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Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he will "take the appropriate time to consider and to consult with my colleagues" over the demands of two former colleagues who have plunged Australia's last Liberal government into minority.
On Friday, Mr Rockliff met with independents John Tucker and Lara Alexander after he issued them an ultimatum — sign a new, more restrictive agreement, or risk an early election.
In a statement, the premier said he thanked "Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander for meeting with me today".
"It was an opportunity for them to put forward their position, as I have mine. I will now take the appropriate time to consider and to consult with my colleagues.
"This is an important matter, Tasmanians need stability and certainty, and I am focused on delivering that."
Ms Alexander and Mr Tucker said they want to stick to an original agreement they made with the government in May last year after they stepped away from the Tasmanian Liberal Party.
"We have left the premier to consider our position which is we will work off the basis of the original agreement," Ms Alexander said.
"We have come here in good faith to make sure we come up with a good resolution to resolve this crisis, for a better word, that was generated last week."
Mr Tucker said he had "never had a problem" with the original agreement.
"I'm quite happy to follow through with that agreement going forward, and that's what I've said to [Premier Jeremy Rockliff] again today," he said.
Threat of no-confidence vote
The two MPs quit last May over concerns about transparency around the proposed AFL stadium and the Marinus Link underwater power cable.
It left the government with just 11 out of 25 seats in the lower house, leaving it susceptible to a vote of no-confidence without the independent's support, which could have triggered an early election.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the pair and the government was then signed, guaranteeing supply and confidence to the Rockliff government.
In January, Mr Tucker threatened to revoke confidence and supply in the government if his demands — making CCTV mandatory in abattoirs and stopping all projects relating to the proposed AFL stadium until it passes parliament — were not met.
In a letter sent to the MPs last week, Mr Rockliff outlined a new agreement that would prevent them from supporting independent bills, motions, or amendments in parliament.
These demands come on top of the original agreement between the government and independents, which prevents them from supporting legislation brought by Labor or the Greens without first discussing it with the government.
Ms Alexander rejected the new deal, criticising Mr Rockliff's demand as "against the grain of being an independent".
On Thursday, Mr Tucker also refused the premier's new agreement and said he would not be "handcuffed, muzzled and sidelined" from contributing to parliament.
'I don't want an election', premier says
Prior to the meeting on Friday, Mr Rockliff said he would "not be going to the governor this weekend" to call for an early election.
"I am going to ensure that I take time to consider what John and Lara put on the table," he said earlier on Friday.
Asked if this ruled out an election being called before Easter, Mr Rockliff said he didn't "play rule-in, rule-out games".
"I don't want an election, I want a secure agreement, and that's my motivation," he said.
The next Tasmanian state election is scheduled to be held on or before Saturday 28 June 2025 and will elect 35 members to the House of Assembly.