Budget debt and waterfront stadium light up island poll

The Advertiser

a day ago

Tasmania is off to the polls for the second time in less than two years for an election in which budget debt and a $1 billion AFL stadium will take centre stage.
Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff's request for the snap vote was granted by the governor on Wednesday night, six days after he lost the confidence of parliament.
The July 19 election is the fourth for Tasmania in the space of seven years.
Mr Rockliff, who was returned to power in minority at the March 2024 vote, refused to step down after the no-confidence vote, put forward by Labor.
Governor Barbara Baker said despite a "prevailing public mood against holding an election" there was no alternative to form government.
"Another election is not what I wanted, and I know that it's not what Tasmanians wanted," Mr Rockliff said in a statement.
The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) need to get voters on-side to reach 18 seats, the mark required to govern in majority in Tasmania's 35-seat lower house.
The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, have presided over worsening net debt that is tipped to more than double to almost $11 billion by 2028/29.
They have also been lashed for delays and cost blowouts to two yet-to-be-in-service new Bass Strait ferries.
There are fears the early election will jeopardise Tasmania's licence for an AFL team and approval and construction timelines around a $945 million stadium in Hobart.
The stadium is a condition of the AFL granting the Devils a licence and is supported by the Liberals and Labor, but opposed by the Greens - who hold five seats - and several crossbenchers who voted to punt Mr Rockliff.
February opinion polling showed almost 60 per cent of Tasmanians were against the stadium.
Campaign battle lines have already been drawn. The Liberals dropped a plan to investigate selling public assets and announced ex-federal MP Bridget Archer would run.
Labor leader Dean Winter said it was time for a fresh start in Tasmania.
"Our entire labour movement is united and ready to send the Liberals a loud message - Tasmania is not for sale," he said.
The Greens, whose offer to form government with Labor was rejected, said the two major parties had put self-interest ahead of the state.
"Jeremy Rockliff could have respected the will of the parliament and stepped aside for another Liberal leader," Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said.
"Dean Winter could have sought to form government with other MPs."
Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave Labor's Julie Collins a fright at the most recent federal poll, announced he would run at state level.
The Liberals suffered a 12 per cent swing against them at the March 2024 state poll, with people largely jumping ship to minor parties and independents.
Tasmania is off to the polls for the second time in less than two years for an election in which budget debt and a $1 billion AFL stadium will take centre stage.
Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff's request for the snap vote was granted by the governor on Wednesday night, six days after he lost the confidence of parliament.
The July 19 election is the fourth for Tasmania in the space of seven years.
Mr Rockliff, who was returned to power in minority at the March 2024 vote, refused to step down after the no-confidence vote, put forward by Labor.
Governor Barbara Baker said despite a "prevailing public mood against holding an election" there was no alternative to form government.
"Another election is not what I wanted, and I know that it's not what Tasmanians wanted," Mr Rockliff said in a statement.
The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) need to get voters on-side to reach 18 seats, the mark required to govern in majority in Tasmania's 35-seat lower house.
The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, have presided over worsening net debt that is tipped to more than double to almost $11 billion by 2028/29.
They have also been lashed for delays and cost blowouts to two yet-to-be-in-service new Bass Strait ferries.
There are fears the early election will jeopardise Tasmania's licence for an AFL team and approval and construction timelines around a $945 million stadium in Hobart.
The stadium is a condition of the AFL granting the Devils a licence and is supported by the Liberals and Labor, but opposed by the Greens - who hold five seats - and several crossbenchers who voted to punt Mr Rockliff.
February opinion polling showed almost 60 per cent of Tasmanians were against the stadium.
Campaign battle lines have already been drawn. The Liberals dropped a plan to investigate selling public assets and announced ex-federal MP Bridget Archer would run.
Labor leader Dean Winter said it was time for a fresh start in Tasmania.
"Our entire labour movement is united and ready to send the Liberals a loud message - Tasmania is not for sale," he said.
The Greens, whose offer to form government with Labor was rejected, said the two major parties had put self-interest ahead of the state.
"Jeremy Rockliff could have respected the will of the parliament and stepped aside for another Liberal leader," Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said.
"Dean Winter could have sought to form government with other MPs."
Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave Labor's Julie Collins a fright at the most recent federal poll, announced he would run at state level.
The Liberals suffered a 12 per cent swing against them at the March 2024 state poll, with people largely jumping ship to minor parties and independents.
