Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has opened up about his personal life and the importance of conversations around mental health during a breakfast radio interview with Hit100.9’s Dan and Christie.
The premier, known for his involvement in the Tasmanian mental health space, was commended for donning his shorts during last Thursday’s Speak Up Stay ChatTY Shorts Day.
Rockliff was one of 18,000+ Tasmanians who braced the cold on the shortest day of the year for the third annual Shorts Day.
In his early 20’s while living on the family farm, the now Premier worked as a phone counsellor for Lifeline.
“At that time as a young farmer I would see and hear of young males, in particular in rural and regional areas, and some of the challenges they had,” Rockliff told The Examiner in 2019.
While speaking to Dan and Christie on Wednesday morning, the Premier talked about the significance of events like Shorts Day in bringing people together to discuss mental health and support one another.
“I’m not sure the shorts and the boots rock it too well, but look – a great cause and Speak Up Stay ChatTY do such wonderful work,” he said.
“They do great work in our schools – talking to our kids, and of course all our sporting clubs as well. It’s getting the message out there about mental health and the importance of looking after your mates”.
Opening up on life as Premier, Rockliff admitted that the job can be stressful – but revealed his teenage daughters play a crucial role in keeping him grounded.
