Former Liberal attorney-general Elise Archer will throw her hat back into the ring at Tasmania’s July state election, announcing today she will contest the seat of Clark as an independent.
Announcing her candidacy, Archer said she had “become increasingly frustrated with poor governance in recent years” and that the current government had “lost its way”.
“The Rockliff government has stopped listening to Tasmanians and it seems they can no longer manage a sustainable budget or major critical projects,” she said.
Archer was first elected to state parliament in 2010 in the seat of Denison, now known as Clark. She topped the Liberal ticket at the 2021 election with 9,402 first-preference votes.
She said her decision to run as an independent followed “overwhelming support” from the community after her high-profile exit from the party.
Archer quit Jeremy Rockliff’s cabinet and resigned from the Liberal Party in September 2023 after bullying allegations were levelled by staff in her office, claims she has denied.
“I’m no longer a member of the Liberal Party and believe the electorate of Clark will be better represented by my standing as a moderate, sensible and measured independent with the experience necessary to fix this fiasco,” she said.
Archer established the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal during her time as Attorney-General and also made history as the state’s first female Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Looking ahead to the campaign, Archer said housing access would be a key focus, calling it one of the most pressing issues for Tasmanians. She is also firmly opposed to the Macquarie Point stadium.
“I want Tasmania to have an AFL team but we cannot spend endless taxpayer money to achieve an unsustainable and ongoing cost,” she said.
“No other AFL side has had such requirements placed on it.”
Archer said the stadium plan “will bankrupt the state”, adding that her campaign would instead focus on the economy, repairing what she called the “perilous” state of the budget and tackling the cost of living, health and education.
She also predicted a “minority government is now inevitable” in the 35-seat parliament under the Hare-Clark system.
“Therefore, we must be mature and negotiate our way forward in a minority situation,” she said. “Moderate and sensible independents with experience are critical for a successful parliament.”
The Liberals have yet to confirm their full slate of candidates for Clark, although former Legislative Council hopeful Marcus Vermey has already put his hand up, joining incumbent MPs Simon Behrakis and Madeleine Ogilvie.
“I trust that my reputation for working hard in my electorate will be remembered along with my honesty, openness and integrity,” Archer said.
