Polls close in shock state election
Labor's Dean Winter is hoping to unseat Liberal incumbent Jeremy Rockcliff after a shock vote of no-confidence earlier this year.
Mr Rockcliff has held the position of premier since 2022, but faced a no-confidence vote over claims by Mr Winter of rising debt, delayed ferries, and previous privatisation plans.
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Bookies favourite
Despite polls showing the Liberals the likely largest party (although short of a majority) Sportsbet has Labor at $1.43 favourites to be the party sworn into government following today's poll. The Liberals are paying $2.85, with the Greens at $36.00 Liberal premier Jeremy Rockcliff, left, and Labor's Dean Winter. Credit: NewsWire
'Thousands' rally in favour of Macquarie Point Stadium
With the stadium issue dominating both the past state election campaign as well as this one, proponents have organised a march and rally to show their support for the proposal on election day.
An estimated 3000 Tasmanians took to the streets to show their support for the proposed Macquarie Point stadium, with organisers saying the 'silent majority' is finally making its voice heard.
Despite growing opposition from the Greens and most Independents likely to hold the balance of power after tonight's election, both major parties have said they support the stadium which the AFL says is a pre requisite for the Tasmanian Devils team to enter the completion, with the women's team due to enter the AFLW in the 2027 season and the men's in 2028. A pro-stadium rally in Hobart on Saturday as polls close across Tasmania. Facebook Credit: Supplied A pro-stadium rally in Hobart on Saturday as polls close across Tasmania. Facebook Credit: Supplied
Tasmania heads to the polls
Tasmanians are today heading to the polls for the second state election in 16 months, after the state was plunged into political chaos by a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
Saturday's election is the fourth in just over a year for many Tasmanians. The last state election was held in March 2024, voters returned on May 3 for the federal election, and May 24 as a number of legislative council seats were contested.
With key projects on the line, a unique electoral system and the risk of a fifth election for voters in the near future if Saturday's poll does not return a clear result, this election will have major impacts on the state's future.
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'Battery of the nation' undersea power cable at risk
One of the nation's largest energy projects could be in doubt amid a government stoush and a cost blowout. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link undersea power cable project to connect Tasmania to the mainland has been touted as critical to making the island state the "battery of the nation" by increasing its capacity to export green power. The $5.5 billion project is set to be funded by the federal, Tasmanian and Victorian governments. The Tasmanian government's decision on its 17.7 per cent share of the link's Stage 1 cable, initially promised by July 31, has been delayed. Tasmania's Shadow Energy Minister Janie Finlay on Saturday accused Premier Jeremy Rockliff of blocking a briefing from Energy Minister Nick Duigan on the Marinus business case. It had been hoped the briefing would create bipartisan support to secure the project as Tasmania's Liberal government scrambles for survival following the July 19 election. "We are days away from a critical decision on one of Tasmania's largest infrastructure projects," Ms Finlay told reporters. "The business case has been sitting in the premier's office for two months, but Jeremy Rockliff won't let Tasmanians see it. "Not only have they just not briefed Tasmanian Labor, but the premier has stepped in and actively blocked that." Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council chief executive Ray Mostogl said the delay and uncertainty placed the entire project at risk. Marinus Link must "issue notice to proceed" by the end of August or lose a $1.07 billion contract with the Italy-based Prysmian Group to supply the 345km cable. Tasmania's Liberal government is in caretaker mode after the state election delivered another large crossbench, some of whom oppose the Marinus project. Ms Finlay accused the Rockliff government of hiding the Marinus Link business case for political gain because it included significant price impacts to pay for transmission infrastructure. The government has denied Mr Rockliff or his staff blocked a briefing, saying the opposition would be briefed in line with caretaker conventions. "We are carefully and methodically working through the details, with a decision expected soon," Mr Duigan said. The undersea electricity and data connector would link Tasmania's northwest with Victoria's Latrobe Valley and allow the smaller state to import surplus solar while exporting hydropower to the mainland grid, where it could help reduce the risk of brownouts. The project was scaled back in September 2023 after the cost of two cables blew out by $1.7 billion to an estimated $5.5 billion. Under the plan, Victoria has a 33.3 per cent share and Tasmania 17.7 per cent, with an option to sell its stake to the Commonwealth on completion. Marinus Link has been touted as a critical component in making Tasmania the "battery" of the nation by increasing the island's capacity to export green power and allow excess energy generated on the mainland to be stored in Tasmania's hydro storage. The first stage is not slated to be finished until 2028/29. One of the nation's largest energy projects could be in doubt amid a government stoush and a cost blowout. