Before taking in Jeremy Rockliff’s State of the State speech today, be sure to add a grain of salt – if the Liberals’ track record of broken promises is anything to go by.

In the 2023 edition of his speech, the Premier promised that he would not call an early election. Broken. He couldn’t keep his house in order and sure enough, the early election came.

The Premier promised he would have an “increased focus on driving Tasmania’s economic growth and creating more jobs.” Broken. Since Jeremy Rockliff’s leadership sent his government into minority, Tasmania has already shed 5,000 jobs, the economy is flatlining and Tasmanians are leaving the state in record numbers for better opportunities elsewhere.

He promised to introduce legislation for planning panels. Broken.

He promised to make Tasmania the gateway to the Antarctic, including supplying the new Korean icebreaker. Broken. We are in serious peril of losing our Antarctic status because this Government has been asleep at the wheel.

He promised to deliver the new Spirits in 2024. Broken. The new Spirits are delayed and unlikely to be fully delivered until 2026 at the earliest, cost blowouts have hit half a billion dollars, and the Premier has been caught out misleading the Parliament over it.

Tasmanian Labor stands for safe, secure and well-paid jobs. We want Tasmania to be a place where young people want to stay, rather than leaving for the mainland.

For this to happen, we need a government and a Premier that delivers on their promises.

Shane Broad MP
Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly