Liberals turn to ex-federal politicians for snap poll
The island state is heading to the polls on July 19 - its fourth election in seven years - after Premier Jeremy Rockliff refused to step down after losing a no-confidence motion.
Mr Rockliff was returned to power in minority at the most-recent March 2024 poll, but lost support of parliament in stunning fashion last week.
The Liberals on Friday revealed their candidate list for the northwest electorate of Braddon, including ex-federal MP Gavin Pearce and former senator Stephen Parry.
Under Tasmania's Hare-Clark voting system, seven MPs are elected in each of the state's five electorates.
Mr Pearce held Braddon at federal level for six years from 2019, but announced in June 2024 he would not re-contest the seat.
The seat was taken by Labor with a sizeable swing as Anthony Albanese swept to power in May.
"It's almost like I read the tea leaves. (But) I did it (left) for the right reasons. The rigours of federal politics weighed on my personal commitments," Mr Pearce said on Friday.
Mr Pearce said he wanted to "pick up his rifle and stand in the trenches" with Mr Rockliff, who he believed had been white-anted by the no-confidence motion.
Mr Pearce has insisted he has moved on from "professional differences" with former federal Liberal colleague Bridget Archer, who often crossed the floor.
Ms Archer is running for the Liberals at the state poll in the neighbouring seat of Bass.
The two major parties face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required to govern in majority.
The Liberals hold 14 seats, Labor 10, the Greens five, independents five and the Jacqui Lambie Network one.
Mr Rockliff, one of the three incumbent Liberals in Braddon, brushed off concerns the electorate's federal swing towards Labor would be replicated at state level.
"We have the best-possible team we have ever had in Braddon," Mr Rockliff said.
On the second day of official campaigning, Labor announced it would ensure two new Bass Strait ferries currently in Europe would be brought to Tasmania by Christmas.
The Spirit of Tasmania replacement ships won't be in service until late 2026, years behind schedule, because a berth hasn't been built.
One of the vessels is sitting in Scotland, while the other is undergoing sea trials in Finland.
"The Rockliff minority government has made a mess of the Spirits project - but Labor is ready to clean it up," Labor leader Dean Winter said.
Mr Winter said he wanted more of the ships' final fit-out to occur in Tasmania and that they would be safer in the state.
Tasmania's embattled Liberals are rolling out several former federal politicians for a snap election, including one who announced his resignation 12 months ago.
The island state is heading to the polls on July 19 - its fourth election in seven years - after Premier Jeremy Rockliff refused to step down after losing a no-confidence motion.
Mr Rockliff was returned to power in minority at the most-recent March 2024 poll, but lost support of parliament in stunning fashion last week.
The Liberals on Friday revealed their candidate list for the northwest electorate of Braddon, including ex-federal MP Gavin Pearce and former senator Stephen Parry.
Under Tasmania's Hare-Clark voting system, seven MPs are elected in each of the state's five electorates.
Mr Pearce held Braddon at federal level for six years from 2019, but announced in June 2024 he would not re-contest the seat.
The seat was taken by Labor with a sizeable swing as Anthony Albanese swept to power in May.
"It's almost like I read the tea leaves. (But) I did it (left) for the right reasons. The rigours of federal politics weighed on my personal commitments," Mr Pearce said on Friday.
Mr Pearce said he wanted to "pick up his rifle and stand in the trenches" with Mr Rockliff, who he believed had been white-anted by the no-confidence motion.
Mr Pearce has insisted he has moved on from "professional differences" with former federal Liberal colleague Bridget Archer, who often crossed the floor.
Ms Archer is running for the Liberals at the state poll in the neighbouring seat of Bass.
The two major parties face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required to govern in majority.
The Liberals hold 14 seats, Labor 10, the Greens five, independents five and the Jacqui Lambie Network one.
Mr Rockliff, one of the three incumbent Liberals in Braddon, brushed off concerns the electorate's federal swing towards Labor would be replicated at state level.
"We have the best-possible team we have ever had in Braddon," Mr Rockliff said.
On the second day of official campaigning, Labor announced it would ensure two new Bass Strait ferries currently in Europe would be brought to Tasmania by Christmas.
The Spirit of Tasmania replacement ships won't be in service until late 2026, years behind schedule, because a berth hasn't been built.
One of the vessels is sitting in Scotland, while the other is undergoing sea trials in Finland.
"The Rockliff minority government has made a mess of the Spirits project - but Labor is ready to clean it up," Labor leader Dean Winter said.
Mr Winter said he wanted more of the ships' final fit-out to occur in Tasmania and that they would be safer in the state.
Tasmania's embattled Liberals are rolling out several former federal politicians for a snap election, including one who announced his resignation 12 months ago.
The island state is heading to the polls on July 19 - its fourth election in seven years - after Premier Jeremy Rockliff refused to step down after losing a no-confidence motion.
Mr Rockliff was returned to power in minority at the most-recent March 2024 poll, but lost support of parliament in stunning fashion last week.
The Liberals on Friday revealed their candidate list for the northwest electorate of Braddon, including ex-federal MP Gavin Pearce and former senator Stephen Parry.
