Minority premier takes campaign crack at independents
Tasmania's Liberal premier has taken a swipe at "single-issue" independents as he attempts to turn voters away from another minority government scenario.
The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, the second time in two years, after its parliament passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June.
The Liberals have governed in minority since 2023, and collapsing relationships with the crossbench have triggered the past two elections.
Opinion polls show the Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required for majority.
The Liberals held their official campaign launch at a car dealership in Launceston on Sunday.
"I know many Tasmanians feel good about voting for an independent. But look at how it's worked out," Mr Rockliff told party faithful.
"Despite our very best efforts, because of political games played by Labor, the Greens and some independents, it has been a recipe for instability and uncertainty.
"Independents, especially those single-issue independents, are not the answer. They are threatening the very future of our state.
"They will continue to create uncertainty. And hurl us straight back to where we have been."
The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff was passed with the votes of Labor, the Greens and three crossbenchers.
According to polling in May, Labor has the support of 31 per cent of voters, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent split between minor parties, independents and "other".
Incumbent independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to vote for the no-confidence motion, has the backing of notable federal independent Andrew Wilkie.
Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave sitting Labor MP Julie Collins a run at the federal election in May, is having a tilt at state parliament.
The Nationals are seeking to capitalise on anti-major party sentiment by running candidates including former Liberal John Tucker.
Mr Tucker quit the Liberals to sit on the crossbench in 2023, plunging the government into minority.
He campaigned outside the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston on Saturday with a truck emblazoned with the Nationals' opposition to a new stadium in Hobart.
Construction of the stadium, supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by some minor parties and independents, is a condition of Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028.
Mr Rockliff used the Liberal campaign rally to announce a $240 million investment to deliver 250 more hospital beds.
The campaign has been bereft of major funding announcements, with the state's growing debt under the Liberals a major reason for the no-confidence motion.
Labor leader Dean Winter has spruiked a plan to find $1 billion in budget savings and establish a budget repair round table.
The state's chamber of commerce and industry on Sunday threw its support behind the round table idea.
"(Their) support reflects a growing consensus ... that we can't continue to ignore the crisis created by the Liberals," Mr Winter said.
Tasmania's Liberal premier has taken a swipe at "single-issue" independents as he attempts to turn voters away from another minority government scenario.
The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, the second time in two years, after its parliament passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June.
The Liberals have governed in minority since 2023, and collapsing relationships with the crossbench have triggered the past two elections.
Opinion polls show the Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required for majority.
The Liberals held their official campaign launch at a car dealership in Launceston on Sunday.
"I know many Tasmanians feel good about voting for an independent. But look at how it's worked out," Mr Rockliff told party faithful.
"Despite our very best efforts, because of political games played by Labor, the Greens and some independents, it has been a recipe for instability and uncertainty.
"Independents, especially those single-issue independents, are not the answer. They are threatening the very future of our state.
"They will continue to create uncertainty. And hurl us straight back to where we have been."
The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff was passed with the votes of Labor, the Greens and three crossbenchers.
According to polling in May, Labor has the support of 31 per cent of voters, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent split between minor parties, independents and "other".
Incumbent independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to vote for the no-confidence motion, has the backing of notable federal independent Andrew Wilkie.
Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave sitting Labor MP Julie Collins a run at the federal election in May, is having a tilt at state parliament.
The Nationals are seeking to capitalise on anti-major party sentiment by running candidates including former Liberal John Tucker.
Mr Tucker quit the Liberals to sit on the crossbench in 2023, plunging the government into minority.
He campaigned outside the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston on Saturday with a truck emblazoned with the Nationals' opposition to a new stadium in Hobart.
Construction of the stadium, supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by some minor parties and independents, is a condition of Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028.
Mr Rockliff used the Liberal campaign rally to announce a $240 million investment to deliver 250 more hospital beds.
The campaign has been bereft of major funding announcements, with the state's growing debt under the Liberals a major reason for the no-confidence motion.
Labor leader Dean Winter has spruiked a plan to find $1 billion in budget savings and establish a budget repair round table.
The state's chamber of commerce and industry on Sunday threw its support behind the round table idea.
"(Their) support reflects a growing consensus ... that we can't continue to ignore the crisis created by the Liberals," Mr Winter said.
