“Jeremy Rockliff told this industry only four weeks ago that they had his 100 per cent support and then he went and did them over on the weekend.

“It puts the whole industry on trial — it says to Tasmanians that the government isn’t sure whether this industry is up to standard.”

He also committed to move a no-confidence motion when parliament returns 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.”

36m agoMon 18 Aug 2025 at 4:27am

Press conference at 3pm

We are expecting to hear from the independent crossbenchers about today’s developments, with a press conference set for 3pm this afternoon.

41m agoMon 18 Aug 2025 at 4:22am

Labor unwilling to compromise, Greens say

Both major parties have been courting the crossbench ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

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

44m agoMon 18 Aug 2025 at 4:18am

Labor fails to convince Greens on ‘significant issues’

At a press conference today, Greens Leader Rosalie Woodruff said the party had come to a “united decision” that it did not have confidence in Dean Winter and Labor.

“We have not found anything in Labor and what they’ve done over the past four weeks under Dean Winter, that gives us any confidence that they would be any different on the significant issues we promised we’d fight for.”

51m agoMon 18 Aug 2025 at 4:11am

Labor no-confidence motion set to fail

Big news today, with the Tasmanian Greens announcing they will not back Labor’s planned no-confidence motion in parliament tomorrow.

That effectively means Dean Winter’s bid to become premier will fail.

Governor Barbara Baker recommissioned the Rockliff government and recalled parliament for August 19, so Mr Rockliff could test his numbers on the floor of the house.

In order to form government, Labor would have needed the five votes of the Greens as well as three other crossbenchers.

While the Liberals have offered policy concessions, including a review of salmon farming operations, phasing out state funding for greyhound racing, and abandoning plans to expand native forestry, Labor has been unwilling to do so.

Instead, it has proposed making upper house independent Ruth Forrest the state treasurer and developing what it has called a Framework for Collaboration.