New Bass MP Jess Teesdale says she’s here for her electorate

A Labor landslide in Tasmania has flipped the seat of Bass to newcomer Jess Teesdale, teacher for 14 years and Launceston native. Meet the teacher who took the seat from Bridget Archer.

LAUNCESTON, TASMANIA, NewsWire Photos. 3 MAY, 2025. Jess Teesdale, Labor candidate for the Northern Tasmanian seat of Bass, speaks to the party faithful at the Launceston Rugby Club after the results for the seat of Bass come in. Picture: NewsWire/ Scott Gelston

Having unseated and flipped the Northern Tasmanian seat of Bass, Jess Teesdale now faces her next challenge, being a member of parliament in the Australian government.

Ms Teesdale is entering politics after teaching for 14 years — most recently at Launceston’s Indie School — and says those skills will come in handy.

“Teaching is an incredible start to politics, I think teachers have to be across so many things at once and they have to take on a lot of information at a time,” she said.

“I think that’s exactly what we’ve done throughout this whole campaign. We have been learning very, very fast, speaking to lots of people and really showing people that we care. We do genuinely care, and we are here for you.”

Ms Teesdale will join the sea of red that swept the state and country, including Rebecca White, Julie Collins and Anne Urquhart.

She said she was excited to work with her fellow federal colleagues.

“It’s going to be incredible to work with such passionate, strong and fierce women,” Ms Teesdale said.

Labor federal member for Bass Jess Teesdale the morning after election day. Picture: Alison Foletta

“I’ve got a lot to learn in this space, obviously, coming into it for the first time, and I can’t think of a better group of women to do that with.”

Along with healthcare and housing, education was obviously a huge driver for Ms Teesdale.

“The fact that we’re looking at education as a whole of life aspect is incredible and we’re so excited to get to work in this space,” she said.

On Saturday night, Ms Teesdale said she spoke with outgoing Bass member Bridget Archer.

“Bridget did call me to congratulate me last night, and I was very grateful for that ‘cause she was very gracious, and I’m very grateful for the work that she did for us,” she said.

Ms Teesdale said she was ready to roll her sleeves up for her electorate.

“So as the representative for Bass, what an exciting phrase to say, what we really want people to know is that we are here,” she said.

“We are here for you to come and talk to us. We want to hear the issues that matter most to you, and we’re here to work for you.”

Originally published as New Bass MP Jess Teesdale says she’s here for her electorate