Premier throws support behind Ferguson and Dutton at Tasmanian Liberal State Council

During an annual Liberal council, Tasmania’s Premier has made some big promises ahead of the state budget to be revealed this month. Here’s what to expect.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff addresses the annual state Liberal council held at the Country Club Tasmania in Launceston on Saturday. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has issued a rallying cry to the Liberal Party faithful, calling for unity while throwing his support behind absent federal leader Peter Dutton and state treasurer Michael Ferguson ahead of the 2024 budget.

In a speech to the annual state Liberal council at Country Club Tasmania in Launceston on Saturday, Mr Rockliff launched a defence of Mr Ferguson’s upcoming budget at a time when the Tasmanian economy is facing pressure from all sides, highlighted by Saul Eslake’s review which warned of a dire economic outlook for Tasmania in the coming years.

“In 12 days’ time, the Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Michael Ferguson, will deliver a budget that will ensure Tasmania continues to be the best place in the nation to live, work and raise a family,” Mr Rockliff said.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

“It’s a budget that continues record investment in health, housing, and education. It’s a budget that delivers record cost-of-living relief.

“And this budget builds on our decade of delivery, providing the intergenerational infrastructure we need.”

During the council, Michael McKenna was re-elected as president of the Tasmanian Liberal Party, defeating Hobart’s Catherine Searle by 119-65, while Don Morris was elected unopposed as Vice President, and Rod Bramich was elected unopposed as Treasurer.

Mr McKenna said he was honoured to have been re-elected by grass-roots members.

“The Tasmanian Liberal Party has had a real unity of purpose over the past 12 months which saw us re-elected at state level for a record fourth consecutive term,” Mr McKenna said.

“I now look forward to that same unity of purpose being directed to the forthcoming Federal election, and the winning of a least three lower house seats and three Senate seats.”

Despite the absence of Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton at Saturday’s event, Mr Rockliff praised the Opposition Leader and said he hopes Mr Dutton is elected as Prime Minister of Australia “in the not-too-distant future”.

“In Peter, we have a strong and passionate leader of Liberal values,” Mr Rockliff said.

“We have a man of principle with the desire and ability to take our nation into a better future. Australians know where Peter stands and what he stands for.”

While Mr Dutton was a no-show on Saturday, he did, however, attend a party function on Friday night and was in the state’s North-West on Friday afternoon to meet with salmon industry workers.

When asked on Saturday afternoon whether he was disappointed by Mr Dutton’s absence on Saturday, Mr Rockliff replied: “No.”

“Peter is a passionate Australian and loves Tasmania … [he] was at our function last night amongst the Liberal Party faithful, gave a terrific speech and spent hours at that function,” he said.

Mr Rockliff celebrated the Liberal Party’s fourth consecutive term in Tasmania, highlighting the Party’s achievements such as a $250 energy dividend, reduced public transport fares, and improved healthcare services.

“The thing that makes this Liberal Party great is that we back Tasmanians with the relentless energy to prove wrong anyone who says it can’t be done,” he said.

“This party, this government, is about protecting that Tasmanian can-do attitude and not allowing it to be eroded by the naysayers, the whingers, those who put blinkered ideology above freedom of choice.”