Australia’s last Liberal government plunged into minority as two Tasmanian MPs go to crossbench

Australia’s last Liberal state has been plunged into minority government after two MPs said they would quit the party over concerns related to a planned new AFL stadium in Hobart. 

Bass MP Lara Alexander and Lyons MP John Tucker told reporters on Friday they were resigning from the Liberal Party because they disagreed with the way the state government had made decisions on the stadium and other infrastructure projects.

Both said they were concerned about the future debt awaiting Tasmania if the $715 million Macquarie Point Stadium went ahead as planned. 

“For me, as an accountant, as an economist, as a person that has worked in a not-for-profit sector, it’s really hard for me to understand this particular investment. I just can’t get my head around it,” Alexander told a press conference. 

Tucker said he wanted to “ensure for the Tasmanian taxpayers that this stadium doesn’t become a nightmare for them”. 

“Mainly we’re worried about where we’re headed with debt,” he said. 

The AFL demanded the new stadium as a “central condition” for agreeing to award Tasmania a team licence, the ABC reported.

The Albanese government announced before the budget they would invest $240 million to help Tasmania pay for the new stadium. 

Tasmania was the only state that swung towards the Coalition at the last federal election and several marginal seats are in play on the island. 

It’s the last state in Australia where the Liberal Party is in charge. After the resignations, Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s government will have just 11 out of 25 seats in the House of Assembly.