Premier doubles down on new AFL stadium and dislike for minority government

Jeremy Rockliff doubles down on a new AFL stadium and shares his dislike for a minority government. What’s making the Premier ‘emotional’ about this election.

Former Premier Will Hodgman with Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Huonville. Marking 10 years of the Liberals in government in Tasmania. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he’s proud of the Liberals’ achievements in rebuilding the Tasmanian economy and restoring state pride during a decade in office but warns Tasmania’s momentum could be lost under a “coalition of chaos”.

Friday was the 10th anniversary of the election of the Liberal government under Will Hodgman after 16 years in opposition.

The party is chasing a record fourth consecutive term in office.

Mr Rockliff, a long-serving deputy Liberal leader before taking over the top job, said he was proud of the government’s achievements in education, health, mental health and housing over ten years in power while acknowledging there was more to be done.

“Ten years in government is a very proud moment to reflect on where we’ve come from as a state,” Mr Rockliff told the Mercury on Friday.

“We’ve turned Tasmania around very clearly on just about every measure. There’s more to do. I accept that.”

Former Premier Will Hodgman with Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Huonville. Marking 10 years of the Liberals in government in Tasmania. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Earlier, at Huonville High School, Mr Rockliff was joined by Mr Hodgman where they reflected on the changes brought about by extending all high schools from year 10 to year 12.

Mr Hodgman said he was delighted to see the policy had changed the lives and prospects of so many young Tasmanians.

“To now hear that 7500 Tasmanian students are able to access years 11 and 12 and undertake their TCE and communities right across Tasmania it certainly gives me a lot of pride,” Mr Hodgman said.

“And it’s a great achievement for a government that’s marking 10 years since its election, but there’s a lot more to do.

“By no means did we do everything perfectly and certainly it was it’s been difficult at various stages for governments to stay on track and to deliver what we promised.”

“Back in 2014, we said we’d turn Tasmania around and we did.”

Mr Rockliff encouraged voters to stick with candidates whose policies and values they knew.

“Whatever people might say about what I stand for, one, they know what I stand for and two, they know I’m a passionate Tasmanian and that’s what drives me,” he said.

“I get passionate, I get emotional about vulnerable Tasmanians, I get emotional about the people that have lost their jobs and find themselves in despair and I get emotional about what we can do and passionate about what we can do for Tasmania, seeing where we’ve come from the last 10 years.

“I’m especially passionate about this election, I don’t want to risk all we’ve done and what we’ve achieved.”

Jeremy Rockliff, Premier of Tasmania (left) and Gillon McLachlan, Chief Executive Officer of the AFL (right) shake hands after signing the final legal documents during the AFL Tasmanian Team Announcement at Executive House on May 03, 2023 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

He said he believed the prospect of a Tasmanian AFL team was worth the political capital his party had expended on the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium.

“The day that we as leaders aren’t prepared to step up and believe in Tasmania and Tasmanians is a very sad day for Tasmania,” he said.

“Yes, it’s been difficult, there’s no question about that but in my view, it’s the right thing to do.

“Not only will deliver greater economic activity, jobs and construction and employment opportunities right across the state, deliver our own AFL team which we’ve been fighting for decades but also provide Tasmanians with the opportunity to experience what others interstate can.

“For me, it’s an exciting opportunity and as a leader of a state, you have got to step up and tell people what you stand for and what you are prepared to fight for.”

As the election campaign enters its final week, Mr Rockliff said the lessons of a tough year in politics had reinforced something he had long known: “I’ve had a taste of minority government and it’s not good for Tasmania,” he said.

“If I could pick out four years that were really challenging, it was those four years, between 2010 and 2014, because there’s a local member I was working with and listening to, and empathising with the people that had lost their jobs due to the uncertainty of minority government,” he said.

“That’s why I’m committed to majority government.”

Tasmania goes to the polls on Saturday March 23.