Ferries, jabs and buses focus on day 10 of state election campaign

The Liberals were hammering home their message on healthcare, Labor stuck to the Spirit ferries and the Greens talked up free public transport on day 10 of the election campaign.

Charlotte, 4, Darcy, 3, Daisy, 6, Daisy, 5, Brooklyn, 6, Lyla, 7, Rosie, 6, Liberal Candidate for Braddon Kate Wylie and Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Ulverstone on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

The Liberals were hammering home their message on healthcare, Labor stuck to the Spirit ferries and the Greens talked up free public transport on day 10 of the 2025 state election campaign on Sunday.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff visited Ulverstone to announce that the Liberals would cover the cost of meningococcal B vaccinations for infants if they’re returned to office next month.

“Meningococcal B is a very serious and dangerous disease,” Mr Rockliff said.

“In fact, infants are 17 times more likely to be infected than the general population, and so when it comes to vaccination and prevention for meningococcal B, I’m very pleased to announce today that we’ll be offering free vaccinations for infants, and that will be a significant encouragement for families, not only in terms of prevention but reducing that cost barrier.

“Meningococcal B vaccination can be up to $300 — that’s a significant expense for families and so it is important that we’re ensuring that we’re getting the message out there about the importance of vaccination.”

The enhanced vaccination program will offer free, early protection to all newborn children from 6 weeks to 12 months and a catch-up immunisation for children over 12 months but under 2 years who have not already completed a course.

The Liberal policy would bring Tasmania into line with other states such as South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Mr Rockliff also said the Spirit of Tasmania IV will start its journey to Tasmania in the next ten days, arriving in around six weeks.

Labor leader Dean Winter has pledged to fuel the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries with locally produced LNG.

Opposition leader Dean Winter on Sunday pledged that a Labor government would fuel the two new Spirit of Tasmania ferries in Devonport with locally produced liquefied natural gas.

Mr Winter said the plan would support jobs, cut emissions and realise the full potential of our new Spirits.

“The dual-fuel Spirits were designed to run on LNG, but the Liberals want to keep them running on dirty diesel,” he said.

“Labor will issue a Ministerial Direction to TT-Line to secure LNG refuelling at Devonport and commit to running the Spirits on LNG.

“The necessary space at the port has already been reserved, and a long-term supply agreement will give operators the confidence to invest.”

Mr Winter said the policy would attract $70m in private investment and create 150 ongoing jobs.

The announcement was welcomed by the gas industry and the local chamber of commerce.

Also on Sunday, the Greens announced they wanted to make public transport free.

“The Greens do want to invest in public transport,” spokeswoman Helen Burnet said.

“We want to increase the frequency of services and make sure that people can get to their everyday activities, including work, school and sport.

“Smart governments invest in public transport,” she said.

“It’s a really simple and relatively inexpensive way of making sure that people get around. It’s really good for the economy as well.”

Originally published as Ferries, jabs and buses focus on day 10 of state election campaign