Latest news with #DeanWinter
ABC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Tasmanian Labor consulting on 'right process' for Macquarie Point stadium approval
Tasmanian Labor says it is trying to understand what the "right approval process" is for the Macquarie Point stadium, suggesting it may walk back its support for the fast-track process currently in place. The $945 million proposed waterfront stadium is being assessed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission as a Project of State Significance (POSS). But the government and others involved in the project fear the project will be unable to meet the strict timelines set out by the AFL. In June, knowing it had the support of Labor, the Liberal government introduced special legislation that would have allowed the project to bypass the planning system. It was due to be debated later this month. Instead, following a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff, Tasmania is facing its fourth election in seven years. Now, Labor appears to be reconsidering its support for the legislation. When asked at a press conference if Labor would be pursuing the enabling legislation, leader Dean Winter said the party was "consulting" with stakeholders about the right process. "We need to make sure that we can get this thing built," said Mr Winter. "We've looked at the legislation and also understood from Legislative councillors that there are some real challenges there, so we'll be making announcements around that following consultation." The Legislative Council is ruled by independents and minor parties at a nine-to-six split, meaning even with both major parties on board, nothing is guaranteed. Regardless of which process it goes through — legislation or POSS — the project has to be approved by both houses of parliament. "We need to make sure whatever goes to the Legislative Council can actually get approval," Mr Winter said. "That's going to require a lot of hard work and a parliamentary process that makes sense." He would not be drawn on whether he thought the legislation would pass the upper house in its current form. "We have to get it approved and finding the right approval process to maximise the chances of actually getting it built is the most important priority here," Mr Winter said. Regardless of whether Labor wins government on July 19, its support is likely to be essential. Greens candidate Helen Burnet said while she would like Labor to walk away from the stadium altogether, she hoped the party would at least drop its support for the legislation. "They've been very unclear in the past. They've flip-flopped. It's really important with such a massive issue that they're making it very clear for Tasmanians before they vote.
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Labor pledges greater oversight of state infrastructure
Senior Tasmanian bureaucrats will be sacked and stripped of bonuses if major infrastructure projects are not delivered on time and on budget under a Labor government. The pledge from Tasmania's opposition comes as the party seeks to tap into frustrations over delays plaguing major projects ahead of a snap state election in July. "We need to make sure these people understand exactly what their job is and that's to deliver for Tasmanians," Opposition Leader Dean Winter told reporters in Devonport on Saturday. Labor pledged to "boost up" Infrastructure Tasmania and reallocate about $1 million to create a team dedicated to overseeing projects worth more than $100 million. That would include Spirit of Tasmania upgrades, as the price of a yet-to-be-built Devonport facility blows out from $90 million to $495 million. "If we can get these projects right from the start, then we don't see these huge stuff-ups that cost Tasmanians hundreds of millions of dollars and cost our economy even more," Mr Winter said. Tasmanian Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff kicked off the first weekend of his campaign at a pharmacy in Riverside, outside Launceston, promising his re-elected government would extend the number of conditions pharmacists could provide treatments for without prescriptions. Some 23 conditions would be added, including ear infections and eczema, with the government in talks with pharmacists about extending operating hours and opening on weekends. The July 19 election was called in the days after Mr Rockliff refused to resign following a no-confidence motion in parliament. That was passed in part due to former Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner, who revealed on Saturday he has switched to the Nationals. "Seventy to 80 per cent of my area, which is the division of Lyons, is rural and regional and I don't think there's a party positioned to represent it better than the Nationals," Mr Jenner said at a press conference alongside Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie. With the premier twice governing in minority, the Labor and Liberal parties are pushing for an outright win at the July 19 poll. Other parties have made no secret of crossbench ambitions, with the Greens vowing not to cut the public service if they win the balance of power. "It's not just the people that we see publicly out in front that are essential - it is everybody behind the scenes that is doing the admin, doing the paperwork and ensuring the public service functions properly," Greens MP Tabatha Badger said.
ABC News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Stadium, ships and stability — parties make first pitch in Tasmanian election nobody wanted
Following a week of political mudslinging, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor leader Dean Winter say they will attempt to project a "positive" image for the state in the freshly-started election campaign. On the first day of the campaign yesterday, both major parties started making pitches to voters ahead of the July 19 election. Mr Rockliff appeared on Thursday alongside his Bass candidates at Legana, an outer suburb of Launceston. The Liberals have only one change to the seven candidates who ran at the last election, with former federal Bass MP Bridget Archer now running. Spending much of last week attacking Mr Winter by calling him a "wrecker", Mr Rockliff started the campaign taking a different tack. "I'll be focusing in a positive frame of mind," he said. Standing next to the new Legana Primary School, Mr Rockliff said the Liberals were also building new roads and updating hospitals. "We will be making new announcements which I'll be working [through] with our candidates and with our community and have a very clear plan for Tasmania." The Liberals are expected to announce former Braddon MP Gavin Pearce and former senator Stephen Parry as candidates for Braddon today. The election followed a successful no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff, moved by Mr Winter last week. The no-confidence motion focused on the state's budgetary position, potential privatisation of state-owned companies, and the bungled rollout of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels. On the first day of the campaign, Mr Winter honed in on the Spirits saga. "Who could possibly believe that you could have a premier of this state who was buying a billion dollars' worth of new ships, and then forgot to build a berth for them to actually operate from? "It's something from a comedy act." Mr Rockliff said the government had been accountable — the Spirits' rollout led to former infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson resigning from the cabinet. Labor went to the last election under previous leader Rebecca White, who has since won the federal seat of Lyons. It means the party is expected to have a range of new policies under Mr Winter, which he had originally intended to release in the second half of the year. Mr Winter said he wanted Tasmania to be "a place where things actually get done". "I want rents to stop going up by so much. "I want this to be a place where hospitals are actually accessible, where you can go to school and get an education in Tasmania that's just as good as the mainland." The Tasmanian Greens appeared outside the historic Goods Shed at Macquarie Point, which is slated to be relocated as part of plans for a proposed stadium. The Greens oppose any new stadium in Hobart, contrary to the positions of the Liberals and Labor. Polling in February by EMRS — which is owned by Font PR, a firm with Liberal links — showed 59 per cent oppose the stadium while 36 per cent support it. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the election was an opportunity for those opposed to the stadium to make their voices heard. "Whether it's a referendum or not, we know people in their droves will be voting against any party or individual who supports that stadium," she said. "Both Jeremy Rockliff's Liberals and Dean Winter's Labor have shown they are incapable of shifting their views despite poll after poll after poll showing Tasmanians hate a stadium. "What will it take? What it will take — we've found now — is an election."
