Tasmanian deputy premier Michael Ferguson resigns from cabinet ahead of no-confidence motion
Tasmania’s deputy premier and treasurer Michael Ferguson has announced his resignation from cabinet, to sit on the backbench and remain in parliament.
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00:00With pressure on him, mounting and staring down the barrel of a likely no-confidence motion,
00:06Michael Ferguson resigned as Deputy Premier, as Treasurer and from Cabinet last night.
00:12Labor had confirmed it would be moving a no-confidence motion in him when Parliament sat today
00:17and it appeared to have the necessary support to pass.
00:20The writing was on the wall and Michael Ferguson announced his resignation yesterday.
00:24Here's some of what he had to say.
00:26The numbers are clearly not there.
00:28We can make our arguments and we've worked very hard.
00:33We've discussed respectfully with different members of the crossbench,
00:36including those who have pledged confidence and supply.
00:39The numbers are not there. It's for others to explain their position.
00:43And in those circumstances, I'm a former maths teacher, I can count,
00:47and I just recognise that this is the most pragmatic, sensible and I hope honourable decision.
00:53Guy Barnett is Tasmania's new Deputy Premier.
00:56He's a former Senator and currently the Tasmanian Attorney-General and Health Minister.
01:02There's going to be a Cabinet reshuffle later in the week.
01:05Jeremy Rockleaf, the Premier, will take on Michael Ferguson's former roles as Treasurer in the interim.
01:12Michael Ferguson will sit on the backbench for the first time in his 14-year career as a Tasmanian MP.