Under Tasmania's Hare-Clark voting system, seven MPs are elected in each of the state's five electorates.
Mr Pearce held Braddon at federal level for six years from 2019, but announced in June 2024 he would not re-contest the seat.
The seat was taken by Labor with a sizeable swing as Anthony Albanese swept to power in May.
"It's almost like I read the tea leaves. (But) I did it (left) for the right reasons. The rigours of federal politics weighed on my personal commitments," Mr Pearce said on Friday.
Mr Pearce said he wanted to "pick up his rifle and stand in the trenches" with Mr Rockliff, who he believed had been white-anted by the no-confidence motion.
Mr Pearce has insisted he has moved on from "professional differences" with former federal Liberal colleague Bridget Archer, who often crossed the floor.
Ms Archer is running for the Liberals at the state poll in the neighbouring seat of Bass.
The two major parties face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required to govern in majority.
The Liberals hold 14 seats, Labor 10, the Greens five, independents five and the Jacqui Lambie Network one.
Mr Rockliff, one of the three incumbent Liberals in Braddon, brushed off concerns the electorate's federal swing towards Labor would be replicated at state level.
"We have the best-possible team we have ever had in Braddon," Mr Rockliff said.
On the second day of official campaigning, Labor announced it would ensure two new Bass Strait ferries currently in Europe would be brought to Tasmania by Christmas.
The Spirit of Tasmania replacement ships won't be in service until late 2026, years behind schedule, because a berth hasn't been built.
One of the vessels is sitting in Scotland, while the other is undergoing sea trials in Finland.
"The Rockliff minority government has made a mess of the Spirits project - but Labor is ready to clean it up," Labor leader Dean Winter said.
Mr Winter said he wanted more of the ships' final fit-out to occur in Tasmania and that they would be safer in the state.
Tasmania's embattled Liberals are rolling out several former federal politicians for a snap election, including one who announced his resignation 12 months ago.
The island state is heading to the polls on July 19 - its fourth election in seven years - after Premier Jeremy Rockliff refused to step down after losing a no-confidence motion.
Mr Rockliff was returned to power in minority at the most-recent March 2024 poll, but lost support of parliament in stunning fashion last week.
The Liberals on Friday revealed their candidate list for the northwest electorate of Braddon, including ex-federal MP Gavin Pearce and former senator Stephen Parry.
Under Tasmania's Hare-Clark voting system, seven MPs are elected in each of the state's five electorates.
Mr Pearce held Braddon at federal level for six years from 2019, but announced in June 2024 he would not re-contest the seat.
The seat was taken by Labor with a sizeable swing as Anthony Albanese swept to power in May.
"It's almost like I read the tea leaves. (But) I did it (left) for the right reasons. The rigours of federal politics weighed on my personal commitments," Mr Pearce said on Friday.
Mr Pearce said he wanted to "pick up his rifle and stand in the trenches" with Mr Rockliff, who he believed had been white-anted by the no-confidence motion.
Mr Pearce has insisted he has moved on from "professional differences" with former federal Liberal colleague Bridget Archer, who often crossed the floor.
Ms Archer is running for the Liberals at the state poll in the neighbouring seat of Bass.
The two major parties face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required to govern in majority.
The Liberals hold 14 seats, Labor 10, the Greens five, independents five and the Jacqui Lambie Network one.
Mr Rockliff, one of the three incumbent Liberals in Braddon, brushed off concerns the electorate's federal swing towards Labor would be replicated at state level.
"We have the best-possible team we have ever had in Braddon," Mr Rockliff said.
On the second day of official campaigning, Labor announced it would ensure two new Bass Strait ferries currently in Europe would be brought to Tasmania by Christmas.
The Spirit of Tasmania replacement ships won't be in service until late 2026, years behind schedule, because a berth hasn't been built.
One of the vessels is sitting in Scotland, while the other is undergoing sea trials in Finland.
"The Rockliff minority government has made a mess of the Spirits project - but Labor is ready to clean it up," Labor leader Dean Winter said.
