Concerns that the Liberals’ TasInsure proposal could amount to “serious deceptive and misleading conduct” have prompted a Labor candidate to call on the federal government to investigate.
The proposed state-owned insurance scheme, which the Liberals have promised if they win the state election, has already attracted scepticism from the insurance industry, a leading economist and Labor’s Luke Martin.
Martin, who is running in Clark, has written to Financial Services Minister Daniel Mulino asking him to direct federal regulators, including the ACCC, to look into the TasInsure plan.
In his letter, Martin said Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s promotion of the scheme had misled Tasmanian businesses and households about possible savings, without providing any solid evidence or detail.
“The premier claims his scheme will save households $250 and business insurance will be 20% cheaper,” the letter says.
“He has announced a corporate brand and logo, launched a retail shopfront, a consumer website and is even wearing branded merchandise. But he provides no evidence to back up his assertions.”
Martin said the Liberals had failed to release three key pieces of information to support the policy: a business case, actuarial advice and a detailed financial analysis.
He also expressed concerns about the timing of the scheme’s rollout, suggesting it could amount to a “crude” vote-buying exercise, especially with many businesses now reviewing their insurance for the year ahead.
“His salesmanship has gone well beyond normal election campaigning,” Martin said.
“I am concerned this could all constitute serious deceptive and misleading conduct.”
The letter comes as former Labor Premier Paul Lennon revealed he had registered the TasInsure name and now expects the Liberal Party to stop using it.
“I understand the Tasmanian Government does not legally own the ‘TasInsure’ company name, nor has it even trademarked the fancy logo it is promoting across the community,” Martin added.
The Liberals have dismissed Labor’s concerns, accusing them of playing political games with an initiative they say will be owned by Tasmania and deliver real benefits.
“Labor’s latest bizarre attempt to block the Liberals from establishing a state-owned insurance company shows just how desperate Labor is,” Liberal candidate for Clark Simon Behrakis said.
“Mr Winter needs to explain why Labor is so opposed to cheaper insurance premiums for Tasmanians.”
Yesterday I wrote to the Federal Minister for Financial Services Daniel Mulino asking the federal financial regulatory bodies to investigate the Premier’s dodgy TasInsure thought bubble. This is beyond politics and elections.
— Luke Martin (@LukeMartin1983) July 11, 2025
