In light of the significant public interest and ongoing media speculation about the formation of a minority government following Saturday’s election—and following the Premier’s public statement on Monday—we are issuing this formal joint statement.
- We will not commence formal negotiations with either major party until the final results of the House of Assembly election are confirmed. This is not expected to occur for at least another week.
- In the meantime, we have requested briefings through the Premier’s office from relevant Government Departments, including access to the Whole-of-State Business Case for the Marinus project.
- We will also use this time to meet with other members of both Houses and to seek advice from independent experts across key areas, including the economy and governance.
- We will not be conducting negotiations through the media and urge the major parties to adopt the same approach. Good faith, mutual respect, and trust are essential foundations for any successful negotiation and for the stability of any power-sharing arrangement. Now is the time to set the tone for the next Parliament.
- While we appreciate the public and media interest in this process, we will not be providing a running commentary. Updates will only be provided when there is unanimous agreement among all parties involved, or once negotiations have concluded. We expect the same approach from the major parties if they are also committed to negotiating in good faith.
- We anticipate that this process will take several weeks and will not be pressured or railroaded by either major party.
We remain committed to a respectful and constructive process focused on achieving a stable and accountable government for Tasmania.