Parties unite as Labor and Liberal campaigns officially kick off
A Tasmanian Liberal MP has aroused the wrath of the nation’s vegans with a mocking Facebook post. Premier Peter Gutwein — and “the father of a vegan” — has defended his candidate >>
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Premier Peter Gutwein has stuck by his candidate, Liberal MP Felix Ellis, who aroused the wrath of the nation’s vegans with a mocking Facebook post.
Mr Ellis, who represents the seat of Braddon, posted an image of him eating what appears to be a sausage and beef patty sandwich with the caption: “Allergies: vegan food …”
The comment was met with a tsunami of negative responses — more than 1000 comments which included:
- “Vegan jokes? How’s life in 2007 going?”
- “What a pathetic and nasty post. Demonstrates that you lack the character of a leader.
- “Allergies: Out of touch, not so funny and disrespectful pollies
- “You’re behind the times Felix Ellis MP. A very silly and unnecessary comment. There are many Liberal voters that are vegan and vegetarian like me that you’ve just alienated yourself from.”
Mr Gutwein defended Mr Ellis.
“He was being humorous,” Mr Gutwein said.
“Some people haven’t seen it that way but as the father of a vegan who has now actually migrated to a vegetarian I do have some sympathy for the fact that Tasmanians should be able to choose their own diets.”
In a statement issued by the Liberal campaign on his behalf, Mr Ellis said he did not mind what people ate.
“I’m a big supporter of our north west Tassie beef farmers. Of course I respect people’s choice to eat what they choose.”
Mr Ellis, Tasmania’s youngest member of parliament, entered the House of Assembly in 2020 on a recount after the retirement of sitting member Joan Rylah.
He is facing stiff competition to retain his seat with the return of popular Liberal Adam Brooks as a candidate alongside deputy premier Jeremy Rockliff and Minister Roger Jaensch.
Labor leader Rebecca White said Mr Ellis’ comment’s were offensive.
“I think that Felix Ellis is probably just desperate for relevance. Nobody really knows who he is and now he’s targeting people who are vegans,” she said.
“We’ve just had an event this morning with children who are eating fruit and vegetables, who arguably are be a target of Felix Ellis’ offensive remarks.
“They didn’t seem to have any problem with eating vegetables and fruit and enjoying themselves this morning.
“And I was very surprised that Felix Ellis feels like that’s the only way he’s going to be relevant to this campaign is by attacking other people.”
ScoMo missing in action for Tas Liberal launch
Jessica Howard and Jarrod Lawler
THE Tasmanian Labor Party has presented as a united front after the early weeks on the election trail were marred by infighting, candidate resignations and even the threat of court action against its leader.
A sea of red filled the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Hobart for Labor’s official campaign launch, with notable guests including former premiers Doug Lowe, Michael Field, David Bartlett, Lara Giddings and Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.
(See below for the report on the Liberals’ launch)
In opening proceedings, Deputy leader Michelle O’Byrne took aim at infrastructure projects promised by the Tasmanian Liberal Party that are yet to be delivered, such as the four-lane Midland Highway, River Derwent ferries and an underground bus mall in Hobart.
Addressing the crowd of about 250 party faithful, leader Rebecca White acknowledged Labor was the underdog in the election, but said the Liberal Party “didn’t deserve” 11 years in government.
“During the pandemic, we saw the opportunity to fundamentally change the way government delivers services,” she said.
“We housed people, we supported people with a living wage, we saw compassion and kindness elevated, and witnessed Tasmanians supporting each other through one of the most difficult times we will ever know.
“We saw with the stroke of a pen, government can change people’s lives for the better. The failure to tackle inequality, underemployment, health waiting lists or homelessness was exposed as a policy choice of the government.”
Ms White said a majority Labor government would create 35,000 jobs, establish 10 job hubs across the state, rebuild TAFE and have health as its number one priority.
She said this would include recruiting more medical staff, ending ambulance ramping, having mobile emergency doctors and a promise that all suspected cancer patients would be seen to within two weeks by a specialist.
Labor health spokesman Bastian Seidel told the gathering that every year, more than 400 Tasmanians were brought into emergency departments already dead.
“Behind every statistic for the longest wait time for surgery in the country, the highest mortality rate for cancer, the longest ambulance response times, are real people,” he said.
“Real people who believed they would be seen on time for necessary surgery, real people who believed there would be no delays for their cancer treatment or that an ambulance would be there for them in case of a life-threatening emergency.”
Mr Albanese backed Ms White and her “strong team”.
“She’s campaigning on issues of concern to Tasmanians – the crisis in health, the fact we have waiting lists that have blown out, the housing crisis, the potential sell off of TAFE and Hydro Tasmania – this is what this election is about,” he said.
“She will be a great premier with a great team behind her who will put people first.
“The state Liberal government is going to an election a year early, which is a vote against their own capacity, them putting their own hand up and saying ‘we’re not capable of serving out a full term’.”
Mr Albanese said the absence of Prime Minister Scott Morrison from the Liberals’ campaign launch in Rokeby was because he would have to explain why he had “ignored the interests of Tasmanians”.
THE Tasmanian Liberal Party has asked Tasmanians to vote for unity and stability, claiming the Labor Party is in chaos and at war with itself.
With less than two weeks to go until polling day, the Liberals officially launched their campaign in Rokeby on Sunday, albeit with the notable absence of Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
In front of his “blue army” of supporters, Premier Peter Gutwein encouraged voters to think about who they want sitting in the premier’s chair when the next big challenge comes along.
“Only a majority Liberal government can provide Tasmanians with the certainty and stability we need,” Premier Gutwein said.
“We’ve already seen this campaign how instability affects decision-making. The Labor Party is at war with itself.
“If they can’t govern themselves, how can they possibly govern the state?”
The Premier said a re-elected Liberal government would focus on securing the future of Tasmania and creating a state where there is opportunity for all.
“What drives me night and day is my vision for Tasmania,” Mr Gutwein said.
“A Tasmania that no matter who you are, no matter where you live, your circumstance or background, I want you to be able to grasp the opportunities that present themselves here in Tasmania.”
He said the Liberals’ policy focused on keeping Tasmanians safe and secure from COVID-19, creating a more diverse and resilient economy, job creation to help protect against future challenges, securing the essential services Tasmanians rely on, and ensuring young Tasmanians get the training, apprenticeships and the jobs to support their future.
The Premier strongly disputed rumours the Liberals would be privatising TasTAFE or Hydro if re-elected, stating they would be investing more into TasTAFE and providing 100 more teachers to give it the flexibility it needs so more Tasmanians can get the training that they need.
Liberal campaign spokesman Michael Ferguson said a re-elected Liberal government would offer Tasmanians stability and certainty.
“We are united unlike the other side who are having a civil war,” Mr Ferguson said.
“We’ve seen what chaos you can have from a minority government.
“We offer securing Tasmania’s future through a strong, stable, majority government,” he said.
While the PM was not in attendance for the campaign launch, Mr Ferguson said the Prime Minister would head to Tasmania before the campaign ends.
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