THE SQUIZ
Liberals in 2 Aussie states are doing it tough as internal squabbles get a very public airing. In Tasmania (aka home of the only Liberal-led government in Australia), the party was plunged into minority government on Friday. And in Victoria, a state MP the Libs expelled on Friday is suing the leader and refusing to quit her party membership. So there’s a bit going on… 

LET’S START WITH TASSIE… 
Rightio. This is about Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s support for a new stadium in Hobart. It was only a couple of weeks ago that Tassie was promised its own AFL team after the Albanese Government teamed up with Rockliff to put $715 million towards a home ground, with $375 million coming from the state’s coffers. On Friday, state Liberals Lara Alexander and John Tucker quit the party over the ‘captain’s call’, meaning the Libs now hold 11 out of 25 seats in the state parliament. Thousands of protesting Tasmanians also voiced their opposition to the stadium over the weekend, with Booker-winning author Richard Flanagan arguing eloquently that the money would be better spent on social housing, and Tassie senator Jacqui Lambie giving slightly less eloquent directions about where the Rockliff Government could put its stadium… Expect more stadium chatter this week and when Tasmania’s parliament returns on 23 May.

… AND IN VICTORIA?
Victoria’s Liberal Party is still dealing with state MP Moira Deeming, who has been in the spotlight since attending an anti-trans rally that was overtaken by ultra-far-right wingers in March. On Friday, State Liberal leader John Pesutto called on his party room to expel her from its parliamentary ranks – and they voted 19-11 to kick her out. That came after Deeming filed to sue Pesutto for defamation, alleging he accused her of holding sympathies with the deplorable far-right. But as an insider explained, you can’t “sue your boss and expect to keep your job.” Deeming says she has not done anything wrong and will remain a rank-and-file member of the party while she sits on the crossbench. All that means Pesutto won’t get his wish to “unite” and “move forward” anytime soon. And there’s a busy couple of weeks coming up… The Victorian parliament resumes this week ahead of next week’s state budget.