Justin Derksen, Marcus Vermey among those running on the Tasmanian Liberal Party ticket
The Tasmanian Liberal Party has revealed who will be running on their ticket at the upcoming state election. FULL LIST HERE >>
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The Tasmanian Liberal Party have named a new norfolk carpenter and well-known butcher among their election candidates.
Carpenter Justin Derksen, also a Derwent Valley councillor, will be on the party’s ticket in Lyons.
Meanwhile, Vermey Quality Meats owner Marcus Vermey has been picked to challenge for a seat in Clark.
As previously reported, the Liberal Party will have former Tasmanian Senator Eric Abetz running alongside Jacquie Petrusma, who quit politics in 2022.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff called the list of candidates “Tasmanian Liberal Party’s ‘Team of the Decade’”.
“It’s a fantastic, united team with people that have great, lived experience within their community, best able to step up to the crease and deliver for Tasmanians and deliver a majority Liberal government,” Mr Rockliff said.
“This is all about ensuring that we restore certainty and stability to the Tasmanian parliament, and the best way that we can restore certainty and stability is to ensure that we do have that strong and capable team.”
Mr Rockliff said he believed that his state election team had “a breadth of experience”.
“All our sitting members are standing again, which is fantastic when you look at the breadth of life experience of our candidates as well.
“We have a very strong and capable team, and the team of the decade.”
Variety charity CEO Mohammad Aldergham is running in the seat of Clark.
“The biggest motivation for me is how can I take my experience in the community sector and development into a wider and larger scale,” Mr Aldergham said.
“We know Clark is a very diverse, very vibrant community.
“I believe the Tasmanian parliament should represent the Tasmanian people and people like me who would like to step up and have a go.”
Meanwhile, media personality Rob Fairs will be standing as a candidate in the seat of Bass.
“It’s been something that’s been burning in me for a long time,” Mr Fairs said.
“Being in the media for so long, both radio and TV, you deal with the issues you’re talking about all the time, and people talk to you.”
Mr Fairs also runs a foundation under his name that helps disadvantaged youth.
“It’s a sector I’ve been involved in for 18 years now. I live and breathe it every day.
“That drove me to this decision because every single Tasmanian deserves to have a crack at being the best they can be and enjoy the best facilities and services.
“I thought long and hard about it. My decision isn’t going to make everyone happy, but I’ve always followed my gut.”
Mr Fairs hosts a radio show on LAFM, which he said he would step away from during the election campaign.
Running in the North-West seat of Braddon, Burnie deputy mayor Giovanna Simpson said she had a long love for the Liberal Party.
“I’m a big fan of Jeremy [Rockliff] and the Liberal party and what they are doing,” Ms Simpson said.
“I have a lot of faith and trust in what they’re doing, and I think that really goes with my values.”
In addition to her local government role, Ms Simpson works in the youth mental health sector.
“I think standing for the Liberal has given me a bigger leverage for me to work on; to get more services and more support for not just our young people but support services that are required for our families.”
Ms Simpson said she was unsure what she would do about her deputy mayor role while campaigning during the state election.
“I may step down and perhaps donate my wages to a charity, which I’m looking at at the moment.
“But I think it’s really important I keep focused. I’m still going to be doing the work that I would normally do, in a sense, for my community.
“But I need to give that time wholly and solely to my campaign.”
Tasmanian Liberal Party candidates
LYONS
Guy Barnett
Gregory Brown
Stephanie Cameron
Justin Derksen
Richard Hallett
Jane Howlett
Mark Shelton
FRANKLIN
Eric Abetz
Aldo Antolli
Josh Garvin
Michael (Jock) McGregor
Nic Street
Jacquie Petrusma
Dean Young
CLARK
Mohammad Aldergham
Emma Atterbury
Simon Behrakis
Jon Gourlay
Madeleine Ogilvie
Catherine Searle
Marcus Vermey
BASS
Rob Fairs
Michael Ferguson
Chris Gatenby
Sarah Quaile
Julie Sladden
Richard Trethewie
Simon Wood
BRADDON
Felix Ellis
Patrick Fabien
Roger Jaensch
Sarina Laidler
Vonette Mead
Jeremy Rockliff
Giovanna Simpson
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