It is clear from her comments last night that Labor Leader Rebecca White is actively contemplating a deal with the Greens to try and form Government, Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson said today.

“Prior to and during the election campaign, Ms White ruled out a deal with the Greens time and time again”, the Deputy Premier said.

“It is now crystal clear that Ms White is planning to break that commitment.

“Where-ever the final numbers land, it is crystal clear that the only way that Labor can possibly form Government is by doing a deal with the Greens.

“In fact, on the numbers, there is no conceivable scenario where Labor can form Government without doing a deal with the Greens.

“As Labor Senator Helen Polley said last night, the ALP cannot form a "credible and legitimate government with just 10 members so far."

“In contrast, the Liberals have multiple paths to forming government, and none of them include the Greens.

“With the memories of 2010-2014 haunting them, it is also understood that significant sections of the Labor Party are resisting Ms White’s attempt to drag them into the Green mire.

“Before voting even closed, Ms White was scrambling to save her leadership at any cost, by getting her party’s approval to do a deal with the Greens.

“On Friday, she took the first step of calling an emergency PLP Meeting.

“And, today, the final tick is being sought from the Administrative Committee of the ALP – a committee that Ms White must consult before deals can be done.

“Any attempt by Ms White to deal with the Greens would be a gross betrayal of Tasmanian voters, and must be rejected by her Labor colleagues”, the Deputy Premier concluded.

RULE 16.10 of the Australian Labor Party Tasmanian Branch Rules:

The Parliamentary Labor Party and its members shall not enter into a power sharing or coalition arrangement with any other political party where a member of that political party holds a ministerial or any other position within the Cabinet.

Further in the event the Party finds itself in a position to form a minority government following a state election, the Parliamentary Labor Party shall not form a minority state government unless the Administrative Committee on behalf of the ALP membership has firstly been consulted.