Archer fires an early shot amid state political turmoil
Callum Godde |
A former federal Liberal maverick has put her hand up to run in a looming state election, as the opposition likens the premier to a spoiled brat.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to stand down after parliament passed a vote of no-confidence, led by state Labor leader Dean Winter, over the state budget.
The starter’s gun is yet to be fired on voters heading back to the polls, but the premier could pull the trigger as early as Tuesday.
Mr Rockliff wheeled out former federal MP Bridget Archer on Sunday, revealing she would seek preselection for the state seat of Bass.
In May, Ms Archer lost her federal seat of Bass to teacher and first-time federal candidate Jess Teesdale after a 9.4 per cent swing against her.
Ms Archer admitted the federal election had been “bruising” and she hadn’t had time to completely process it.
“Do I want to go out and fight another election? No, I don’t,” she told reporters.
“I suspect the people of Tasmania don’t want to be going to another election but the reckless and selfish actions of Dean Winter … have sent us to this situation.”
The former George Town mayor has been one of the most prominent Liberal moderates in Canberra since 2019 and repeatedly crossed the floor to vote against her own party.
Reflecting on her election defeat, Ms Archer said she “wore the consequences” of the Liberals’ failure to deal with some of the issues she spoke out against.
The 50-year-old denied she was in danger of jumping from one sinking ship to another and vowed not to shy away from her views if elected to state parliament.
“I’m not going to be anybody’s stooge or anybody’s puppet,” she said.
“I am going to say exactly what I think.”
Mr Rockliff described Ms Archer as a “fighter” and was categoric he would lead the party to the election.
“Dean Winter’s guaranteed the election,” he said, adding an election date would be determined in the coming week.
The election would be Tasmania’s fourth in seven years, unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers.
Mr Winter has ruled out forming government in a deal with the Greens, without whom Labor doesn’t have the numbers.
The Labor leader is continuing to call for Mr Rockliff to stand aside instead of calling another election.
“He’s carrying on at the moment like a spoiled child that’s been given out in a game of cricket,” Mr Winter said.
“And then instead of just accepting the umpire’s decision he’s picking up his bat and ball and going home.”
Amid the political turmoil, Mr Rockliff has ordered prominent economist Saul Eslake not to prepare a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania’s troubled finances.
Mr Winter said he didn’t believe Mr Rockliff’s commitment not to pursue privatisation, declaring the premier would “say anything” to cling to power.
A planned $945 million stadium for Hobart has also been caught in the crossfire of the political chaos.
The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of the deal to issue a 19th AFL team licence for the Tasmania Devils.
Both major party leaders support the proposed stadium but special legislation to grant it planning approval has been thrown off course by the motion.
Mr Winter took aim at “interstate footy people” for driving a narrative his intervention was “all about the stadium”.
“If these interstate commentators want to try make this all about a stadium they are severely mistaken,” he said.
“Tasmanians have got higher priorities.”
Tasmanian AFL legends Nick and Jack Riewoldt, Matthew Richardson and Brendon Gale have publicly lamented the uncertainty surrounding the stadium and team.
Firebrand Senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians who oppose the project.
AAP
