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Jacqui Lambie is now more powerful than ever and Tasmania’s next premier will be forced to seek support from a crossbench that could include up to three Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) candidates.
Senator Lambie, already a key vote in the federal Senate, rose further on Saturday night as her party’s candidates won a string of seats in Apple Isle State Parliament.
Speaking on ABC Radio on Monday, Lambie said his candidates had no choice but to work with the Liberals, led by Premier Jeremy Rockliff, as Labor leader Rebecca White had already admitted defeat.
“We have to form a government somehow and if (Labour) are not going to be in the race then I guess we have no choice,” Senator Lambie told ABC Radio.
Jacqui Lambie has been highly critical of the plan to fund an AFL stadium in Hobart.
‘I’m pretty sure Tasmanians don’t want to go back to re-election in the next two months, that won’t bring stability. That’s what we promised Tasmanians.
The federal leader suggested a “good start” to negotiations between Rockliff and its candidates would be a second look at the millions set aside for a controversial new stadium proposed for Hobart.
“I still can’t find a decent reason why having a new stadium with a roof is a priority,” he said.
Rockliff has supported the construction of a $715 million AFL stadium in Hobart, a condition of state licensing for an AFL team. Senator Lambie has been highly critical of the plan.
However, one of the candidates in his network in the fight for a seat supports the stadium.
The project must be voted on in parliament to obtain the green light.
Rockliff admitted on Sunday that the Liberals had taken a “bit of a kick” in the stadium and overall, with their first preference vote falling 12 per cent.
Rockliff and White have ruled out negotiating with the Greens. The minority party is on track to take four or five seats.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said it was disappointing that Labor had ruled out joining forces to form a minority, given there were overlaps in both parties’ campaign platforms.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff appears to be in the box for another term as state leader. Labor leader Rebecca White has admitted
“I don’t know why the Labor Party has taken that position at this time. “We still hope they are open to (negotiations),” he told Sky News on Monday.
Labor won just 10 of 35 seats in the House of Assembly, compared to 13 for the Liberals.
On Sunday, White admitted it was “very unlikely” his party would be able to form a government.
“Judging by yesterday’s result, it seems highly unlikely that the Labor Party will be able to form a government,” Ms White said.
“I respect that result, I respect the will of the people.”
Rockliff sent Tasmanians to the polls more than a year ahead of schedule after the Liberals failed to resolve a minority government standoff with MPs leaving the party to sit on the crossbench.