Tasmania is off to the polls for the second time in less than two years for an election in which budget debt and a $1 billion AFL stadium will take centre stage.
Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff's request for the snap vote was granted by the governor on Wednesday night, six days after he lost the confidence of parliament.
The July 19 election is the fourth for Tasmania in the space of seven years.
Mr Rockliff, who was returned to power in minority at the March 2024 vote, refused to step down after the no-confidence vote, put forward by Labor.
Governor Barbara Baker said despite a "prevailing public mood against holding an election" there was no alternative to form government.
"Another election is not what I wanted, and I know that it's not what Tasmanians wanted," Mr Rockliff said in a statement.
The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) need to get voters on-side to reach 18 seats, the mark required to govern in majority in Tasmania's 35-seat lower house.
The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, have presided over worsening net debt that is tipped to more than double to almost $11 billion by 2028/29.
They have also been lashed for delays and cost blowouts to two yet-to-be-in-service new Bass Strait ferries.
There are fears the early election will jeopardise Tasmania's licence for an AFL team and approval and construction timelines around a $945 million stadium in Hobart.
The stadium is a condition of the AFL granting the Devils a licence and is supported by the Liberals and Labor, but opposed by the Greens - who hold five seats - and several crossbenchers who voted to punt Mr Rockliff.
February opinion polling showed almost 60 per cent of Tasmanians were against the stadium.
Campaign battle lines have already been drawn. The Liberals dropped a plan to investigate selling public assets and announced ex-federal MP Bridget Archer would run.
Labor leader Dean Winter said it was time for a fresh start in Tasmania.
"Our entire labour movement is united and ready to send the Liberals a loud message - Tasmania is not for sale," he said.
The Greens, whose offer to form government with Labor was rejected, said the two major parties had put self-interest ahead of the state.
"Jeremy Rockliff could have respected the will of the parliament and stepped aside for another Liberal leader," Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said.
"Dean Winter could have sought to form government with other MPs."
Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave Labor's Julie Collins a fright at the most recent federal poll, announced he would run at state level.
The Liberals suffered a 12 per cent swing against them at the March 2024 state poll, with people largely jumping ship to minor parties and independents.
Tasmania is off to the polls for the second time in less than two years for an election in which budget debt and a $1 billion AFL stadium will take centre stage.
Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff's request for the snap vote was granted by the governor on Wednesday night, six days after he lost the confidence of parliament.
The July 19 election is the fourth for Tasmania in the space of seven years.
Mr Rockliff, who was returned to power in minority at the March 2024 vote, refused to step down after the no-confidence vote, put forward by Labor.
Governor Barbara Baker said despite a "prevailing public mood against holding an election" there was no alternative to form government.
"Another election is not what I wanted, and I know that it's not what Tasmanians wanted," Mr Rockliff said in a statement.
The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) need to get voters on-side to reach 18 seats, the mark required to govern in majority in Tasmania's 35-seat lower house.
The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, have presided over worsening net debt that is tipped to more than double to almost $11 billion by 2028/29.
They have also been lashed for delays and cost blowouts to two yet-to-be-in-service new Bass Strait ferries.
There are fears the early election will jeopardise Tasmania's licence for an AFL team and approval and construction timelines around a $945 million stadium in Hobart.
The stadium is a condition of the AFL granting the Devils a licence and is supported by the Liberals and Labor, but opposed by the Greens - who hold five seats - and several crossbenchers who voted to punt Mr Rockliff.
February opinion polling showed almost 60 per cent of Tasmanians were against the stadium.
Campaign battle lines have already been drawn. The Liberals dropped a plan to investigate selling public assets and announced ex-federal MP Bridget Archer would run.
Labor leader Dean Winter said it was time for a fresh start in Tasmania.
"Our entire labour movement is united and ready to send the Liberals a loud message - Tasmania is not for sale," he said.
The Greens, whose offer to form government with Labor was rejected, said the two major parties had put self-interest ahead of the state.
"Jeremy Rockliff could have respected the will of the parliament and stepped aside for another Liberal leader," Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said.
"Dean Winter could have sought to form government with other MPs."
Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave Labor's Julie Collins a fright at the most recent federal poll, announced he would run at state level.
The Liberals suffered a 12 per cent swing against them at the March 2024 state poll, with people largely jumping ship to minor parties and independents.