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.
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Liberals turn to ex-federal politicians for snap poll
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.
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Stadium, ships and stability — parties make first pitch in Tasmanian election nobody wanted
Following a week of political mudslinging, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor leader Dean Winter say they will attempt to project a "positive" image for the state in the freshly-started election campaign. On the first day of the campaign yesterday, both major parties started making pitches to voters ahead of the July 19 election. Mr Rockliff appeared on Thursday alongside his Bass candidates at Legana, an outer suburb of Launceston. The Liberals have only one change to the seven candidates who ran at the last election, with former federal Bass MP Bridget Archer now running. Spending much of last week attacking Mr Winter by calling him a "wrecker", Mr Rockliff started the campaign taking a different tack. "I'll be focusing in a positive frame of mind," he said. Standing next to the new Legana Primary School, Mr Rockliff said the Liberals were also building new roads and updating hospitals. "We will be making new announcements which I'll be working [through] with our candidates and with our community and have a very clear plan for Tasmania." The Liberals are expected to announce former Braddon MP Gavin Pearce and former senator Stephen Parry as candidates for Braddon today. The election followed a successful no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff, moved by Mr Winter last week. The no-confidence motion focused on the state's budgetary position, potential privatisation of state-owned companies, and the bungled rollout of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels. On the first day of the campaign, Mr Winter honed in on the Spirits saga. "Who could possibly believe that you could have a premier of this state who was buying a billion dollars' worth of new ships, and then forgot to build a berth for them to actually operate from? "It's something from a comedy act." Mr Rockliff said the government had been accountable — the Spirits' rollout led to former infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson resigning from the cabinet. Labor went to the last election under previous leader Rebecca White, who has since won the federal seat of Lyons. It means the party is expected to have a range of new policies under Mr Winter, which he had originally intended to release in the second half of the year. Mr Winter said he wanted Tasmania to be "a place where things actually get done". "I want rents to stop going up by so much. "I want this to be a place where hospitals are actually accessible, where you can go to school and get an education in Tasmania that's just as good as the mainland." The Tasmanian Greens appeared outside the historic Goods Shed at Macquarie Point, which is slated to be relocated as part of plans for a proposed stadium. The Greens oppose any new stadium in Hobart, contrary to the positions of the Liberals and Labor. Polling in February by EMRS — which is owned by Font PR, a firm with Liberal links — showed 59 per cent oppose the stadium while 36 per cent support it. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the election was an opportunity for those opposed to the stadium to make their voices heard. "Whether it's a referendum or not, we know people in their droves will be voting against any party or individual who supports that stadium," she said. "Both Jeremy Rockliff's Liberals and Dean Winter's Labor have shown they are incapable of shifting their views despite poll after poll after poll showing Tasmanians hate a stadium. "What will it take? What it will take — we've found now — is an election."
