Labor leader Rebecca White wants to stay on at helm of party

Labor leader Rebecca White says she wants to continue in the top job in the wake of her second consecutive election loss, as she speaks for the first time since the election. LATEST HERE >>

• Labor reshuffles team, says it’s ready for an election
• Rebecca White concedes defeat in the 2021 Tasmanian election

LABOR leader Rebecca White says she is keen to stay on as party leader — as her team prepares for their third term in opposition.

Ms White, who has not spoken publicly since Saturday night’s election defeat, said she had unfinished business.

In an interview on ABC radio, she said a decision on who would lead the party would not be until the final count of votes form the state election was finished.

“I certainly like to, I’d really like to because I really enjoy this job and I think that there is unfinished business,” she said.

“And I see that I can still contribute so much.

Labor leader Rebecca White addresses the media on Parliament Lawns for the first time since the election. Picture: Zalk Simmonds

“I’m only 38. I’ve been in politics for a little while, now more than a decade but I’ve learned so much in the experience that I’ve gained over the last four years as the leader has certainly helped me to, I think, do a better job, particularly in last couple of years.”

Ms White, who was re-elected in the seat of Lyons, is expecting her second child in June. “I’ve been the leader since 2017, so four years now. “It’s really an incredible honour,” she said.

“The fire still burns within me. I feel like there’s unfinished business because I can see the things that still need to happen in our state. The struggles in our health system, the problems in housing, the challenges for people finding secure work.

“But that decision will not be made until next week, until we know the final makeup of the parliament and the final makeup of the caucus.”

Ms White said that under the rule of the Labor Party, there would be a spill of leadership positions after the election loss. The results of any contested positions would be decided by a vote which included party members and could take weeks to resolve.

Liberal MP Michael Ferguson said he thought David O’Byrne (pictured), should become leader of the Labor party.

“Ms White has now led the Labor Party to their third-worst (2018) and second-worst (2021) election results in history,” he said.

“It is inconceivable that a Leader recording such poor results would be allowed to stay in charge. It is time for the ambitious David O’Byrne to finally put up or shut up, and pull the plug on Rebecca White’s failed Labor leadership

“If he doesn’t have the ticker to have a go he’ll always be a ‘could-a-been’, because in four years’ time Dean Winter will be in the box seat for the Labor leadership mantle.”

Mr O’Byrne could not be reached for comment.

Follow @DavidJKillick