Tasmania State Election 2024: Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor Leader Rebecca White to face off at Sky News/ Mercury People’s Forum

Tasmania’s political leaders will face off just three days out from the March 23 state election in front of room full of undecided voters. How you can watch >>

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff will face off against Opposition Leader Rebecca White in the Sky News/Mercury People's Forum ahead of the March 23, 2024 election.

As the final leaders’ debate before Tasmanians head to the polls, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff will face off against Opposition Leader Rebecca White in the Sky News / Mercury People’s Forum.

The forum will be held on Wednesday, March 20 at 4pm on Sky News Australia and streamed live on the Mercury’s and Sky News website.

It will provide undecided voters, as selected by Q&A Market Research, with the opportunity to put questions directly to the two leaders on their vision for the state.

Sky News Australia Chief News Anchor Kieran Gilbert will host the one-hour forum live from Hobart.

With the fate of Tasmania’s new AFL team and entry into the competition from 2028 under threat, will voters opt to continue with the Liberal’s controversial stadium plan, or could the 19th AFL team licence be lost amid this political turmoil?

Kieran Gilbert said: “The Sky News / Mercury People’s Forum comes at a pivotal moment in the Tasmanian campaign, just a few days out from election day. The beauty of this format is that a room full of undecided voters have direct access to their leaders and they get to raise whatever issues are on their minds.

Sky News Australia Chief News Anchor Kieran Gilbert. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“The questions are not vetted, it’s unpredictable and all on live television – it makes the People’s Forum a crucial test for both leaders.”

Mercury Editor Craig Herbert said: “There are so many issues affecting Tasmanians the entire length and breadth of the state and the Sky News / Mercury

People’s Forum is a vital platform to have voters’ voices heard by the leaders of our two major political parties.

“This will largely be a cost-of-living election, but Tasmanians are eager to put our political parties to the test on health, housing, power prices and of course, the AFL stadium. The People’s Forum, unscripted and free of minders’ stage management, gives voters the chance to see where Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White stand on these topics and many more.”

Paul Whittaker, Chief Executive Officer of Sky News Australia, said: “The Sky News / Mercury People’s Forum will provide a strong indication of whether the last Liberal government standing will remain in power in this battleground state, or will Australia soon see Labor governments right across the nation.

“This People’s Forum will test the fortitude of both leaders as they compete under pressure to win the hearts and minds of undecided voters.”

The People’s Forum broadcasts have been staged at every federal and state election since 2010.

The Sky News / Mercury People’s Forum will be live streamed to subscribers at SkyNews.com.au and themercury.com.au.

On Saturday March 23, as Tasmanian residents head to the polls, Sky News will deliver comprehensive coverage and analysis of the Tasmanian Election LIVE with an expert election night panel from 6pm AEDT.

Originally published as Tasmania State Election 2024: Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor Leader Rebecca White to face off at Sky News/ Mercury People’s Forum