IT has taken almost three weeks but Tasmanians tonight know who their next premier will be.
Governor Peter Underwood this afternoon re-commissioned Premier David Bartlett as Premier to lead a Labor minority government which will have the support of the Tasmanian Greens – but the new government faces an immediate motion of no-confidence from the Liberal Opposition.
There is no formal arrangement between Labor and the Greens but Greens leader Nick McKim announced via a southern newspaper today that his party would offer support to the incumbent government by not moving or supporting motions of no-confidence in parliament unless there was evidence of gross malfeasance, maladministration or corruption.
The support would remain until a formal negotiated agreement was reached.
The State Opposition reacted angrily to the news Mr Bartlett, with the support of Mr McKim would return as Premier.
"Mr Bartlett said that the Party with the most votes should have the right to govern,'' Mr Hodgman said.
"He has broken that promise.
"He said he would respect the will of Tasmanians and provide stability through a set of undertakings.
"He chose not to provide those same undertakings to the Governor. He has broken that promise as well.''
Mr Hodgman said the new government was "built on deciet and on lies'' and labelled it "illegitimate''.