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link undersea power cable project to connect Tasmania to the mainland has been touted as critical to making the island state the "battery of the nation" by increasing its capacity to export green power. The $5.5 billion project is set to be funded by the federal, Tasmanian and Victorian governments. The Tasmanian government's decision on its 17.7 per cent share of the link's Stage 1 cable, initially promised by July 31, has been delayed. Tasmania's Shadow Energy Minister Janie Finlay on Saturday accused Premier Jeremy Rockliff of blocking a briefing from Energy Minister Nick Duigan on the Marinus business case. It had been hoped the briefing would create bipartisan support to secure the project as Tasmania's Liberal government scrambles for survival following the July 19 election. "We are days away from a critical decision on one of Tasmania's largest infrastructure projects," Ms Finlay told reporters. "The business case has been sitting in the premier's office for two months, but Jeremy Rockliff won't let Tasmanians see it. "Not only have they just not briefed Tasmanian Labor, but the premier has stepped in and actively blocked that." Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council chief executive Ray Mostogl said the delay and uncertainty placed the entire project at risk. Marinus Link must "issue notice to proceed" by the end of August or lose a $1.07 billion contract with the Italy-based Prysmian Group to supply the 345km cable. Tasmania's Liberal government is in caretaker mode after the state election delivered another large crossbench, some of whom oppose the Marinus project. Ms Finlay accused the Rockliff government of hiding the Marinus Link business case for political gain because it included significant price impacts to pay for transmission infrastructure. The government has denied Mr Rockliff or his staff blocked a briefing, saying the opposition would be briefed in line with caretaker conventions. "We are carefully and methodically working through the details, with a decision expected soon," Mr Duigan said. The undersea electricity and data connector would link Tasmania's northwest with Victoria's Latrobe Valley and allow the smaller state to import surplus solar while exporting hydropower to the mainland grid, where it could help reduce the risk of brownouts. The project was scaled back in September 2023 after the cost of two cables blew out by $1.7 billion to an estimated $5.5 billion. Under the plan, Victoria has a 33.3 per cent share and Tasmania 17.7 per cent, with an option to sell its stake to the Commonwealth on completion. Marinus Link has been touted as a critical component in making Tasmania the "battery" of the nation by increasing the island's capacity to export green power and allow excess energy generated on the mainland to be stored in Tasmania's hydro storage. The first stage is not slated to be finished until 2028/29. One of the nation's largest energy projects could be in doubt amid a government stoush and a cost blowout. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link undersea power cable project to connect Tasmania to the mainland has been touted as critical to making the island state the "battery of the nation" by increasing its capacity to export green power. The $5.5 billion project is set to be funded by the federal, Tasmanian and Victorian governments. The Tasmanian government's decision on its 17.7 per cent share of the link's Stage 1 cable, initially promised by July 31, has been delayed. Tasmania's Shadow Energy Minister Janie Finlay on Saturday accused Premier Jeremy Rockliff of blocking a briefing from Energy Minister Nick Duigan on the Marinus business case. It had been hoped the briefing would create bipartisan support to secure the project as Tasmania's Liberal government scrambles for survival following the July 19 election. "We are days away from a critical decision on one of Tasmania's largest infrastructure projects," Ms Finlay told reporters. "The business case has been sitting in the premier's office for two months, but Jeremy Rockliff won't let Tasmanians see it. "Not only have they just not briefed Tasmanian Labor, but the premier has stepped in and actively blocked that." Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council chief executive Ray Mostogl said the delay and uncertainty placed the entire project at risk. Marinus Link must "issue notice to proceed" by the end of August or lose a $1.07 billion contract with the Italy-based Prysmian Group to supply the 345km cable. Tasmania's Liberal government is in caretaker mode after the state election delivered another large crossbench, some of whom oppose the Marinus project. Ms Finlay accused the Rockliff government of hiding the Marinus Link business case for political gain because it included significant price impacts to pay for transmission infrastructure. The government has denied Mr Rockliff or his staff blocked a briefing, saying the opposition would be briefed in line with caretaker conventions. "We are carefully and