He keeps pretending he won't do a deal with the Greens to stitch up a Labor-Green government, but that's exactly what he is planning.
Make no mistake: accepting confidence and supply from the Greens is a deal. A very big deal.
It would mean a Labor-Green government that most Tasmanians didn't vote for.
Yesterday, Mr Winter at least six times avoided answering straight forward questions about doing a deal with the Greens by accepting confidence and supply. (see below)
It's time Mr Winter told Tasmanians the truth about what he is planning.
Transcript
Journalist:
Would you accept supply and confidence with the Greens?
Dean Winter:
I've said I won't do any deals with the Greens repeatedly during this and ultimately, it'll be up to the Greens as to what decisions they make.
Journalist:
Does supply and confidence, does that equal a deal? Or is that something else?
Dean Winter:
We won't be doing any deals with the Greens.
Journalist:
So once again, can you just say if you would accept supply and confidence from the Greens?
Dean Winter:
Well, the Greens will make their own decisions about what they do, and they'll do that on the basis of who they think is best place to form government.
Journalist:
So you could form government if the Greens theoretically gave you supply and confidence, and you wouldn't necessarily reject that.
Dean Winter:
We won't be doing we won't be doing any deals with the Greens, and we won't be compromising on our values. We support safe, secure, well paid jobs and traditional industries that support Tasmanians living in regional communities.
Journalist:
But if the Greens gave you supply and confidence, you'd be willing to form government?
Dean Winter:
Well, the first opportunity to form a government is for Jeremy Rockliff. He's won 14 seats, and he needs to secure four additional seats ...
