Tasmanians are casting their votes today in an election prompted by a significant vote of no confidence against Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Polling stations across the state opened at 8am and will close at 6pm, with the counting of votes expected to begin shortly after.
Voters face a choice between re-electing Rockliff, who has been in office since 2022, or opting for Labor Leader Dean Winter. The election comes after Winter initiated a no-confidence motion based on concerns over rising state debt, delays in ferry services, and past proposals to privatise public assets, which he argues have rendered Rockliff’s leadership unsustainable.
In May, the Liberal government’s budget projected that Tasmania’s debt could balloon to nearly $11 billion by the end of the decade. Following the passage of the no-confidence motion, Rockliff opted to continue governing rather than stepping down, leading to this election—the second in just over a year. He expressed his reluctance for another election, stating, “Another election is not what I wanted, and I know that it’s not what Tasmanians wanted… But it was forced upon us by the leader of the Opposition.”
Governor Barbara Baker approved the parliamentary dissolution, emphasising the lack of potential for an alternative government formation, despite public sentiment against the costs associated with another election. Tasmania has experienced considerable political instability, with four elections held within seven years.
Previously, Rockliff called for an early election last year in a bid to restore a majority after two members of his party departed to sit as independents. Although he experienced a 12 per cent swing against him in that election, he managed to secure more seats than Labor, resulting in a hung parliament. Rockliff subsequently formed a government in alliance with three members from the Jacqui Lambie Network after Labour’s then-leader Rebecca White resigned following her party’s third consecutive defeat.
As Tasmania gears up for this crucial election, there are growing concerns about how ongoing political turbulence might affect plans for the state’s new AFL team, set to commence in the league in 2028. With the Liberals having dominated Tasmanian politics since 2014, the recent vote of no confidence presents a potentially pivotal moment for Labor, as both Rockliff and Winter prepare to prove their capabilities in this high-stakes contest.