Josh Willie has challenged Labor colleagues reportedly plotting against him to say who they are, saying he is confident he has the support to remain leader.
The Tasmanian opposition leader fronted the media on Saturday alongside frontbencher Ella Haddad, days after a DemosAU poll put Labor at a record-low 21%, level with One Nation.
The poll came amid reports Labor colleagues were unhappy with Willie’s performance and were canvassing Haddad and Shane Broad as possible replacements.
One nameless figure was quoted dismissing Willie as ‘a Temu Dean Winter’, while another said he was ‘on borrowed time’.
Willie said he would not be cowed by the anonymous critics.
“I challenge anybody who’s putting forward these comments to put their name to it and see how it goes for them,” he said.
He said he had the backing of the caucus, the party’s rank and file and the union movement.
Willie argued the poll reflected broader political forces also being seen on the mainland.
“What it shows is that the major parties collectively have a job to do to convince Tasmanians that we have the answers to improve their lives,” he said.
He conceded being level with One Nation was concerning.
“Of course it worries me. We need to make sure that Tasmanians understand that right-wing populism isn’t going to improve their lives,” Willie said.
The poll, conducted between June 21 and July 6, also delivered a poor result for the state government.
The Liberals fell to 28%, down almost 12 percentage points since last year’s election. One Nation recorded 21% in its first inclusion in the poll.
Willie said the state government was escaping proper scrutiny while the focus remained on Labor.
“This is not a good poll for the Liberal Party and they have been let off because of this debate,” he said.
“It hasn’t been a good poll for any established party.”
He said Jeremy Rockliff’s government was “past its use-by date” after 13 years in power.
Asked several times whether his support for greyhound racing had hurt him, Willie would not engage.
Instead, he listed jobs, housing, health and the cost of living as the main concerns raised by voters.
The poll found housing and homelessness (25%) and the cost of living (24%) were the biggest issues for voters. Education was nominated by 2%.
Willie said Labor was already putting forward policies, including five-day kindergarten and universal access to three-year-old preschool.
Haddad, who had been floated as a possible successor, was adamant she was not chasing the job.
“Absolutely not,” she said when asked if she was counting numbers.
Haddad said she was angry to have been dragged into the speculation.
“Stories like this are not only untrue, but they’re incredibly unhelpful,” she said.
“And I’m here today actually feeling really angry that my name has been brought into this when Josh has clear support not only from our caucus, but from the rank and file of the Labor Party, from the wider community, from the union movement and across Tasmania.”
Asked multiple times whether she wanted the leadership, now or in the future, Haddad said no each time.
Haddad nominated to lead the party’s left faction after last year’s election and said she was happy with the result of the vote, which Willie won.
Acting Premier Bridget Archer said Labor’s leadership was a matter for Labor, but voters were tired of the infighting.
“Tasmanians are pretty sick of politicians talking about themselves,” Archer said.
She said the government would not be distracted “by polls that will come and go”.
The next state election is not due until 2029. Willie said there were “no shortcuts to government” and rebuilding trust would take time.
