‘The entire party is imploding': Groth, Pesutto, Deeming turning Liberal headache into a migraine
Battin was also forced to defend his deputy, Sam Groth, on Friday over reports Groth had misled opposition frontbencher Georgie Crozier to access her chauffeur-driven car after a fundraiser at the Australian Open last year.
The Herald Sun on Friday reported Groth had asked to borrow Crozier's driver for work reasons but used the car to get home to Rye after a fundraiser at the tennis.
Crozier, who was leader of the opposition in the upper house at the time, told reporters on Friday that she wanted answers.
'I'm incredibly disappointed,' Crozier said outside the opposition's budget reply lunch. 'Sam needs to explain his actions.'
Groth, the opposition's spokesman for tourism, sport, events and hospitality, said he attended the 2024 Australian Open in both an official and personal capacity.
'I was at the event to meet various stakeholders and attend meetings before being part of a fundraising initiative,' Groth said in a statement on Friday.
'Everything was and is above board. It has all been officially disclosed. There is nothing to hide.'
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AU Financial Review
4 minutes ago
- AU Financial Review
Tasmania election shows Libs have a pulse but that's it
What was all that about? It's a question Tasmanians may well be asking themselves today after a snap election, the state's fourth in seven years, failed to resolve anything much. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff called the election after Labor and the Greens passed a motion of no-confidence in his minority government, ostensibly over the state of the budget.
The Advertiser
4 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Labor keeps hope of governing after horror state poll
Tasmania's Labor leader has reached out to independents in the hope of forming government, despite his party losing ground and trailing the Liberals seat-wise. Saturday's snap poll, 16 months after the last, returned another hung parliament with the Liberals so far securing 14 seats and Labor nine, as counting continues. Both will be short of the 18 seats required for majority, with Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff declaring victory on election night and saying he would try to form a minority government. Labor under Dean Winter had a three per cent swing against it and the party's worst primary vote in Tasmania in more than a century. However, Mr Winter hasn't ruled out trying to form government if the Liberals are unable to get a left-leaning independent crossbench onside. "I've spoken to a number of members of the crossbench and offered Labor will try and work differently and collaboratively," he said on Saturday. "I won't go into the details of any of the conversations but we'll treat people with respect. "I think that's what the crossbench is looking for and it's also what Tasmanians are looking for." However, Mr Winter reiterated he would not "do a deal" with the Greens - Labor would need support from the party, which hold five seats - to govern. Mr Winter said he would not compromise on Labor policy, including support for a $945 million stadium which is opposed by the Greens and three crossbench independents. One of those independents, a re-elected Kristie Johnston, says she won't enter into a formal deal for confidence and supply with either major party and will provide support on merit. "They need to negotiate and respect the views of parliament," she told AAP. It could take weeks for the final outcome in four remaining undecided seats, meaning formal minority agreements may take even longer. Mr Rockliff would need to work with independents to govern, including two, Ms Johnston and the re-elected Craig Garland, who voted for a no-confidence motion against him. The June vote, which triggered the election, lashed ballooning debt under the Liberals and bungled Bass Strait ferry delivery. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has kept the door ajar for a Labor alliance, calling on Mr Winter to "have a conversation". The drawn-out post-election scenario has delayed the parliamentary approval process for the new stadium, a condition of Tasmania's AFL licence. The project is supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by the Greens, Mr Garland, Ms Johnston and the third elected independent Peter George. The new parliament will be very similar to the previous one that included 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, five independents and one Jacqui Lambie Network member. Tasmania's Labor leader has reached out to independents in the hope of forming government, despite his party losing ground and trailing the Liberals seat-wise. Saturday's snap poll, 16 months after the last, returned another hung parliament with the Liberals so far securing 14 seats and Labor nine, as counting continues. Both will be short of the 18 seats required for majority, with Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff declaring victory on election night and saying he would try to form a minority government. Labor under Dean Winter had a three per cent swing against it and the party's worst primary vote in Tasmania in more than a century. However, Mr Winter hasn't ruled out trying to form government if the Liberals are unable to get a left-leaning independent crossbench onside. "I've spoken to a number of members of the crossbench and offered Labor will try and work differently and collaboratively," he said on Saturday. "I won't go into the details of any of the conversations but we'll treat people with respect. "I think that's what the crossbench is looking for and it's also what Tasmanians are looking for." However, Mr Winter reiterated he would not "do a deal" with the Greens - Labor would need support from the party, which hold five seats - to govern. Mr Winter said he would not compromise on Labor policy, including support for a $945 million stadium which is opposed by the Greens and three crossbench independents. One of those independents, a re-elected Kristie Johnston, says she won't enter into a formal deal for confidence and supply with either major party and will provide support on merit. "They need to negotiate and respect the views of parliament," she told AAP. It could take weeks for the final outcome in four remaining undecided seats, meaning formal minority agreements may take even longer. Mr Rockliff would need to work with independents to govern, including two, Ms Johnston and the re-elected Craig Garland, who voted for a no-confidence motion against him. The June vote, which triggered the election, lashed ballooning debt under the Liberals and bungled Bass Strait ferry delivery. