Michael Ferguson Steps Down: A Political Career Shifts to the Backbench

After nearly two decades as a prominent figure in Tasmanian politics, Michael Ferguson finds himself on the backbench for the first time in his state career, ending his long-standing ambition to become premier. Facing a no-confidence motion related to the mishandling of the Spirit of Tasmania saga, Ferguson chose to step down voluntarily on Monday afternoon, avoiding being ousted by a majority of MPs.

Acknowledging the situation, Ferguson said, "The numbers are clearly not there," during his resignation announcement, where he was flanked by his family and Premier Jeremy Rockliff.

As one of the most senior members of Tasmania’s Liberal government, Ferguson’s resignation comes amid heightened scrutiny over the troubled rollout of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels. Long before his political journey, Ferguson was a high school teacher in northern Tasmania, teaching mathematics, science, and IT.

Ferguson entered politics at 30, winning the federal seat of Bass in 2004, defeating Michelle O'Byrne. In an early campaign profile, he was described as a "clean-cut young Liberal" and a proud Tasmanian with values shaped by his roles as a father, husband, and former teacher.

In his maiden speech to federal parliament, Ferguson reflected on his early experiences, including working for $2 an hour, and outlined his guiding principles, such as encouraging others to fulfil their potential and supporting families, a cornerstone of his values.

Fast forward 20 years, and family remained central to Ferguson, as his wife, Julie, and son, James, stood by his side during his final press conference as a frontbencher.

Despite his early success in federal politics, Ferguson’s tenure was short-lived, losing his seat in 2007. He briefly left politics, working as the CEO of the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust before re-entering state politics in 2010. With strong voter support, Ferguson quickly rose in the ranks, securing a spot on the frontbench as part of opposition leader Will Hodgman's team.

When the Liberals took power in 2014, Ferguson was appointed as the health minister, overseeing significant projects such as the redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital. However, his tenure in health wasn’t without challenges. A press conference was once interrupted by a senior clinician, highlighting concerns about hospital resources, which became a public flashpoint.

In 2019, under mounting pressure, Ferguson was removed from the health portfolio, though then-premier Hodgman praised him as "one of the state's greatest health ministers." He took on the role of infrastructure and transport minister, a position that would later prove critical to his career.

Ferguson narrowly missed out on becoming premier twice, first in 2020 and again in 2022. When Jeremy Rockliff became premier, Ferguson was appointed deputy and took over the treasury portfolio in 2022. However, it was his role as infrastructure minister that led to his recent downfall.

The Spirit of Tasmania project—building new ships and upgrading port facilities—was plagued by delays and cost blowouts, which Ferguson attributed to the ship operator, TT-Line. Despite stepping down from the infrastructure portfolio in August, the controversy persisted.

Last week’s parliamentary inquiry into the Spirit of Tasmania bungle dealt the final blow. Testimony from former TT-Line chair Mike Grainger convinced several MPs that Ferguson’s handling of the project was indefensible, leading to the no-confidence motion.

Despite this, Ferguson remained defiant, insisting there were no new revelations and attributing the issues to TT-Line’s management. Nevertheless, crossbench MPs, including independent David O'Byrne, criticized Ferguson for showing a lack of accountability.

Though he has now resigned from the frontbench, Ferguson insists he remains committed to serving his constituents with the same passion on the backbench. "I want to be the person that people come to when they need problems fixed in their local community," he said.

For Premier Rockliff, Ferguson’s departure marks the end of an era. After 14 years of service, Rockliff must now navigate the challenges of leading the Liberal Party without one of its most loyal and dedicated members by his side.

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