Both major parties have promised bulk-billed GP clinics. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Tasmania goes to the polls again this Saturday and, as expected, there have been few holds barred in the past week as campaigning intensifies.
Tasmanian Labor launched its campaign on Sunday 13 July in Devonport, promising to double the number of planned bulk-billed GP clinics across the state to 10.
Under its previous TassieDoc plan, Labor said GPs would be employed as contractors, and would be exempt from paying payroll tax, while nursing and admin staff would be paid by the State Government which would also provide the clinic and consulting rooms.
The move to boost the number of clinics comes after Liberal leader and Premier Jeremy Rockliff promised to match Labor’s previous promise to establish five clinics.
The 19 July election comes barely 16 months after the last state election, and follows a period of instability after the state budget, culminating in a no-confidence motion in the Premier moved by Labor leader Dean Winter on 5 June that was supported by the Greens and the Crossbenchers.
Mr Rockliff subsequently called a new election with the blessing of State Governor Barbara Baker for 19 July, after no alternative Liberal leader could be found and Mr Winter couldn’t form a minority government.
“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,” the Premier said on 11 June.
“So, let’s get on with it.”
The current Tasmanian Parliament is made up of 50 Members of Parliament, comprising 35 Members of the House of Assembly (MHA), and 15 Members of the Legislative Council (MLC).
There are 14 Liberal MHAs, 10 Labor, five Greens, 2 independents, and one National. Of the 15 MLCs, three are Liberal, three are Labor, eight are independents, and there is one Green.
The Liberals have focused a large part of their campaigning on Labor’s policies, and in drawing links between Labor and The Greens in an attempt to undermine both. They have also targeted the independents, apparently in the hope of being able to form a majority government after Saturday.
On 14 July, Mr Rockliff said the livelihoods of thousands of Tasmanians were at risk under a Greens plan to attack family farms, and that they loved to hate traditional Tasmanian industries, including farming, forestry and mining.
“Tasmania’s livestock industry and premium produce are the envy of the world, and the Tasmanian Liberals will always support our farmers,” he said.
“We know the only way Labor can govern after Saturday is with the Greens and their job-destroying agenda.
“A re-elected Tasmanian Liberal Government will continue to support our farmers and the thousands of people who work in primary production in our rural and regional communities.”
On 16 July, Liberal Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Minister for Housing, Planning and Consumer Affairs, Minister for Skills and Training, and Member for Braddon Felix Ellis described some of the independents as “destructive left-wing radicals”.
“They want to end agriculture, aquaculture, forestry and manufacturing,” he said.
“They’ve said it themselves. They will shut down the traditional industries that have built Tasmania’s prosperity.
“Tasmanians need to think twice about voting for a so-called independent – they are even more dangerous than the Greens.”
This is a risky strategy for the Liberals, as rather than having an opportunity to deal with some of these so-called “radicals” after Saturday if they want to form government, they may instead drive them towards a possible Labor-led minority government.
Greens Leader Dr Rosalie Woodruff has focussed her attention on Hobart’s controversial Macquarie Point Stadium development, the cost of which is estimated to have blown out to more than a billion dollars, accusing both parties of shying away from the issue.
“There’s one massive, billion-dollar issue they won’t be debating because both leaders are in furious agreement on it – a new Hobart stadium,” she said on 16 July.
“The overwhelming majority of Tasmanians don’t support building a costly new stadium in Hobart.
“They recognise the budget is in a mess, essential services are seriously underfunded, and that paying for the stadium will mean job cuts and asset sales to pay for the project,” she added.
“Despite this, the Liberals and Labor are in lockstep supporting a dud development that would add $1.9 billion to the state’s debt over the next decade.”
