Tasmanian Labor party announces Independent MP as Treasurer in potential minority government

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The major parties continue working to secure the support of parliamentary members as the countdown to parliament's return ticks down. Today, that's included Labor reaching across party divides, announcing Independent upper house MP Ruth Forrest as the state's next Treasurer if the party is able to form minority government.

Transcript

00:00From a wittier side, and I've often joked about taking it on, but here we are.

00:08To an official job offer, Labor leader Dean Winter has reached across the parliamentary divide

00:14for his pick for Treasurer in the event of a Labor minority government.

00:19Ruth's someone who's got enormous capacity, she's someone who is going to strengthen our team

00:23and is the right person to take our budget forward.

00:26In June, Treasury forecast that Tasmania was headed for $13 billion worth of debt by 2028.

00:33The state of Tasmania's finances were a key factor in the successful no-confidence motion moved in Premier Jeremy Rockliffe,

00:41ultimately leading to the recent state election.

00:44Upper House MP Ruth Forrest, who will remain an independent, says she's ready to steer the ship around.

00:51I'm not going to shy away from the challenge that it is. I'll be honest, I'll be transparent,

00:55and I'll be open about what we're doing, what we're facing.

00:59She's probably the most capable member of Tasmanian Parliament when it comes to economic and financial issues,

01:06and I've got no doubt that she would be a good Treasurer if the colleagues she will have in the Labor government's cabinet allow her to be.

01:14Ms Forrest's credentials have been recognised by crossbenchers.

01:18She is the one person that I can see in either the upper or lower House of Parliament who actually has the qualifications.

01:27But there are questions over just how the partnership would work in practice.

01:31I think she would make a good Treasurer, but the question remains, will she be listened to?

01:36Where's the stadium going to fit in the upcoming budget that she would be responsible for preparing?

01:43Premier Jeremy Rockliffe's own Cabinet selections, including Erica Betts as Treasurer,

01:48will be sworn in at a ceremony in Hobart tomorrow.

01:51But the appointments could be short-lived, with crossbenchers remaining tight-lipped over whether the major parties

01:57have done enough to sway their support, as both Labor and the Liberals continue to vie for minority government.

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