The growing civil war within the Liberal Party is now a test of Jeremy Rockliff’s leadership and the ability of the Liberals to govern.

The dispute surrounding Brendan Blomeley’s membership has now spread beyond the Franklin electorate to the Clark electorate committee chair Corey Mingari and former Minister and Liberal stalwart Peter Hodgman.

Mr Mingari and Mr Hodgman have both criticised Mr Rockliff’s hand-picked State President Michael McKenna’s decision to expel Mr Blomeley, joining other members of the Liberal Party who have spoken out or gone to the media over the order.

There is no doubt that this is a proxy battle for a broader power struggle within the Liberal Party, with the bolstered conservative forces within the party asserting their dominance by getting behind Eric Abetz and his protégé Mr Blomeley.

The Premier might continue to pretend that none of this is of interest to Tasmanians, but it goes to the very heart of what the Liberals stand for and points to ongoing division and instability.

The fact is that Tasmanians do care about having a government so consumed by internal chaos and a Premier so preoccupied with hanging onto his leadership that they can’t govern the state.

Since Jeremy Rockliff’s leadership sent his government into minority Tasmania has already shed 5,000 jobs, the budget has now been delayed until September and the state’s finances are looking increasingly dire.

Tasmanians who were promised stable government have every right to be appalled.

Josh Willie MP
Labor Member for Clark