Tasmania's Liberal premier has taken a swipe at "single-issue" independents as he attempts to turn voters away from another minority government scenario.
The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, the second time in two years, after its parliament passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June.
The Liberals have governed in minority since 2023, and collapsing relationships with the crossbench have triggered the past two elections.
Opinion polls show the Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required for majority.
The Liberals held their official campaign launch at a car dealership in Launceston on Sunday.
"I know many Tasmanians feel good about voting for an independent. But look at how it's worked out," Mr Rockliff told party faithful.
"Despite our very best efforts, because of political games played by Labor, the Greens and some independents, it has been a recipe for instability and uncertainty.
"Independents, especially those single-issue independents, are not the answer. They are threatening the very future of our state.
"They will continue to create uncertainty. And hurl us straight back to where we have been."
The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff was passed with the votes of Labor, the Greens and three crossbenchers.
According to polling in May, Labor has the support of 31 per cent of voters, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent split between minor parties, independents and "other".
Incumbent independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to vote for the no-confidence motion, has the backing of notable federal independent Andrew Wilkie.
Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave sitting Labor MP Julie Collins a run at the federal election in May, is having a tilt at state parliament.
The Nationals are seeking to capitalise on anti-major party sentiment by running candidates including former Liberal John Tucker.
Mr Tucker quit the Liberals to sit on the crossbench in 2023, plunging the government into minority.
He campaigned outside the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston on Saturday with a truck emblazoned with the Nationals' opposition to a new stadium in Hobart.
Construction of the stadium, supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by some minor parties and independents, is a condition of Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028.
Mr Rockliff used the Liberal campaign rally to announce a $240 million investment to deliver 250 more hospital beds.
The campaign has been bereft of major funding announcements, with the state's growing debt under the Liberals a major reason for the no-confidence motion.
Labor leader Dean Winter has spruiked a plan to find $1 billion in budget savings and establish a budget repair round table.
The state's chamber of commerce and industry on Sunday threw its support behind the round table idea.
"(Their) support reflects a growing consensus ... that we can't continue to ignore the crisis created by the Liberals," Mr Winter said.
Tasmania's Liberal premier has taken a swipe at "single-issue" independents as he attempts to turn voters away from another minority government scenario.
The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, the second time in two years, after its parliament passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June.
The Liberals have governed in minority since 2023, and collapsing relationships with the crossbench have triggered the past two elections.
Opinion polls show the Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required for majority.
The Liberals held their official campaign launch at a car dealership in Launceston on Sunday.
"I know many Tasmanians feel good about voting for an independent. But look at how it's worked out," Mr Rockliff told party faithful.
"Despite our very best efforts, because of political games played by Labor, the Greens and some independents, it has been a recipe for instability and uncertainty.
"Independents, especially those single-issue independents, are not the answer. They are threatening the very future of our state.
"They will continue to create uncertainty. And hurl us straight back to where we have been."
The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff was passed with the votes of Labor, the Greens and three crossbenchers.
According to polling in May, Labor has the support of 31 per cent of voters, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent split between minor parties, independents and "other".
Incumbent independent Kristie Johnston, one of the three crossbenchers to vote for the no-confidence motion, has the backing of notable federal independent Andrew Wilkie.
Anti-salmon campaigner Peter George, who gave sitting Labor MP Julie Collins a run at the federal election in May, is having a tilt at state parliament.
The Nationals are seeking to capitalise on anti-major party sentiment by running candidates including former Liberal John Tucker.
Mr Tucker quit the Liberals to sit on the crossbench in 2023, plunging the government into minority.
He campaigned outside the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston on Saturday with a truck emblazoned with the Nationals' opposition to a new stadium in Hobart.
Construction of the stadium, supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by some minor parties and independents, is a condition of Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028.
Mr Rockliff used the Liberal campaign rally to announce a $240 million investment to deliver 250 more hospital beds.
The campaign has been bereft of major funding announcements, with the state's growing debt under the Liberals a major reason for the no-confidence motion.
Labor leader Dean Winter has spruiked a plan to find $1 billion in budget savings and establish a budget repair round table.
The state's chamber of commerce and industry on Sunday threw its support behind the round table idea.
"(Their) support reflects a growing consensus ... that we can't continue to ignore the crisis created by the Liberals," Mr Winter said.
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