Australia reacts to Tasmanian political upheaval throwing AFL team, stadium, budget into doubt

Australia Broadcast Center

a day ago

The toppling of Tasmania's premier has drawn strong reactions from across Australia. Some are calling it a "fiasco" while others say the turmoil has turned the state into the nation's "laughing stock".
"Tasmania is always a controversial state, immature politicians, not well-informed people," one observer wrote as the no-confidence motion in Jeremy Rockliff played out live on Thursday.
"We left Tasmania 12 months ago just because of the incompetent bunch of people running the state," another said.
With Tasmanians now facing the prospect of an election being called as early as next week — despite electing the Rockliff Liberals as recently as March last year — the upheaval has shone an unforgiving spotlight on the smallest state.
Here is what members of the public and political experts have made of what has unfolded.
The spectre of yet another trip to the ballot box — the fourth in seven years — has not been welcomed by many observers, with one describing it as "a clown show".
"An utter garbage abuse of power from Labor and the Greens … the last thing anyone wants is another costly election," PoliticalNuffy wrote.
"You would think that many of these elected folk are anti their own state," said Clive.
"The no-alition soon found out that this type of rubbish is not in Australia's best interests. Landslide loss. So the wise ones in Tasmania are perpetuating the same mistakes."
"A lot of what is going on here would be resolved if Tasmania had a more normal structure with a majoritarian lower house and a proportional upper house," Nicholas offered.
Tasmanian Policy Exchange director Richard Eccleston said Labor may have misjudged Mr Rockliff's willingness to fight on.
"I think Labor was hoping that it would lead to a change in leadership of the Liberal party," Dr Ecclestone said.
"Perhaps the most significant thing that became crystal clear yesterday was the premier's commitment to stay on as leader of the Liberal party and to fight an election campaign.
Mr Rockliff may be well known to voters — but, in the minds of some, for the wrong reasons.
"Rockliff is holding the state to ransom for a vanity project that will cost us all in the long run," Jason said.
Opposition Leader Dean Winter and Labor did not escape the vitriol either.
"All Labor seem to be doing is proving they would be no better than the current degenerate rabble," Tim said.
"Where is Labor's alternative budget? How can they say with a straight face that the Liberals are bringing Tasmania to financial ruin when they have not produced an alternative," asked Tracy.
Kevin invoked the Game of Thrones terminology:
Bob was similarly unimpressed:
"Not entirely sure what Winter is doing here. Does he seriously believe Labor would win a majority on its own if another election is held? Even the Liberals couldn't do that," he said.
"Seems a bit delusional."
Former Liberal premier Will Hodgman, was scathing in a post to X:
Mr Winter's assertion he did what he did because the premier had "wrecked" the state's debt position did not fly with many.
"We are a laughing stock of our country, all because of a budget?" asked Jez.
Others wondered what alternatives Labor would have presented.
"Can somebody please share the alternate plan and budget that should have been presented this week by the opposition?" queried Phil.
"There's no question the Rockliff govt's 2025-26 budget is an epic mess, but to throw the state into an unprecedented depth of uncertainty is not smart. I fear Winter has spectacularly miscalculated," said Ryan.
Niko wanted to know "how on earth is blowing a billion dollars on a stadium supposed to make young people want to stay in the state"?
Speaking of the stadium, the looming election has resulted in speculation the state's AFL team — the existence of which is conditional on the building of the arena at Macquarie Point — won't happen.
That has not gone down well at all.
"For too long Tasmania has been treated like poor cousins and now we are being treated like complete fools," said Chris.
"If this stadium fails there will be an exodus of young people … Tassie loses the young already due to bigger opportunities elsewhere, this will change little," wrote Garry.
And then there is the Spirit of Tasmania "fiasco", as Graeme pointed out.
"Rockliff has shown how incompetent he is, as demonstrated by the TT Line and TasPorts fiascos."
Oliver also used the F-word:
Ruth asked, "can we stop amplifying the importance of the stadium?"
"A whole state's future is at stake here, for example, how we afford to deliver the education and health services needed.
Former premier Peter Gutwein yesterday told ABC Radio Mornings removing Mr Rockliff as premier could lead to "catastrophic outcomes" such as investments stalling.
"That uncertainty, especially if the stadium and the team don't go ahead, will lead to a view from the mainland and investors within Tasmania that you just simply cannot trust the state of Tasmania to carry through on decisions," Mr Gutwein said.
One ABC audience member agreed, saying projects like the stadium were "vital to the future economic growth of Tasmania" and would "unlock massive opportunities not just for the AFL team but for business, tourism, hospitality and beyond".
"That said, this current parliament couldn't organise its way out of a paper bag."