Joint Statement from independent MPs Craig Garland and Kristie Johnston, and independent candidate Peter George
24 July 2025
In light of the significant public interest and ongoing media speculation about the formation of a minority government following Saturday’s election—and following the Premier’s public statement on Monday—we are issuing this formal joint statement. In making this joint statement, we want to be clear that we are not indicating a formal or informal alliance together.
Any suggestion that only one major party has a mandate to form government is simply incorrect, and for that reason, like other crossbench members, we will be speaking to both major parties about confidence and supply.
While informal discussions have begun, we will not begin formal negotiations with either major party until the results of the House of Assembly election are confirmed. This is not expected to occur for at least another week.
We will continue to request briefings through the Premier’s office from relevant Government Departments, including follow-up requests to access the Whole-of-State Business Case for the Marinus project.
We will also use this time to meet with other members of both Houses and seek advice from independent experts across key policy areas, including the economy and governance.
We will not be conducting negotiations through the media. Good faith, mutual respect, and trust are essential foundations for any successful negotiation and for the stability of any power-sharing arrangement. Now is the time to set the tone for the next Parliament. So, while we appreciate the public and media interest in this process, and the need for transparency, in order to demonstrate trust, good faith and respect during these discussions, we will only be providing updates with the prior agreement of all involved. We expect the same approach from the major parties if they are also committed to negotiating with us in good faith.
We anticipate that this process will take a number of weeks and will not be pressured or railroaded by either major party.
We remain committed to a respectful and constructive process focused on achieving a stable and accountable government for Tasmania.
Folks, the writing is on the wall.
Your hard work in supporting this Independent campaign for Franklin has won us a seat in Parliament.
Thank you.
You helped mount a joyful, decent, honest campaign and you are reaping the reward.
On your behalf, I look forward to four years in Parliament representing the best interests of Franklin and the best interests of Tasmania.
Our campaign won on the back of the clearest of principles.
Four pillars:
Budget Repair, Social Repair, Island Repair and Integrity Repair to guide us for the next four years.
It’ll mean working above narrow political interests to create a healthier state, better education outcomes, more sustainable jobs and adequate housing for all Tasmanians.
It’ll mean protecting, nurturing and valuing both our natural resources – like our native forests and waterways – as well as our human resources by achieving better education, health and housing that drive the growth of sustainable jobs, a sustainable economy and better lives.
It’ll mean nurturing the growth of small businesses that are the backbone of our state’s economic life instead of subsidising and favouring the big end of town – the multinationals, the corporate interests, the entitled insiders that have captured the two old parties.
This is where it should start.
- End the destruction of our waterways by multinational industrial fish farms.
- Stand up to the bullies of the AFL and demand men and women’s teams without breaking the bank on an unnecessary, unwanted stadium.
- Drive forward legislation that rebuilds trust in public life through an Integrity Commission fully resourced and enabled with investigative freedom to genuinely do its job.
Across Tasmania, voters seem to have sent the clearest of messages to the two old parties – never again will either of them govern in majority.
They’d better get used to it and learn some humility.
The reality is the debt crisis is now so bad we need a government of our best, not of our worst. A Government chosen from across the Parliament that includes the cross-bench from both chambers, regardless of political affiliations.
Tasmanians want a government of the sensible centre.
They want, expect and deserve a stable parliament that over four years will rebuild our state’s fortunes. No party can do that without the collaboration of the cross-bench. My responsibility is to the Parliament and the people – not to narrow sectional interests and political parties. That’s our system, that’s our tradition.
My responsibility is to work with all elected members of Parliament, to make sure that we spend our taxes responsibly and don’t waste them, to make sure we don’t destroy our land and give it away to foreign corporations, to make sure our Parliament is looking after our people responsibly and not selling their future out for the sake of football stadiums and salmon farms.
And I will work with anybody on that basis.
The two old parties also have a responsibility to heed the message Tasmanians have sent them in this election.
The responsibility for failure will lie at their door.
Hubris, arrogance and bullying will simply make them even more irrelevant and unpopular than they are today.
Global and national experience teaches us minority government best represents the will of the people.
Minority government is what Tasmanians have voted for loud and clear.
And let’s face it, the voter is always right.
Now the onus is on the 35 of us to make it work.
