Transcript of speeches made by party Leaders – Jeremy Rockliff (Liberal), Rebecca White (Labor), Rosalie Woodruff (Greens) – at the election night tally room, Hobart, 23 March 2024.
Jeremy Rockliff, Tasmanian Liberals
I thank the people of Braddon. The beautiful north-west coast, King Island and the north-west coast, thank you. I’ve represented Braddon for 22 years and been proud to do so. I wouldn’t be here without the Brandon electorate and I look forward to representing them for at least another four years as well.
And can I thank my family, my beautiful family: Sandy, Ruby, Lucy, and Holly behind me here today. Thank you for your love and support everyone. And to all my parliamentary colleagues, both old and new, in terms of current and new, I should say shouldn’t I, current and new, thank you for your support. Thank you to the Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson, a very loyal deputy. Thank you Michael, for your support over the course of the last few years. We’re a great team.
I appreciate each and every one of my parliamentary colleagues and indeed, fantastic candidates; we truly have had the team of the decade. I could not be prouder of the 34 people that stood beside and along with me, as we travelled our electorates right across this beautiful state of Tasmania, listing, learning and appreciating Tasmanians and their concerns, and also their aspirations, as well.
And also I want to thank, of course, every single candidate that stood for election over the course of the last number of weeks. It’s a tough gig, and every candidate irrespective of colour, indeed, political parties, or indeed independents, you have my absolute admiration for your courage to stand up and be counted and to represent your community and make such a positive difference to the state of Tasmania. Thank you very much to everyone.
And I also thank of course, my incredible campaign team. They worked day in, day out, early mornings and late nights as well. Thank you to the campaign team. There are so many to mention. I would like to pay particular tribute to our state director of the Liberal Party, Mr. Peter Coulson. And indeed our State President Michael McKenna. Fantastic effort by the both of you.
There’s still clearly much counting to do and to go and as we move forward over the course of the next week or more, but two things are very clear tonight. First, an historic fourth consecutive win for the Liberal Party in Tasmania. This has never happened before in the great state of Tasmania, congratulations team.
And let’s be clear, the Liberal team has clearly gained the most votes this election and the most seats, by a large margin. So well done, and thank you.
And secondly, Tasmanians have delivered a very clear message. And I want to assure each and every Tasmanian that we’ve heard it, and I thank you for it. But Tasmanians have not voted for a change of government. Make no mistake. This has been a very poor result for the Labour Party of Tasmania. That looks like their lowest vote, primary vote, ever. Labour hasn’t got enough seats to form a cabinet, let alone a government.
As I’ve said at the beginning of this campaign, from day one, we will now work with the parliament that Tasmanians voted for today. And I will seek a new government, to form a new government, to give Tasmanians, the certainty and the stability that they deserve and to deliver our 2030 strong plan for Tasmania’s future.
Finally, can I say to all here tonight, in fact every Tasmanian, it is incumbent upon the new parliament to work together, to put aside our differences to ensure that we work day in day out for Tasmanians, right across this beautiful state. This is the best place not only in Australia, but indeed around the world to live, to work and to raise a family. And I couldn’t be prouder of Tasmania and Tasmanians.
My message is very clear. I love this place. I was born here. I’ll always live right here in Tasmania and I thank each and every Tasmanian for standing up to be counted today and I look forward to the next four years and I’m only going to get started. I’m only getting started right now ladies and gentlemen. I love this job. Thank you all. I very much appreciate your time tonight and thank you each and every Tasmanian.
Rebecca White, Tasmanian Labor
Thank you, thank you everybody. As deep reflection on the land we stand tonight I want to recognise the palawa people of lutruwita and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge any Aboriginal people who are in the room with us this evening.
Ladies and gentlemen, there is a lot that’s unclear about tonight. But it is clear that Tasmanians have voted to reject the Liberals. It’s going to be a long night, and likely a long few weeks until we know the exact makeup of the next parliament.
