Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he is confident his Liberal team has put its “very best foot forward” as voters head to polling booths across Tasmania.
Speaking after casting his vote at Sassafras alongside his wife Sandra and daughter Lucy, who was voting for the first time, Rockliff said he was proud of his candidates, many of whom had stepped up at short notice.
“I was very pleased with our campaign given the circumstances,” Rockliff said. “I could not have asked for a more disciplined and loyal and focused team of candidates.”
Rockliff will mark 23 years as an MP tomorrow. He said it would be a “nervous” wait for all candidates to learn the outcome of the election.
If things don’t go the Liberals’ way, the premier who grew up on his family potato farm joked he might have to “learn how to grow spuds again”.
“I’ve been very privileged to lead this party since April 8, 2022 and I continue to do so and look forward to working with my colleagues when they are elected,” he said.
“The important thing is that you stand up for what you believe in. There are many areas of policy that we’ve taken to this election that I believe in.”
“I believe in better access to fertility treatment for women and families. I believe in better access to health care. I believe in ensuring that our kids can go to school with food in their tummies and be able to engage in learning in a safe and encouraging environment.”
“I believe in the strength of our economy and we’ve had key investments that’ve allowed us to be of course the leading state in Australia when it comes to the lowest unemployment ever in this state of 3.8%.”
Rockliff plans to spend the evening with family, before joining Liberal Party colleagues at campaign headquarters as the results roll in.