methodically working through the details, with a decision expected soon," Mr Duigan said. The undersea electricity and data connector would link Tasmania's northwest with Victoria's Latrobe Valley and allow the smaller state to import surplus solar while exporting hydropower to the mainland grid, where it could help reduce the risk of brownouts. The project was scaled back in September 2023 after the cost of two cables blew out by $1.7 billion to an estimated $5.5 billion. Under the plan, Victoria has a 33.3 per cent share and Tasmania 17.7 per cent, with an option to sell its stake to the Commonwealth on completion. Marinus Link has been touted as a critical component in making Tasmania the "battery" of the nation by increasing the island's capacity to export green power and allow excess energy generated on the mainland to be stored in Tasmania's hydro storage. The first stage is not slated to be finished until 2028/29. One of the nation's largest energy projects could be in doubt amid a government stoush and a cost blowout. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link undersea power cable project to connect Tasmania to the mainland has been touted as critical to making the island state the "battery of the nation" by increasing its capacity to export green power. The $5.5 billion project is set to be funded by the federal, Tasmanian and Victorian governments. The Tasmanian government's decision on its 17.7 per cent share of the link's Stage 1 cable, initially promised by July 31, has been delayed. Tasmania's Shadow Energy Minister Janie Finlay on Saturday accused Premier Jeremy Rockliff of blocking a briefing from Energy Minister Nick Duigan on the Marinus business case. It had been hoped the briefing would create bipartisan support to secure the project as Tasmania's Liberal government scrambles for survival following the July 19 election. "We are days away from a critical decision on one of Tasmania's largest infrastructure projects," Ms Finlay told reporters. "The business case has been sitting in the premier's office for two months, but Jeremy Rockliff won't let Tasmanians see it. "Not only have they just not briefed Tasmanian Labor, but the premier has stepped in and actively blocked that." Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council chief executive Ray Mostogl said the delay and uncertainty placed the entire project at risk. Marinus Link must "issue notice to proceed" by the end of August or lose a $1.07 billion contract with the Italy-based Prysmian Group to supply the 345km cable. Tasmania's Liberal government is in caretaker mode after the state election delivered another large crossbench, some of whom oppose the Marinus project. Ms Finlay accused the Rockliff government of hiding the Marinus Link business case for political gain because it included significant price impacts to pay for transmission infrastructure. The government has denied Mr Rockliff or his staff blocked a briefing, saying the opposition would be briefed in line with caretaker conventions. "We are carefully and methodically working through the details, with a decision expected soon," Mr Duigan said. The undersea electricity and data connector would link Tasmania's northwest with Victoria's Latrobe Valley and allow the smaller state to import surplus solar while exporting hydropower to the mainland grid, where it could help reduce the risk of brownouts. The project was scaled back in September 2023 after the cost of two cables blew out by $1.7 billion to an estimated $5.5 billion. Under the plan, Victoria has a 33.3 per cent share and Tasmania 17.7 per cent, with an option to sell its stake to the Commonwealth on completion. Marinus Link has been touted as a critical component in making Tasmania the "battery" of the nation by increasing the island's capacity to export green power and allow excess energy generated on the mainland to be stored in Tasmania's hydro storage. The first stage is not slated to be finished until 2028/29.
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‘The opposite happened': Economic roundtable could dissuade Australians from investing
LNP Senator James McGrath discusses Labor's economic reform roundtable, urging that it will dissuade Australians from investing in the 'productive part of the economy'. 'What the Labor Party doesn't realise is that if people start to cotton on to the fact that Labor is going to come after the money they've worked so hard for, people will no longer invest in the productive part of the economy,' Mr McGrath told Sky News host Steve Price. 'You only have to look at what's happening in the UK at the moment, with the Labour Party there, taxing what's called 'non-doms'. 'They thought they were going to bring billions of pounds of revenue … the opposite happened.'
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‘Australians should be worried': Labor's economic reform roundtable is ‘bonkers'
LNP Senator James McGrath discusses how Australians should be worried about Labor's economic reform roundtable, saying it is 'bonkers' and will only produce 'hair-brained ideas'. 'Australians should be worried,' Mr McGrath told Sky News host Steve Price. 'Those who own their own homes, are of pensionable age, should be worried about organisations, so-called think-tanks, like the Grattan Institute coming up with quite frankly hair-brained ideas like this. 'This is bonkers.'