Thank you to the people of Tasmania who have chosen to give their support to Labour candidates this election. I’m proud to see so many Labour candidates across the state have been supported by their communities to be elected to represent them. And on their behalf I say thank you.
I’m really proud of the campaign that Labour ran. I’m really proud of our candidates. I’m really proud of our volunteers. And I’m really proud of the plan that we laid out for the Tasmanian community this election. A plan that is grounded in putting Tasmanians first.
There are still votes to be counted. But what is clear is the Liberal Party will not be getting a majority. Tasmanians have humbled a Premier who called an early election, expecting to be returned in majority. Tasmanians have clearly voted for change.
And when the Liberals called this early election, the second in three years, they called it not because they wanted to address the cost of living, not because they wanted to start turning around our health system, not because they wanted to give young people hope that they might one day find their own home. But because they couldn’t even work with people from their own party.
Which means that dealing with the cross-bench the size the Tasmanian community looks to have returned in this election, will be a very difficult task for them to manage with respect. Because respect requires an honest appreciation that the voters cannot be sent back to do it again. And that each member of the cross-bench represents a constituency that has to be listened to. Humble people don’t speak of a coalition of chaos whenever they don’t get their own way, or claim a victory when the results are not clear.
They pick up the phone and they talk to them. Strong but humble leaders accept the responsibility of making the parliament that the Tasmanian people have chosen work for all of our communities and for all of our agents. The final makeup of this Parliament will not be known for some time. But it is clear that Jeremy Rockliff will not be in a position to do so without the support of at least four members of the cross-bench Whether he can ultimately remain as a Premier will be up to the members who are ultimately elected.
I want to recognise that tonight will be a difficult one for him having called an early election demanding stability, and instead the Liberal Party have seen a massive drop in their primary vote. After 22 years in the Parliament, and 10 as the Deputy Premier and as the Premier, Jeremy has given an enormous amount to the state. And I want to acknowledge that tonight and also thank him and his family for their contribution because there would have been a lot of sacrifices given over those years.
However, this election has been decisive in its message that there needs to be change. I’m proud of the fact that Labor has laid out a plan to take urgent action on the cost of living To ensure that Tasmanians pay a Tasmanian price for Tasmanian power. To build more affordable childcare and provide free school lunches. We’ve laid out a plan to build more houses for people who need them, to make life easier for renters and to ensure the dream of home ownership is put back within the reach of Tasmanian who’ve lost hope.
We’ve set out a plan to start repairing our health system, to train more nurses, more doctors, more paramedics and to provide them with the infrastructure and support that they need to care for Tasmanians. And I acknowledge that on tonight’s results, Labor will need the support and the parliament implement these plans.
And I’ve said that we won’t be entering into any coalitions and there will only be Labor ministers in the government that I lead. These things and our plans are not up for review, are not up for negotiation. But whether we get the chance to implement our agenda will depend on how things play out over the next few weeks.
But tonight, it is clear that the Tasmanian community has rejected the past and wants to change. It is over conflict for conflict sake. This election outcome requires us to respect those who differ in their political colour And Tasmanians have told us loudly through this result that they want a government and a parliament that works for them.
Tonight, I would also like to convey my deep thanks to every single person who supported me personally, and the Labour Party, as we’ve campaigned throughout this election. Firstly, I want to thank my family and my friends for their unwavering support. Thank you so much for always standing beside me and holding me up at times when it’s been necessary.
Thank you to my deputy Anita Dow, who’s been a rock. Anita is a marvellous, hardworking person who has poured her heart and soul into this campaign and I’m incredibly proud to call her friend. Thank you to my team, and in particular to my Chief of Staff, Marcus Atkinson. Thank you for your hard work and your dedication, which has been such a blessing. To the acting State Secretary Jarrod Waugh, and to the former State Secretary Stuart Benson, thank you for your commitment to our movement. For the many, many, many hours that you put in and the effort you gave to make sure that our campaign was as strong as it was. It is a privilege to do this job with some of the best and most genuine people I have ever worked with.
