Every minute the Premier spends thinking about issuing ultimatums to save his own skin is a minute he’s not thinking about doing his real job, like helping Tasmanians with the cost of living.
After spending the last nine months saying there wouldn’t be an early election – yesterday the Premier revealed that he was doing his level best to manufacture a situation where he could get away with calling one.
Mr Rockliff’s intentions are clear – he wants to be able to call an election to get himself out the mess he’s created and blame the chaos and uncertainty on someone else.
But what Tasmanians really need from a Premier is someone who is focused on addressing major issues like health, housing and the cost-of-living.
Labor has introduced a range of policies to help Tasmanians, like capping power prices, expanding child care and boosting the capacity of our regional hospitals.
On the other hand, after 10 years in power Rockliff’s Liberals are all over the shop, and Tasmanians are paying the price.
The one person who can stop this chaos is the Premier. He should either call an election date today, or commit to going a full term and end the madness once and for all.
“No early election” – a timeline
12 May, 2023 – Rockliff Liberal Government thrown into minority by the defection of John Tucker and Lara Alexander – Rockliff immediately rules out early election
- “That means reaching across the parliament to all members, and ensuring that we all have that collective responsibility to govern in the best interests of all Tasmanians and put aside any petty differences and focus on the real game…” Mr Rockliff said at the time.
6 July – Acting Premier Michael Ferguson issues a media release in response to growing speculation
- “The Government has been clear: there’s no early election. The business community has been clear – baseless talk of early elections is bad for confidence and bad for business,” he said.
17 July – Premier backs down on forced council amalgamations – denies it is a ploy to keep voters on side ahead of an early election.
- “There will be no early election,” he said
18 July – in response to child sex abuse whistleblower concerns an early election was on the cards:
- “there will not be an early election,” he said.
21 July – Rockliff’s CEDA State of the State speech:
- “Before I conclude, and I want to be blunt about this – I will not be calling an early election.
- The only way there will be an early election will be if Labor and the Greens decide to once again team up and put their own political self-interest ahead of the interests of the state.”
3 October – Elise Archer close to bringing down the government
- “It’s not my intention to go to an early election. There’s too much to do,” Mr ROckliff says
19 December – Advocate article headline: Resolute Rockliff; Rockliff’s promise; Tasmanians will not be going to polls in 2024
“There is no reason to go to an election early despite the minority government situation,” Mr Rockliff said.
30 December – Mr Rockliff tells the Mercury Tasmanians should not expect to go to the polls in 2024 and that the Liberal Party intends to serve a full term.
- “That’s not in Tasmanians’ interest, frankly.”
2 February, 2024 – Mr Rockliff issues his latest ultimatum – greatly increasing the chances of an early election
Josh Willie MLC
Labor Member for Elwick
