Australia's last Liberal government has been thrown into chaos as two Tasmanian backbenchers announce their shock exit over the state's controversial AFL stadium in Hobart.
In a press conference on Friday, Bass MP Lara Alexander and Lyons MP John Tucker announced their defection, which was triggered by the government's plan to build a brand new AFL stadium in Hobart’s Macquarie Point.
"We’re here to announce that today we have written to the Liberal Party submitting our resignation both as party members and members of the Parliamentary Liberal Party," they said in a joint statement. Ms Alexander said the decision to quit the Liberal Party was not made lightly and she and Mr Tucker"do not want to kill football in the state".
Following Friday's announcement, the Liberals now hold 11 of the 25 seats in the House of Assembly, leaving the government without enough backbenchers to perform parliamentary roles.
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