Tasmanian deputy premier Michael Ferguson resigns from cabinet ahead of no-confidence motion

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Tasmania’s deputy premier and treasurer Michael Ferguson has announced his resignation from cabinet, to sit on the backbench and remain in parliament.

Transcript

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.

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