To our candidates and I can see some of your faces in the room tonight. Whether you’ve been successful tonight, or whether it’s still to be decided or whether you haven’t quite made it, I want to thank you for putting yourself forward. Our democracy depends on people like you. And by putting your hand up, you’ve done a genuine act of public service, and you’ve done our party proud.
I want to thank the hundreds of Labour volunteers who’ve worked so hard across the state talking to people, door knocking, letter-boxing You are a symptomatic of how our movement works at a grass roots level to grow support. And I’m so proud of each and every one of you. Throughout the campaign, we’ve elevated the stories of Tasmanians who are demanding a better future. We stood in their lounge rooms. We stood in their businesses. We sat around the kitchen tables, we helped share the story of Tasmania as it is and as it could be. And we asked for their support to help change the government so that we could deliver a better future for our state.
Can I finish by saying just one last thing. Tonight’s result demonstrates that there’s been a significant shift in the way politics operates in Tasmania. And we can expect to see this happen again and again. It is very likely that Tasmanian will continue to elect minority governments particularly with a 35 seat parliament. It’s also clear that people voted for change this election. We’ll wait to see how the dust settles and for the final results to be determined, and Labour will be ready to work with the parliament to implement our agenda and our plan for a better future for Tasmania, if that is the will of the people. Thank you.
Rosalie Woodruff, Tasmanian Greens
How fantastic to see you all here. I want to acknowledge that we’re standing here tonight on the land and Tasmania’s first people the palawa pakana, they’ve shaped this island’s landscape for tens of thousands of years. And the Greens recognise that this is stolen land that was never ceded. And we’re committed to returning lands, to truth telling, to treaty and justice.
I want to acknowledge the work of the people on this campaign and start with Jeremy Rockliff and Rebecca White. As leaders, they have both done a huge job of work. And, you know, elections that are tough for everybody. But also, democracy is a wonderful thing. And on behalf of the Greens, I salute everybody who has had the courage to stand: party leaders, but also the candidates and the independents, people who had no notice that this election was going to be called. And that in itself was less than perfect from a democratic point of view. People have gone hard and they’ve given it their best.
Well what an election and what an exciting opportunity to fight for real change. And that is exactly how the Greens approached this election from day one. On behalf of the Greens, I want to thank everyone, all those Tasmanians who stood with us during this campaign and publicly shared their stories.
Stella, who lost her mother on the ramp at the LGH. Glen, a victim survivor of conversion practices who travelled two whole days to come back to Tasmania to share his painful story. Chris with his experience of homelessness, and Kelly and Eve, just 16 and 20, who also spoke about their housing struggles and why we desperately need youth homelessness services. Teresa Sainty who shared the stories, the palawa people’s lives in the remote Southwest Wilderness Heritage Area.
The unions, the unions who fight every day. They have been at the forefront of desperate under-funding for a decade. And they they feel the brunt every single day of the critical services that aren’t provided. And the stories of Tasmanians who suffer real moral injury, because they are forced to work under intolerable circumstances that they know are unsafe and inadequate for the work that they’re employed to do. So HACSU, CPSU, the ANMF and all the other unions, good on you for the work that you do.
And, of course, who was there, loudest and strongest, the incredible conservation movement of Tasmania, who stood in defense of the Liberal and Labour parties’ attacks on our forests, relentless attacks on nature and the marine environment, the thousands of Tasmanians, who joined us on the streets to march to end native forests logging.
All of these Tasmanian stories, tell us why there’s a problem. And our message from them for this campaign that we have relayed, is that we need change and change is possible. It’s been a momentous campaign, and we’ve deliberately focused on raising the issues that we want to fight for and staying out of the negative politics and negative campaigning. And through our work we’ve made sure that critical issues were on the election agenda: free public transport, renters’ rights, regulating short-stay, stronger environmental laws, we put them there. The Greens did that on behalf of Tasmanians.
