The Premier, Lara Giddings, today announced that the State Election would be held on March 15.

While the election date has now been set, Ms Giddings said the Government still had important business to attend to and would not enter caretaker mode until February 12 when the House of Assembly is dissolved.

Ms Giddings said voters would have a choice between a Government that was prepared to stand up for Tasmania and provide vision and leadership to take Tasmania forward and an Opposition that was full of negativity and false promises.

“Labor has provided strong leadership over the past 16 years, through both good and challenging economic times and we have laid the foundations for a stronger and more prosperous Tasmania,” Ms Giddings said.

“We’ve provided strong financial management through the toughest economic conditions the world has faced since the Great Depression.

“We’ve worked to make Tasmania one of the most dynamic small economies in the world by investing in irrigation, better road and rail transport, and jobs in growing industries like dairy, aquaculture, wine and tourism.

“We’ve moved to create better services for all Tasmanians by investing in new hospitals, more affordable housing, new child and family centres, and more support for disadvantaged Tasmanians.

“We’ve delivered major reforms in planning and health, and energy reform that’s helped to reduce electricity prices for the first time in years.

“And we worked with the former Labor federal government to help Tasmanians benefit from major national reforms such as Gonski, the NDIS, and the NBN.”

Ms Giddings said in contrast the Liberal Party had demonstrated a complete inability to stand up for Tasmania and had only offered smoke and mirror policies.

“Tasmanians will have a choice between the Labor Party which has a proven track record and the Liberal Opposition which is big on promises but devoid of substance.

“We have been fighting for Tasmania’s interests in Canberra while Will Hodgman has repeatedly failed to stand up for Tasmania on the GST, NBN and Gonski.

“He has also racked up around $335 million worth of spending promises which could only be funded through job cuts, more debt and asset sales.”
Lara Giddings Premier