"Abosolute nonsense" - TasFarmers slam No Co

TasFarmers President Ian Sauer says the likelihood of a no-confidence motion being moved when parliament returns on August 19 is “absolute nonsense” and has concerns about how a future minority government will impact the state’s agricultural sector.

Labor leader Dean Winter said on Wednesday that either his party or an independent would move a fresh no-confidence motion after Jeremy Rockliff was recommissioned as Premier by Governor Barbara Baker.

Mr Sauer said that it was TasFarmers’ view that the Liberals, who won the most seats during the recent state election, should be afforded the courtesy of forming government.

“The parliamentarians have to understand that it’s their duty not to play games but to have Tasmania governed and get some stability in place so that we can go forward,” he said.

“The talk of no-confidence motions in the government, even before the government has sat, is nothing short of childish.

“It’s destabilising and does nothing for the agricultural sector, let alone the rest of the economy.”

During the campaign, TasFarmers invited all parties and independents to submit their agricultural policies in response to the organisation’s state election priorities.

Mr Sauer said the Greens told TasFarmers it would get back to them after the election.

“If there’s going to be a party that does a deal with the Greens or the crossbench, we don’t really know what those policies are.

“It’s really unfair on the agricultural sector, which is a major pillar of our economic, social and environmental platform in Tasmania, to then have polices inflicted upon us that we know nothing about.

“That is the tail wagging the dog.”

Governor Baker said Mr Rockliff had assured her he had the confidence of the parliament.

"In a hung parliament, where no one clearly holds the confidence of the majority of the House of Assembly, the incumbent has the right to remain in office in order to test the numbers in the House of Assembly and for parliament to have the final say in who should be premier," Her Excellency said.

"I consider the convention of incumbency applies in the current circumstances.

"I shall reappoint the premier.

"It is better for confidence to be determined inside and not outside the parliament."