Censure motion against Tasmanian premier passes parliament

A censure motion against Premier Jeremy Rockliff has passed Tasmania's parliament.

The motion, which is symbolic and carries no actual penalty, passed 16 to 12 on Wednesday night.

Labor and the Greens supported the motion, alongside independents Peter George, Kristie Johnston, Craig Garland, Helen Burnet and David O'Byrne.

Government ministers, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco, and independent George Razay opposed the motion.

The motion makes Mr Rockliff the first Tasmanian premier to be censured by the parliament.

Members of parliament spent most of Wednesday's sitting debating the motion, which was put forward by the Greens.

The party accused the premier of failing to ensure his cabinet upholds the ministerial code of conduct, following the resignation of two government ministers, Jane Howlett and Madeleine Ogilvie.

Both ministers resigned within weeks of each other following allegations they misled parliament.

Mr Rockliff has apologised for not "interrogating the issue further" regarding Ms Ogilvie's clarification of whether she was involved in any Supreme Court matters, and has pledged to introduce reforms to strengthen transparency of legal indemnities.

Earlier in parliament on Wednesday, Mr Rockliff said the threshold of a censure motion "must remain high", warning parliament should be wary of setting a precedent.

"A censure is not a signalling device, it's not a tool for political pressure, it's something to be deployed simply because the numbers are there," Mr Rockliff said.

"If this house chooses to apply it where there has been acknowledged error, apology, consequence and reform, but no deliberate wrongdoing, then we fundamentally change what censure means in this parliament."

'Historic first'

Following the passing of the motion, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said in a statement that the motion acknowledged the premier's behaviour "has been unacceptable".

"The only reason Tasmanians are now aware that hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on ministers' legal fees, about previously secret Supreme Court proceedings, and ministers lying to parliament, is because of the work of this minority parliament.

"With this motion passing, the premier has recorded an historic first in the worst possible way," Dr Woodruff said.

Labor leader Josh Willie said in a statement that while the censure motion "sends a strong message", the issue was not over.

"It is extremely disappointing that the premier has continued to try and define the parliament holding him to account as 'toxic' or 'gotcha' politics. Those feeble attempts don't cut it any more.

"The premier is on notice, and he needs to lift his game," Mr Willie said.