We were the only party to put forward a comprehensive plan to tackle ambulance ramping. It’s not easy, and that’s why it’s a 50 point plan and not a three word slogan. We are the only party to talk about how we can and we must remove fish funds from Macquarie Harbour and transition [inaudible].
The west coast community deserves a better future, sustainable jobs for the long term. Also, we talked about future-focussed jobs and nature tourism. And so this next term of Parliament, the Greens are going to push the next government to act on the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendation and close Ashley Youth Detention Centre. To legislate for the protection of Aboriginal heritage, to give the EPA some real fangs. And to properly ban harmful conversion practices.
I am a proud foundation member of the Tasmania Devils like I’m sure so many other people in this room are. And I’m committed to defending our team and our colours and the Greens will hold firm in standing up to the whimsies of the AFL. We know that having a love of football doesn’t have to equal support for a stadium. This generation of Tasmanians needs a parliament of leaders working to tackle the health, housing and unfolding climate crisis. They don’t need a billion dollar stadium when we have a perfectly good one at York Park. And that’s where the heart of AFL and AFL football should remain permanently.
So as we suspected before tonight, things aren’t cut and dried right now at the moment but they are sure looking good for the Greens. In Bass it’s looking strong for the compassionate and incredible Cecily Rosol. She is an incredible member of her community. And she has such a kind, caring heart. In Lyons, the tenacious Tabatha Badger also looking strong for us in Lyons and she will be an continue to be an incredible advocate for the environment. In Clark and Franklin amazing results and we’re in the mix for second seats.
And in Braddon, we’ve also recorded a good swing so far too. But I know some of the results haven’t been as good as we hoped. And we know the team in Braddon tonight, you know, recognise that it’s not as good as it is in other parts in the state. And I want to especially thank them, and the fantastic leadership of Dr Darren Briggs an amazing candidate. This campaign has not gone unnoticed. And we know it’s just the beginning of the campaign for the greens to win back a seat in Braddon.
So the Greens don’t take money from big corporations and we’ve run a truly grassroots campaign across the island. I want to thank the hundreds of people who are involved. We’ve letter-boxed and put up posters and knocked on thousands of doors, much more than in any election before. I want to especially thank all of the 35 candidates because we put up seven candidates in each electorate.
I want to thank the wisdom, the energy and the critical honesty of the past leaders: Christine, I think I can see you here at the moment, Bob Brown, Christine Milne, Peg Putt, Nick McKim and Cassy O’Connor sitting in front of me, they are rocks of strength for us and this movement.
I especially want to thank the inspirational, positive and passionate young people who campaign to fight on the great issues up today and into the future. And the thousands of Tasmanians who’ve engaged with us. I want to thank the Greens campaign team, our terrific campaign manager Rachel, volunteer coordinators the duo Nina and Emma, media advisor Penny, they gave everything possible to our incredible lead candidates. My own and Vica Bayley’s parliamentary staff, Dan, Alex, Sophie, Tom, Steve and Alice, you’ve worked tirelessly. And you’ve been keeping me well-informed. And I want to thank my family who are with me tonight: Paulie, May, Tilda and not present here, but Ziggy, here in spirit.
Whatever the outcome in the next few weeks, the Greens will return to Parliament further empowered to fight for Tasmanians who need a hospital bed and a secure home. We will continue to defend our democracy against self interest and the corrupting influence of big corporates and ideology. And we will always be a voice for nature unlike Labour and Liberal parties who deny the climate emergency. The Greens are with the majority of Tasmanians who want to protect our carbon rich forests and extraordinary wildlife and end native forest logging for good.
Our message this election was that change is needed and change is possible. And we’re fully committed to stepping into the next parliament with this in mind. Thank you.
