2022 federal election: ALP campaign review says plan needed to fix Tasmanian Labor issues

A review of Labor’s federal election campaign has revealed the party’s continuing underperformance in Tasmania as something they must fix if it is to remain in power beyond 2025.

Labor’s review of its 2022 federal election campaign has found that “perceptions” of “disunity” contributed to the party’s poor performance in Tasmania and a plan must be developed to improve its electoral prospects across the state.

Despite the ALP emerging victorious on May 21 after nine years in the political wilderness, its primary vote fell to its lowest level since 1934, with Tasmania being the only state in which Labor suffered a swing against it (-6.4 per cent).

The party did not win any additional seats but Julie Collins and Brian Mitchell retained Franklin and Lyons, respectively.

Anthony Albanese Federal Labor leader with Julie Collins member for Franklin, Brian Mitchell member for Lyons, Janie Finlay Labor state member for Bass and state member for Franklin David O'Byrne at Tasmanian Labor’s state election campaign launch at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in 2021. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Released on Monday, the review – conducted by party elders Greg Combet, Lenda Oshalem, Craig Emerson and Linda White – concluded that former prime minister Scott Morrison’s unpopularity was the biggest contributing factor to the ALP’s victory.

But the 60-page document cautioned against “complacency”, saying the difficulties facing the Coalition should not stop Labor from addressing problems on its own side.

Among those problems, according to the review, was the party’s declining support in Tasmania.

“Less favourable perceptions of Labor at a state level, which were associated with the perceived frequency of leadership changes, disunity, and a lack of awareness of Labor’s federal candidates, concerned voters enough for them to stick with the Liberal Party,” the review said.

It comes after Tasmanian Labor lost a third consecutive state election in 2021, amid tensions between the left and right factions.

The ALP National Executive launched an intervention into the Tasmanian branch in July this year, following a review of the state election campaign and branch governance. Former senators Doug Cameron and Nick Sherry were installed as administrators.

Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White, retired senators Doug Cameron, Nick Sherry and Senator Carol Brown at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

The federal election review determined that the intervention was “critical” and stressed “the importance of building campaign capacity [in Tasmania] over the coming years”.

“A culture of discipline and collaboration should be forged to bolster Labor’s chances at the next federal election,” the review said.

Tasmanian Labor senator Carol Brown said the state branch was “ready” for the next election and that the various arms of the party had been “working in concert since the intervention, putting in place all of the recommendations”.

Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White said “a lot has changed” since the party lost the 2021 state election.

“We have a committed and energetic team that is holding a struggling and tired government with the wrong priorities to account,” she said.

“Our focus has always been on making the lives of Tasmanians better and we will continue to work hard to do that.”

Originally published as 2022 federal election: ALP campaign review says plan needed to fix Tasmanian Labor issues