Premier Jeremy Rockliff has appointed independent Tania Rattray as Leader for the Government in Tasmania’s Legislative Council, an appointment Mr Rockliff sees as “enhancing collaboration” across the chamber.<\/p>\n
Ms Rattray, an independent for McIntyre in the state\u2019s north-east, accepted the position following a phone call with the premier on Thursday, after citing her frustration with how the house had been functioning.<\/p>\n
In her new role, she will be tasked with managing government business and steering legislation through the upper house, but will remain an independent.<\/p>\n
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Before her election to parliament, Ms Rattray was the deputy mayor of Dorset. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)<\/p>\n
After Tasmanians returned another hung parliament in July’s election, a desire for more collaboration has been a prominent theme in ongoing negotiations.<\/p>\n
Ms Rattray said she will advocate for government legislation in the role, “unless there is something that I strongly disagree with that the people of McIntyre have asked me not to support”.<\/p>\n
“And in that case I will decline to take a piece of legislation.”<\/p>\n
Liberal member for Prosser, Minister Kerry Vincent will serve as Deputy Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council.<\/p>\n
With a motion of no-confidence in the Liberal government expected<\/a> when parliament resumes on August 19, the appointments could be short-lived.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Mr Rockliff was returned to the role of premier<\/a> by Tasmania’s Governor Barbara Baker, despite his party holding just 14 of the 18 seats needed in the lower house to hold a majority.<\/p>\n He will lead a minority government that will need to work more collaboratively with a growing crossbench of independents and Greens.<\/p>\n Appointment to ease workload for ministers<\/p>\n Announcing the appointment, Premier Rockliff said, “we are enhancing collaboration as part of the new parliament, with Ms Rattray’s appointment marking a step forward in achieving that”.<\/p>\n Greens say Winter has to negotiate if he wants to be premier<\/a><\/p>\n Labor’s Dean Winter is still vying for power, but continues refusing discussions with the Greens.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The people of Tasmania are asking for sensible approaches to work collaboratively, and that’s exactly what I am committed to delivering in accepting this position,” Ms Rattray said.<\/p>\n The appointment of a crossbencher is also set to ease the workload of Liberal minority government members.<\/p>\n There are currently three liberal MLCs: Nick Duigan, Jo Palmer and Kerry Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n On Thursday, the premier appointed them each to multiple ministerial portfolios<\/a>.<\/p>\n Election analyst Kevin Bonham described Ms Rattray as centre right on the political spectrum.<\/p>\n He said her appointment could help the Liberals to pass legislation.<\/p>\n Dr Bonham says Ms Rattray has been “quite independent” in her time in the upper house. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n “It’s potentially getting them an extra vote on things where they might be struggling to get the votes together, such as matters around the [Hobart] stadium,” Dr Bonham said.<\/p>\n As the leader, Ms Rattray will be “charged with shipping legislation through the [upper] house” once it passes the lower house.<\/p>\n “So, while she might not be strictly bound to support it, you’d expect her to be arguing the case enthusiastically and voting for it,” he said.<\/p>\n “She has tended over time to vote more with the Liberals than against them, but often not much more.”Huge task ahead for Dean Winter<\/a><\/p>\n Tasmanian politics remains extremely turbulent as Labor leader Dean Winter fights to convince the crossbench to support a fresh no-confidence motion.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n