The Liberal Party has kicked off its federal election campaign in Tasmania, rolling out a strategy focused heavily on local economic issues ahead of the May 3 poll.
Bass MP Bridget Archer, flanked by Braddon candidate Mal Hingston and Lyons hopeful Susie Bower, spoke of their plans to ‘supercharge’ the freight equalisation scheme and invest in south-east irrigation to give the state’s economy a boost.
“A coalition-led government would get Australia back on track. Our team here in Tasmania has got a strong plan,” Archer said.
‘What we know and what we’ve seen in the last week is how we cannot trust this Labor government and we cannot trust what they will do in concert with their Greens friends to bring more uncertainty to this country at a time when we can least afford it.”
The Liberals are zeroing in on cost-of-living pressures, promising immediate fuel excise relief instead of waiting for Labor’s scheduled tax cuts.
The salmon industry is shaping up as a key motivator for voters, with Archer accusing the federal government of creating “absolute chaos” through its “haphazard” legislation recently passed in federal parliament.
In Lyons, Susie Bower is pitching herself as a candidate with “real-life experience” outside the political bubble.
“I believe that people are looking for something a little bit different, someone … that’s actually had a career outside of politics and actually knows what it’s like you know to struggle, to not come from what I call a silver spoon environment,” she said.
“It is actually about being a real person knowing the real issues and addressing those for our community.”
Over in Braddon, candidate Mal Hingston is leaning into his 35 years of industry experience.
“We’re a very industrious electorate and I understand that,” Hingston said.
“I grew up in Latrobe with mum and dad, we didn’t grow up in a wealthy family, started off with not much and still probably don’t have much but and here I am happy to put my hand up and … work for the electorate.”
