Tasmanian Premier flags stepping aside if unable to govern in majority
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Tasmania's Premier has signalled he will step aside if the Liberals don't win enough seats at the March election to govern in their own right.
Analysts say a hung parliament is a real possibility and Mr Hodgman's position of only governing in majority will leave him just one option in the event of a hung parliament.
Despite a date for the March election not yet set, the Liberals have been campaigning for a majority Hodgman Liberal Government since November.
Labor is also campaigning for majority government and has promised not to strike and deals with minority parties like in 2010.
The constitutional reality though is that in the event of a hung parliament, and neither party wanting to govern in minority, it will be up to the incumbent government to govern.
Professor Richard Herr said that would mean the Liberals would be forced to attempt to govern until it became unworkable.
"They would have to suck it up and say we will work in some sort of power sharing arrangement, or minority government arrangement, and make it work," Mr Herr said.
The scenario was put to Mr Hodgman on Wednesday.
"I'm not interested in imagining coalitions, striking deals," he said.
"All of that mess is exactly what am I trying to avert, and not have the Tasmanian people suffer because I think the last thing this state needs is a return to the confusion of minority government."
Mr Herr said if Mr Hodgman was faced with a hung parliament and Labor didn't want power he would be forced to step aside.
That's what happened to Liberal Premier Ray Groom stepped aside after losing the 1996 election.
'Majority Hodgman Government' emphasised
Mr Hodgman was asked if he would step aside if faced with minority government.
"I've said we will govern alone or not govern at all,' Mr Hodgman said.
Asked if he meant a Hodgman Liberal Government, or any Liberal Government, Mr Hodgman said:
"A majority Hodgman Liberal Government."
That leaves a big question mark over who could replace Mr Hodgman if the poll in March does not go his way.
Treasurer Peter Gutwein, Deputy Leader Jeremy Rockliff and Health Minister Michael Ferguson are likely contenders.
But don't expect any of them to be talking up that possibility any time soon.
Greens Leader Cassy O'Connor said the Premier was not being straight with Tasmania.
"They're still running this arrogant line or governing in majority or not at all," she said.
"He has no choice but to resign as Premier should there be a multi-sharing parliament elected after the election."
Topics: states-and-territories, tas
