Tasmania will have a House of Assembly election on 19 July, almost three years early.

Governor Barbara Baker approved outgoing Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s request for a poll after neither of the two largest parties wished to attempt to form a new government.

The crisis was precipitated by last week’s successful no-confidence motion in Rockliff.

The Liberals failed to appoint a new leader, under whom they may have been able to seek the confidence of the House.

Labor Leader Dean Winter released a statement during the day ruling out working with the Greens. That left him unable to make a bid to govern, as without the Greens’ bloc there were not enough crossbench votes to support Labor.

Rockliff then returned to Government House in the evening to seek fresh elections. The Govenor determined that “there is no real possibility that an alternative government can be formed.”

The dissolved Assembly was the second shortest in Tasmanian history, lasting just 14 months and 2 days from the declaration of the Poll on 9 April 2024 following the 23 March election.

Statements issued with regards to the new election are reproduced below, starting with the Governor.

Under the Earlier banner are statements received during Wednesday before the poll was called.

Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 11 June 2025

Statement from the Premier

Tonight, Her Excellency has accepted my recommendation to dissolve the House of Assembly.

An election will be held on Saturday, 19 July 2025.

Before visiting the Governor, I convened a meeting of the Parliamentary Liberal Party where I, once again, received unanimous support to continue to lead the Liberal Party.

Another election is not what I wanted, and I know that it’s not what Tasmanians wanted. But it was forced upon us by the Leader of the Opposition. So, let’s get on with it.

Our team is building a better Tasmania. We are building a better health care system, better schools and roads and keeping Tasmanians safe. Our economy is strong, unemployment low, and our businesses are the most confident in the nation.

Tasmania needs a strong majority Liberal government for certainty and stability so we can keep delivering our plan. Tasmania cannot afford the risk of going back to the bad old days of a Labor-Green Government. We cannot afford an inexperienced and desperate Dean Winter who will keep misleading Tasmanians about privatisation.

We have ruled out privatisation. There will be no sale of any government-owned business. Not one.

And every time Mr Winter repeats this claim, it shows why he cannot be trusted. Let’s get on with the job together of building a better Tasmania.

Media release – Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader, 11 June 2025

Only Labor will keep Tasmania in Tasmanian hands

With Jeremy Rockliff granted his wish of an election, Tasmanians have a choice.

The Liberals want to sell off Tasmania, while Labor will keep Tasmania in Tasmanian hands. Selling off Tasmania means higher prices for power, public transport, and other essentials.

Only a vote for Labor will ensure Tasmanian profits stay in Tasmania, investing in schools, health, and housing. Our entire labour movement is united and ready to send the Liberals a loud message – Tasmania is not for sale.

It’s time for a fresh start for Tasmania.

Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 11 June 2025

Greens Ready for Rockliff and Winter’s Election

Tasmanians don’t want this election, and neither did the Greens.

They didn’t have to send Tasmanians back to the polls after only a year in Parliament, but Liberal and Labor politicians have put their political interests first, ahead of the needs of Tasmanians.

Jeremy Rockliff could have respected the will of the Parliament, and stepped aside for another Liberal leader. Dean Winter could have sought to form government with other MPs.

The Greens reached out to Labor and made it clear we were ready to find a way to work together in the best interests of all Tasmanians, but the Opposition Leader didn’t even respond.

The Greens have worked constructively in this Parliament to achieve positive outcomes for Tasmanians. We’ve progressed reforms to make political donations public to Tasmanians, made begging legal in a cost of living crisis, and forced the government to give renters the right to own a pet. In the past 14 months, we’ve proved voting Green leads to real change.

The Liberals and Labor should have avoided sending the state to the polls for an election three years early. But with an election now on, the Greens are ready to fight for the best interests of this island and its people.

The Greens will be campaigning to stop the stadium, and invest instead in health and housing. We will make sure environmental protection and climate action are front and centre – as we always have.

With a new government and the Greens in the balance of power, we can make real change happen.​​​​​​​

Media release – Kristie Johnston, independent MHA for Clark, 11 June 2025

The election we didn’t have to have, please no pork barreling

This is the election we didn’t have to have. Jeremy Rockliff could have stood aside. Dean Winter could have worked with the crossbench. But both love a captain’s call.

Under their leadership there is no difference between Liberal and Labor.

Liberal and Labor are the same on the stadium, on the Budget, on gambling reform, on salmon, on greyhound racing, on forestry, on planning laws, on their populist tough-on-crime approach, on UTAS, and so it goes.