Mr Winter said he wanted more of the ships' final fit-out to occur in Tasmania and that they would be safer in the state.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
10 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Why Coalition not sold on NDIS move
Coalition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston says there needs to be 'more detail' after Labor announced children with mild autism and developmental delays would be moved off the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Health Minister Mark Butler said children with the moderate conditions would be shifted to a yet-to-be-designed Thriving Kids program, slated to begin mid-2027, as the government attempts to reign in unsustainable costs of the $46bn NDIS program. While $2bn of funding has been earmarked for the program, Mr Butler's address on Wednesday was the first time states, territories and stakeholders had been told of the imminent changes. Although the opposition has backed changes to make the scheme more sustainable, it says more information is needed. Coalition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said families 'deserve better than the uncertainty that they're getting at the moment'. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'Yesterday, we saw another new program announced by the Health Minister … (but) we still don't know what's happening with foundational supports, which was an announcement about a change to the NDIS program last year,' Ms Ruston said. 'So we've got another announcement with no details and no certainty and no pathway through by which the minister has announced that he's actually going to deliver what he said.' Senator Ruston said the uncertainty had created 'great distress' for families. 'So we're asking the minister to come out and provide that level of certainty because we can't be sure that these programs are right or otherwise unless we have that sort of detail,' she said. 'So we're calling on the government for more detail because these children deserve better than the uncertainty that they're getting at the moment.' Mark Butler's announcement on Wednesday to move children with mild autism and developmental delays off the NDIS was the first time states, territories and stakeholders had been told of the changes. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Sussan Ley said bipartisan support for reducing the growth of the NDIS wasn't a 'blank cheque for the government'. 'It's so important that these families don't feel left out on a limb,' the Opposition Leader said. said. 'Yes, there are changed arrangements but they need to have the confidence that works for them and their family, and they're not hearing that from the government.' She said she understood concern from parents following Mr Butler's announcement on Wednesday. 'As we know, phase 1 of this approach hasn't worked very well, and we've now got another whole level of changes that families are being asked to come to terms with,' Ms Ley said. 'So Prime Minister, you need to get this right. You need to make sure these kids don't fall through the cracks.' Mr Butler said children with moderate development delays and autism receiving NDIS support had ballooned beyond forecast figures, with children under 15 representing nearly half of people entering the scheme. He said the Thriving Kids program would give families support that currently did not exist, leaving parents with 'no alternative' but the NDIS. 'As I said today, it's really been the only port in a storm for parents who are worried about their kid not hitting milestones. We should have an alternative system in place for those parents and for those kids, and that's what I committed to building today a system to support those children to thrive.'
Sky News AU
40 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
‘Victoria is f***ed': Former Premier Jeff Kennett warns as crime, economy and Allan government spiral out of control
The state of Victoria has been pushed past the brink after a spate of shocking crime attacks, record state debt, and out-of-control Labor policies, warns prominent former Premier Jeff Kennett. Victoria is 'f***ed', warns former Premier Jeff Kennett, who laments that over a decade of Labor governance has allowed the state to spiral out of control. Under Labor rule since 2014, the state has suffered a collapsing economy, soaring crime rates and an out-of-touch progressive government. "I don't think people understand. We are f***ed. The economy here is f***ed. People will leave. I simply cannot believe it," Mr Kennett told The Nightly on Thursday. 'For the first time in my life, I am constantly thinking about my personal safety and that of my grandchildren. 'If you ask the community, 'Are you worried about your personal safety?', 80 to 90 per cent say yes. 'If you ask mums 'are you upset about the safety of your children in child-minding centres', 90 per cent say yes." The former Premier's alarm has followed a series of shocking events that have gripped Melbourne, including home invasions, knife crimes and carjacking attempts. Recently, a machete and knife-wielding trio allegedly broke into a home in the leafy suburb of East Kew at 4am, stabbing a father 11 times in the head and face. Another man suffered horrific injuries in a gruesome machete attack, which caused his hand to be nearly cut off. — Brad Battin MP (@BradBattinMP) August 20, 2025 The Allan government's out-of-control spending has also driven the state into the highest levels of debt in the country and the lowest credit rating of any state. The state's net debt is forecast to reach $194 billion by 2029. Meanwhile, Premier Jacinta Allan is attempting to legislate the right to work from home, despite concerns about its impact on economic productivity. The policy has sparked the ire of countless industry experts who insist the plan will severely impact businesses enduring the national cost-of-living crisis. On top of the economic and law-and-order crises, the Allan government has pushed ahead with radical environmental and ideological agendas. Its net zero energy plan has sparked alarm among regional communities, granting state-appointed officers power to enter private land and build infrastructure without consent. The Institute of Public Affairs has warned the policy will destroy productive agricultural land, threaten food security, and impose soaring energy costs on ordinary Victorians. At the same time, Ms Allan has attempted to pursue a state-based Voice to Parliament, ignoring the 54 per cent of Victorians who rejected the federal proposal. The IPA said the plan will enshrine race-based legal distinctions, divide communities, and reward political allies while further alienating mainstream Victorians. Opposition Leader Brad Battin has declared that 'Victorians deserve better' and promised to tackle the reforms needed to restore public safety. 'After 12 years in government, the Jacinta Allan Labor Party has failed to keep Victorians safe at home, on the streets and in their communities,' he said in a statement. 'Only the Liberals & Nationals have a plan to boost police numbers, introduce tougher Break Bail Face Jail laws, and invest in crime prevention to make our communities safe.'
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Premier drops public service speech on LNP donor cash access day
The news Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has dropped a planned keynote speech at a 'building a better public service' summit, but has scheduled time to attend a party event giving LNP donors access to cabinet ministers. Crisafulli had been billed to give the major speech at the day-long summit in Brisbane held by public sector news outlet The Mandarin, a slot now taken by assistant minister Trevor Watts. The premier, and other cabinet ministers, will instead spend time meeting with LNP donors who have paid the party to take part in its Corporate Observers program, also in Brisbane on Thursday. Why it matters The decision by Crisafulli comes amid growing criticisms of his new government's relationship with the public service, despite campaigning on a platform to 'empower' the sector. Cash-for-access events from the major parties have long been sources of controversy. Loading Former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk scrapped – then resumed – support for Labor's version during the last term.