ABC News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Tasmania heads to election
Isabella Higgins: In Tasmania, campaign mode begins with the state headed for a snap election on July 19th. Despite the no confidence motion against Premier Jeremy Rockleaf that sent the state to the polls, the Liberal leader is hanging on. For the latest, Meg Whitfield in Hobart. Meg, how did we get here? Meg Whitfield: It's a good question. It's been quite the week in Tasmanian politics. So a week ago today, Premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a motion of no confidence vote on the House of Parliament in the House of Assembly. That was after a marathon two day debate over the motion. It was moved by Labor leader Dean Winter. Ultimately the vote got up 18 votes to 17 with Speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting that final vote. And the whole way through, Premier Jeremy Rocklifff said, if this motion is successful, I will go to the governor and I will request a snap election. Keeping in mind it's only been about 15 months since the last time we had a state election in Tasmania. But when that vote passed, he went to the government house. He made that request of the governor, Barbara Baker. Last night she came back to the premier and said, I'll grant that request. And we're going back to the polls July 19th. Now, she did say that was notwithstanding the 2024 election, the public interest in avoiding the cost of an election and the prevailing public mood against an election. But she granted the dissolution and said she was satisfied there was no real possibility an alternative government could be formed. So we're back to the polls. Isabella Higgins: Right, Meg, as you say, headed to a snap election. So what happens now? Meg Whitfield: Well, campaign mode will now get well and truly underway. It looked like it was beginning to get that way over the weekend, despite the election not yet being called, both major parties gearing up for it. But now that will well and truly get underway. The major parties will have to determine their policies. We'll have to say what candidates are coming out. There might be a bit of a shake up there. We've already seen former federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer. She's put her hand up to run in the state election for the Libs if she gets preselected for that. And we've also heard the other day Michelle O'Byrne, who has been with Labor for a very, very long time, saying she won't seek preselection. So that's a big loss in Bass for them. And obviously, Bec White, Rebecca White, she's now a federal MP, so she won't be going for Labor in lines. And she's a huge vote puller. So it'll be quite interesting to see what candidates we get, what kind of impact that'll have on the actual makeup of Parliament. At the moment, there's 14 Liberal MPs, there's 10 Labor MPs. You'd think they'd both be wanting to grow that. But there could also be a real move towards independents and Greens, because there is a bit of voter fatigue out there. We've had so many elections in Tasmania, not just state. But our fourth state election in seven years, it'll be interesting if voters turn away from the major parties as a result. And that is a bit of a trend that we've seen nationally. So interesting times ahead.
ABC News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Tasmanian election to be held Saturday July 19
Tasmania's governor has granted Premier Jeremy Rockliff an early election, stating that she "is satisfied that there is no real possibility that an alternative government can be formed". Governor Barbara Baker has announced Saturday July 19 as the date. In a statement released on Wednesday night, Her Excellency said she would dissolve Parliament and issue the writ for an election. It comes after Mr Rockliff decided to call for a state election rather than step down as premier. It will be Tasmania's fourth election is seven years, and the second within 15 months. In a statement, Mr Rockliff said he retains "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," he conceded. "But it was forced upon us by the Leader of the Opposition. "So, let's get on with it." Mr Rockliff also referenced former Labor-Greens accords, saying "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." Labor Opposition leader Mr Winter has responded to the election announcement by saying, "it's time for a fresh start for Tasmania". "The Liberals want to sell off Tasmania, while Labor will keep Tasmania in Tasmanian hands," he said in a statement. "Our entire labour movement is united and ready to send the Liberals a loud message – Tasmania is not for sale." Mr Rockliff chose to not relinquish the job of premier after losing the Labor-led no-confidence motion 17 votes to 18, six days ago. Mr Winter has also ruled out forming a minority government with the help of the Greens and the crossbench, saying in a statement on Wednesday that he "reiterated my position that Labor will not be doing a deal with the Greens" after a meeting with the governor. Mr Winter said he moved the no-confidence motion in response to the bungled rollout of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels, the state's budget position and previous suggestions to privatise state-owned companies. Mr Rockliff has since ruled out privatising the state's Government Business Enterprises (GBEs).