They are the same, focused on power plays rather than proper plans for Tasmania.

And both major parties are operating as if they will only govern in a majority – ignoring the reality Tasmanians elected a power-sharing Parliament.

The voters never get it wrong. They elected a diverse Parliament in 2024 and expected both the Liberal and Labor parties to respect that. They have not.

It’s time they both started to reflect the will of the people and work collaboratively with all elected members of Parliament.

Voters at this election can say it even louder – governments will be held to account by independents and a strong crossbench.

This election should be a contest of ideas and policies rather than the desperate pork-barreling of the major parties.

For the sake of generations to come, and out of respect for the woeful budget position we currently find ourselves in, I ask that both parties commit to end pork-barrel spending this election.

My record is clear – I stand for good policy, transparency, integrity and accountability. These are the things voters tell me they want action on.

Media release – Peter George, 11 June 2025

Independent Peter George to stand in State election – No to: Mac Point Stadium, Yes to: Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)

“Old parties have run out of ideas, talent and common sense to run the state.”

Peter George, who ran a closely-contested campaign in the Federal election for the Tasmanian seat of Franklin, will stand as an independent in the state election.

Mr George, who collected a primary vote of more than 23% in the May 3 election and more than 42%, two candidate preferred, announced his decision to run today.

“Liberal and Labor have signed a suicide pact by forcing Tasmania to an expensive, unnecessary early election that neither of them really want and will drive them like lemmings over the political cliff,” said Mr George.

“Both of the old parties have long since run out of ideas, talent and common sense to run the state. “They’ve become creatures of the corporates, captured by the big end of town.

“Now’s the time for independently minded, publicly spirited people to step up to the plate and fill the leadership vacuum that Labor and Liberal left behind a long, long time ago.”

Mr George said his priorities would include repairing the state’s health and education systems along with fixing a budget deficit that threatens to sink the state.

“For a start, let’s get rid of the ridiculous plans for an unaffordable, unwanted AFL stadium in Hobart while demanding the AFL supports the team it knows Tasmanians deserve.

“Then let’s stamp out the systemic corruption that has afflicted this island for so long by introducing truly transparent election funding legislation and a properly funded independent commission against corruption with wide powers.

“And if elected, I’ll ensure the foreign salmon industry is at last brought to heel – they can’t buy independent MPs in the way they’ve bought off the fawning Labor and Liberal parties.”

Mr George is in Seattle, USA, with family, helping out with his three-month-old granddaughter. He will return to Tasmania over the coming week.

Media release – TasCOSS, 11 June 2025

Avoidable election a distraction from addressing the issues that matter to Tasmanians

Today’s decision to call for a election on Saturday 19 July defies the will of the Tasmanian people who went to the polls and had their say a mere 14 months ago.

TasCOSS CEO, Ms Adrienne Picone, expressed frustration that this decision will once again divert focus from addressing the issues that matter to Tasmanians, such as increasing the supply of social housing or bringing down energy costs.

“Tasmanians do not need another election,” Ms Picone said.

“When we talk to our community about what matters to them, they tell us their priorities are a safe, affordable place to call home, the ability to put food on the table, access to health care, and ensuring our next generation — our children — are safe and supported.

“These are the areas the Parliament should be focussed on, and instead we are spending valuable time and $5.75 million in taxpayer funding on a election which is avoidable.

“To go back to the polls shows a lack of respect to voters, who sent a loud message just over a year ago. Tasmanians expect their representatives to deliver on their promise to undertake the hard work that minority government requires for the betterment of the state and its people.”

Ms Picone said this decision also throws into serious doubt funding provisions for community service providers, with the interim Supply Bills only accounting for existing funding contracts and services.

“We are concerned that organisations reliant on funding commitments contained in the Budget will be left in the lurch,” she said.

“This funding is not a nice-to-have, in many cases it pertains to essential community supports. Failure to provide for this will place jobs at risk and, most importantly, will result in Tasmanians missing out on services.

“As we embark on another election campaign, we call on parties and candidates to do better when it comes to focussing on the issues that matter to Tasmanians.”

Media release – Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party of Tasmania, 12 June 2025

Tasmania Headed for Fourth State Election in Seven Years — Voters Deserve Better

Adrian Pickin, current chair of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party of Tasmania, has responded to the news of another state election with a strong call for change.

“Tasmania is heading to its fourth expensive state election in just seven years,” Mr Pickin said.

