It's welcome that Labor has agreed to a Greens’ proposal to prioritise the Commission of Inquiry funding bill when Parliament returns, if the Liberals uphold their end of the bargain. Now the responsibility lies with the government to do the right thing.
Many of the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations are a matter of urgency, and it is crucial Parliament passes a budget bill to allow government agencies to proceed with the reforms and actions needed to protect Tasmanian children. We have heard strong calls of victim-survivors that Parliament stay focused on the urgent response needed to the Commission of Inquiry.
Given the instability of the Liberals, the Greens were concerned Labor’s intention to move a no-confidence motion when Parliament returned would delay or derail the passage of the CoI budget bill. That’s why we proposed a way forward that recognised the need to test confidence in the government, and that ensures this essential CoI bill would pass as the House’s first priority.
Over the past day I have been in conversation with Labor leader Rebecca White, and she has expressed her willingness to agree to the Greens’ proposal if the government will commit to bringing the CoI budget bill on immediately. We warmly welcome this open-minded approach and thank the Opposition Leader for continuing her party’s commitment to putting child safety outcomes front and centre.
The ball is now in the government’s court. If the Liberals make a public commitment to bringing on the Commission of Inquiry bill as the first item before the House on Tuesday, Labor have made it clear they will hold off on moving a no-confidence motion. I have sought this commitment from the Leader of Government Business Felix Ellis, but have yet to receive a reply.
For the sake of victim-survivors, Tasmanian children, and the wider community, we hope the Premier and his colleagues stick to their commitment to making the Commission of Inquiry response their top priority. That means making a public commitment to making the CoI funding bill the first order of business in Parliament on Tuesday, and to providing MPs with the details of this bill ahead of time.
