TRANSCRIPT
Australia's smallest state is facing a very big election.
Tasmania will go to the polls on the 23rd of March- more than one year earlier than scheduled.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff getting permission from Governor Barbara Baker for the early election twelve days after he first threatened it, and one day after meeting his colleagues about the idea, for which he says he received total support.
Australia's only conservative government is seeking a fresh mandate, after the last one was ruptured by internal dissent.
The Tasmanian Liberal Party has been in minority government since last May when two of their M-Ps, Lara Alexander and John Tucker, left the party over funding for the proposed stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart to house the forthcoming Tasmanian team in the A-F-L.
They'd been sitting on the crossbench and providing confidence votes for the government since then, but that agreement has now broken down.
They didn't agree to the details of Mr Rockliff's proposal for a new one, prompting Mr Rockliff to seek the early election.
He's accusing Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander of trying to hold his government to ransom, and making parliament unworkable.
Mr Rockliff says all that will be cleared up if Tasmanians re-elect his government on the 23rd of March.
In officially announcing the early election, he's sought to cast his party as better on the economy, and thus, better able to provide what Tasmanians need from their government.
"We will govern alone, or not at all. And we will not do a deal with the Greens. I want to be very, very clear about that. There will be no deals with the Greens. We are poles apart. They're the job-destroying party. We create jobs. We create wealth. We fund those essential services. And we've seen the result of Labor-Green deals."
Ms Alexander says she'll run as independent at this election.
Currently, the Liberal Party holds 11 of the 25 lower-house seats in Tasmania.
The Labor Party holds eight.
The Greens hold two.
And independents - including Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander- hold the other four.
Complicating the situation here is the fact the Tasmanian lower house will be expanding at this election, from 25 to 35 seats.
What's more, polling is tipping neither the Liberals nor Labor can achieve a majority.
But Mr Rockliff insists the present situation isn't his fault.
He claims the Liberals can get a majority- and says they're the only ones who can get a majority.
"We had two members that left our party. They were elected in majority government in 2021. I'm seeking an election in 2024 for majority government. We're the only party that can achieve majority government. And we will deliver."
Unsurprisingly, Opposition Leader Rebecca White doubts that.
The Labor Party leader says the early election is a result of the incompetence of her Liberal opponents.
"It'll be the third election campaign in six years for Tasmanians, who've been sent to the polls again by a Liberal government that's failed to deliver stability, and failed to deliver on its promises to the Tasmanian people. I'm very excited about our Labor team, and our plan for this state. Our plan to make sure we tackle cost of living. To cap and cut energy prices for Tasmanian households. To repair our health system. And to set Tasmania up for a better future. It's time for a change of government in this state."
41-year-old Ms White, born in Hobart, and a sixth-generation Tasmanian, is in her second stint as Labor Party leader.
She led the party to defeat in each of the last two elections- 2018 and 2021.
She resigned as leader after the 2021 election- only to return to the role shortly afterwards when her successor, David O'Byrne [[[o burn]], had to quit just three weeks into the role over sexual harassment allegations.
54-year-old Mr Rockliff is also a lifelong Tasmanian, born in Devonport, and from a family that has farmed at Sassafras, in the state's north, since the 1850s.
He is looking to lead the Liberals to a fourth consecutive term in government- but he's the third Liberal Party premier in that time.
Mr Rockliff became premier in April of 2022 after Peter Gutwein retired mid-way through his term.
Mr Gutwein himself became premier in early 2020 after Will Hodgman retired halfway through a term.
Ms White is seeking to gain traction from that theme, saying a vote for Mr Rockliff in 2024 might end up being a vote for his deputy.
"Tasmanians were asked to vote for Will Hodgman, and then they got Peter Gutwein. And then they were asked to vote for Peter Gutwein, and they got Jeremy Rockliff. They're now being asked to vote for Jeremy Rockliff. Will they get Michael Ferguson? There's not been stability and certainty provided by this Liberal govenrment over the last ten years."