“This constant instability shows just how out of touch the major parties — both Labor and Liberal — have become. They’ve failed to deliver stable government because they’ve failed to listen to everyday Tasmanians.

“Tasmanians have lost confidence in both major parties. It’s time to sack the lot and put power back in the hands of the people.”

Mr Pickin is calling on voters to back minor parties who genuinely represent local communities and the issues that matter — not party room deals or big-end-of-town priorities.

“We need voices in Parliament who understand regional communities, who will stand up for local jobs, proper health services, public housing, and real cost-of-living relief,” he said.

We will be announcing candidates in the coming days and with the major parties once again dragging Tasmania into another costly election, the Shooters, Fishers & Farmers Party is urging voters to make their voice heard loud and clear at the ballot box.

Media release – Equality Tasmania, 12 June 2025

Election pledges sought on overdue conversion ban and other LGBTIQA+ reforms

Equality Tasmania says prohibiting conversion practices is an urgent priority for the state and is seeking an election commitment from all parties to enact the overdue reform before the end of the year.

Spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

“With conversion bans enacted in all states except Tasmania and WA, Tasmania is at risk of becoming a haven for these cruel, harmful and widely condemned practices.”

“All three parties are committed to banning conversion practices so there’s no excuse for failing to protect vulnerable LGBTIQA+ people.”

“We will be asking all parties and independents to commit to passing a ban on conversion practices by the end of 2025.”

Mr Croome said other reforms with Liberal, Labor and Green support that must be enacted before year’s end include harsher penalties for hate crime against LGBTIQA+ people, and financial redress for historic gay and cross-dressing convictions.

“There is growing frustration in the LGBTIQA+ community about delays to important reforms, so Equality Tasmania we will use the opportunity of this election to ensure the log jam is broken.”

A ban on conversion practices was recommended by the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute in May 2022. Premier Jeremy Rockliff committed to implementing the TLRI’s recommendations, but a subsequent Government bill was widely condemned for continuing to allow conversion practices. Alternate legislation is yet to be tabled.

An amendment to the Sentencing Act allowing harsher penalties for hate-motivated crimes, including hate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, was recommended by the Sentencing Advisory Council in February last year and introduced by the Government earlier this year, but has not been debated.

Financial redress for victims of Tasmania’s former laws against homosexuality and cross-dressing was supported by the Lower House of Parliament last year and earlier this year an Upper House committee recommended the amounts involved, but no further debate has occurred.

Other reforms and initiatives Equality Tasmania will seek commitments on include banning medical interventions on infants with innate variations of sex characteristics, a Government LGBTIQA+ strategy and action plan, and funding for LGBTIQA+ mental health and legal services.

Media release – Shane Broad MP, Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly, 11 June 2025, 09:00

Huge Liberal split emerges in wake of Rockliff’s desperate cling to power

A widening split has emerged in the Liberal caucus in the wake of Jeremy Rockliff’s arrogant attempt to cling onto power.

As reported by The Australian, both Abetz and Ferguson are doing all they can behind the scenes to assume the top job.

According to Liberal insiders, seven members of the caucus have indicated that they want to roll Rockliff and avoid the fallen Premier’s second early election in 16 months.

Eric Abetz, Michael Ferguson, Felix Ellis, Guy Barnett, Madeleine Ogilvie, Simon Behrakis and Simon Wood are reportedly all pushing for a change in leadership so the Liberals can save the furniture.

This means Rockliff is only two more votes away from being toppled.

Jeremy Rockliff hasn’t just lost the confidence of the Parliament, he’s rapidly losing the confidence of his party too as his minority government collapses for the second time in less than two years.

Media release – Eric Abetz, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, 11 June 2025, 13:35

Labor equals Greens

A tale as old as time.

Shane Broad has confirmed Labor are planning on governing with support from the Greens.

Any handshake, negotiation, agreement or otherwise between Labor and the Greens is what it says on the box. A disaster for Tasmania.

Labor needed the Greens’ support to succeed with their disruptive no confidence motion which Tasmanians do not want.

This vote with the Greens was just the first step.

Being propped up by the Greens to form Government is a deal with the devil.

All Dean Winter cares about is himself.

He will say and do anything to grab power.

He cannot be trusted.

Tasmania cannot afford to risk a Labor-Green Government.

Media release – Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader, 11 June 2025, 14:52

Statement from Dean Winter

Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC requested I meet with her this afternoon.

In that meeting, I reiterated my position that Labor will not be doing a deal with the Greens.

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