Liberals say Labor candidate Jessica Munday ‘ineligible’ for election because of board role

The Liberals say they will challenge a star Labor candidate’s eligibility to stand in next month’s state election - but the Opposition has rejected the claims.

Unions Tasmania State Secretary Jessica Munday. Picture: Chris Kidd

The Liberals say they will challenge the eligibility of star Labor’s recruit Jessica Munday to stand in next month’s state election.

They say she is unable to be elected because she holds “an office of profit under the Crown”

— a seat on the WorkCover Tasmania board — to which she was appointed by the Governor.

Labor says their opponents are reading the law incorrectly and Ms Munday is eligible.

Nominations for candidates closed on Thursday and were publicly announced on Friday.

Unions Tasmania Secretary Jessica Munday. Picture: Linda Higginson

Ms Munday, the Unions Tasmania secretary, is among 161 candidates competing for 35 seats in the House of Assembly announced on Friday by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission.

But Liberal candidate for Franklin Eric Abetz said it was his view that Labor leader Dean Winter had failed to do the paperwork to ensure all of his candidates were eligible.

“In Dean Winter’s desperate grab for power, he has forgotten to do the paperwork to ensure his candidates can even sit in parliament,” he said.

“Unfortunately for Mr Winter, his star candidate in the seat of Franklin, Jessica Munday, falls into this category.

“Ms Munday’s continued position on the WorkCover Tasmania Board deems her ineligible for election in the House of Assembly.”

“Ms Munday did not resign before the close of nominations, leaving her in breach of the Constitution Act.”

Tasmania’s Constitution Act says that a person holding “any office of profit or emolument by the appointment of the Governor” is incapable of being elected to or of holding, a seat in

either House”.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission requires candidates to declare on their applications that they are not incapable of being elected under the applicable sections of the Act.

Ms Munday could not be reached for comment.

Minister Eric Abetz speaks at the Inquiry into the TT-Line spirits project at Parliament House on Friday 9th May 2025. Picture: Linda Higginson

A Labor spokesman rejected Mr Abetz’s suggestion Ms Munday was ineligible.

“Sadly, in a rush to attack another progressive woman, it appears that Eric Abetz has become confused about the different requirements for State and Federal elections,” he said.

“Tasmania’s Constitution was amended in 1944 to ensure that those who serve Tasmanians every day – people like teachers, nurses and public servants – are not excluded from putting their hand up to represent their community.

“This includes candidates like Jess Munday who, through her work in WorkCover, has fought tirelessly for safer workplaces and fair compensation for workers.”

Prepoll voting in the 2025 Tasmanian election begins on Monday.