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has kept the door ajar for a Labor alliance, calling on Mr Winter to "have a conversation". The drawn-out post-election scenario has delayed the parliamentary approval process for the new stadium, a condition of Tasmania's AFL licence. The project is supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by the Greens, Mr Garland, Ms Johnston and the third elected independent Peter George. The new parliament will be very similar to the previous one that included 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, five independents and one Jacqui Lambie Network member. Tasmania's Labor leader has reached out to independents in the hope of forming government, despite his party losing ground and trailing the Liberals seat-wise. Saturday's snap poll, 16 months after the last, returned another hung parliament with the Liberals so far securing 14 seats and Labor nine, as counting continues. Both will be short of the 18 seats required for majority, with Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff declaring victory on election night and saying he would try to form a minority government. Labor under Dean Winter had a three per cent swing against it and the party's worst primary vote in Tasmania in more than a century. However, Mr Winter hasn't ruled out trying to form government if the Liberals are unable to get a left-leaning independent crossbench onside. "I've spoken to a number of members of the crossbench and offered Labor will try and work differently and collaboratively," he said on Saturday. "I won't go into the details of any of the conversations but we'll treat people with respect. "I think that's what the crossbench is looking for and it's also what Tasmanians are looking for." However, Mr Winter reiterated he would not "do a deal" with the Greens - Labor would need support from the party, which hold five seats - to govern. Mr Winter said he would not compromise on Labor policy, including support for a $945 million stadium which is opposed by the Greens and three crossbench independents. One of those independents, a re-elected Kristie Johnston, says she won't enter into a formal deal for confidence and supply with either major party and will provide support on merit. "They need to negotiate and respect the views of parliament," she told AAP. It could take weeks for the final outcome in four remaining undecided seats, meaning formal minority agreements may take even longer. Mr Rockliff would need to work with independents to govern, including two, Ms Johnston and the re-elected Craig Garland, who voted for a no-confidence motion against him. The June vote, which triggered the election, lashed ballooning debt under the Liberals and bungled Bass Strait ferry delivery. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has kept the door ajar for a Labor alliance, calling on Mr Winter to "have a conversation". The drawn-out post-election scenario has delayed the parliamentary approval process for the new stadium, a condition of Tasmania's AFL licence. The project is supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by the Greens, Mr Garland, Ms Johnston and the third elected independent Peter George. The new parliament will be very similar to the previous one that included 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, five independents and one Jacqui Lambie Network member. Tasmania's Labor leader has reached out to independents in the hope of forming government, despite his party losing ground and trailing the Liberals seat-wise. Saturday's snap poll, 16 months after the last, returned another hung parliament with the Liberals so far securing 14 seats and Labor nine, as counting continues. Both will be short of the 18 seats required for majority, with Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff declaring victory on election night and saying he would try to form a minority government. Labor under Dean Winter had a three per cent swing against it and the party's worst primary vote in Tasmania in more than a century. However, Mr Winter hasn't ruled out trying to form government if the Liberals are unable to get a left-leaning independent crossbench onside. "I've spoken to a number of members of the crossbench and offered Labor will try and work differently and collaboratively," he said on Saturday. "I won't go into the details of any of the conversations but we'll treat people with respect. "I think that's what the crossbench is looking for and it's also what Tasmanians are looking for." However, Mr Winter reiterated he would not "do a deal" with the Greens - Labor would need support from the party, which hold five seats - to govern. Mr Winter said he would not compromise on Labor policy, including support for a $945 million stadium which is opposed by the Greens and three crossbench independents. One of those independents, a re-elected Kristie Johnston, says she won't enter into a formal deal for confidence and supply with either major party and will provide support on merit. "They need to negotiate and respect the views of parliament," she told AAP. It could take weeks for the final outcome in four remaining undecided seats, meaning formal minority agreements may take even longer. Mr Rockliff would need to work with independents to govern, including two, Ms Johnston and the re-elected Craig Garland, who voted for a no-confidence motion against him. The June vote, which triggered the election, lashed ballooning debt under the Liberals and bungled Bass Strait ferry delivery. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has kept the door ajar for a Labor alliance, calling on Mr Winter to "have a conversation". The drawn-out post-election scenario has delayed the parliamentary approval process for the new stadium, a condition of Tasmania's AFL licence. The project is supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by the Greens, Mr Garland, Ms Johnston and the third elected independent Peter George. The new parliament will be very similar to the previous one that included 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, five independents and one Jacqui Lambie Network member.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘No time to lose': Devils forge ahead, buoyed by Tasmanian support for Liberals
League insiders believe the strong support for the Liberals in the state election on Saturday removes any notion the new AFL team and controversial stadium is unpopular with the majority of Tasmanians. Despite the swing in the Liberals' favour, a minority government remains the most likely result, with the Liberals needing to rely on crossbenchers to form government. It means the passage of legislation to allow work to begin on the Macquarie Point Stadium – a condition of entry for the AFL's 19th team – remains uncertain. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff has been a fierce backer of the stadium. On Saturday night, he said he intended to form a government in the new parliament, although observers said it may take two weeks of negotiation and wrangling before the government is formed. Labor leader Dean Winter, who called the no-confidence motion that forced the election, has not ruled out the prospect of forming government with the support of the Greens. The ALP supports the stadium and the Devils' timeline for entry into the AFL in 2028. The two parties that support the stadium received 66 per cent of the first preference votes as of Saturday night, but the allocation of seats under the Hare-Clark system will not be known until preferences are sorted and postal votes counted. However, league sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the election gave supporters of the stadium a mandate to continue the process of building the infrastructure necessary for a new team to play in the AFL in 2028. The AFL has maintained its 'no stadium, no team' position throughout. The uncertainty that still surrounds the process meant the Devils' hierarchy was cautious in a public statement released on Sunday. But the statement made clear they were still optimistic that the initial timeline would be met.
