Leadership wannabe Rebecca White has ramped up the pressure on Labor Leader Bryan Green by joining with Scott Bacon and refusing to back his position on majority government.
On Monday, Mr Green stated that Labor would govern, "in majority, or not at all”, and added, "People in Tasmania are convinced that the way forward is a majority Government.”*
This was immediately contradicted by Scott Bacon, who said that it would instead be a matter for party members following the election, saying, “a question about minority Government will go back to the broader Labor Party.”*
And yesterday, Ms White backed Mr Bacon’s position, pointedly refusing to rule out governing in minority:
“The Labor Party’s position is very clear here. We have a rule change that went to the conference in 2014 that states quite clearly that Labor will have nothing other than a Labor cabinet if we form government.”
“There is certainly no intention ever again of forming a minority government with Greens or other independent members in a Labor cabinet.”**
Does anyone in the Labor caucus actually support their leader’s majority or bust position?
Mr Green must come out of hiding and answer: does he stand by his majority or bust position, or is he now prepared to contemplate governing in minority, with the support of the Greens?
*ABC radio 25/7/16
** Examiner newspaper, 27/7/16