Former senator Guy Barnett has been elected deputy premier of Tasmania’s minority Liberal government, a day after his predecessor stepped down amid a Bass Strait ferry “fiasco”.
Michael Ferguson resigned as deputy premier and treasurer on Monday afternoon after being confronted with the prospect of losing a no-confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday.
He had been under increasing political pressure over delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of new $900 million Spirit of Tasmania ships.
Upgraded berths for the two vessels won’t be ready for their arrival in what the state Labor opposition has dubbed the biggest infrastructure stuff-up in Tasmania’s history.
Mr Barnett was elected unopposed as deputy premier at a Liberal meeting on Tuesday morning.
He served in the senate from 2002-10 and was first elected to Tasmania’s parliament in 2014.
He holds several substantial portfolios including justice, health and veterans affairs and is also the attorney-general.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff is expected to announce a reshuffled cabinet and the appointment of a new treasurer in coming days.
The Liberals govern with 14 of 35 lower house seats after being re-elected in March.
They were plunged into minority in May 2023 and went to the polls early in the hope of majority but were returned with a larger crossbench.
Labor had the numbers to successfully move a no-confidence motion with the backing of the Greens and several independent MPs.
Mr Ferguson, who has served at state level for 14 years and was touted as a future premier, will remain in parliament on the backbench.
He said his resignation from cabinet was in the best interests of the government and Tasmania.
“I want to thank the premier for his support and backing over the past few months – both personally and as a colleague,” he said.
“This friendship is one that I have returned to him during my time as his deputy premier.”
Mr Rockliff said Mr Ferguson’s decision was honourable.
“(He) has a number of times … apologised for the situation that we find ourselves in when it comes to the Spirit of Tasmania and the berthing infrastructure,” he told reporters.
Mr Ferguson, who was deputy for two years, in August dropped the infrastructure portfolio over the ferry saga which he oversaw as minister.
He was accused of misleading parliament, something he denied, about when he knew about cost increases and project issues.
“If a fiasco of this magnitude had occurred in any private sector business, the person responsible would have been sacked a long time ago,” Labor leader Dean Winter said.
“The new Spirits project is five years delayed … and when the ships eventually arrive, they will have nowhere to berth.”
