The National Party is launching its first serious tilt at Tasmanian state politics in decades, confirming it will contest the seats of Bass, Braddon and Lyons in the upcoming election.
Federal Senate leader Bridget McKenzie unveiled the plan during a visit to Launceston, less than 24 hours after the state election was officially called.
The three targeted electorates cover much of northern Tasmania and are heartland territory for a party that has historically backed rural and regional communities across the country.
“We’ve been representing communities like Launceston, Devonport and Burnie and the regions in state and federal parliaments for over 120 years,” McKenzie said.
“And we think it’s time Tasmania has an opportunity to be represented by the National Party.”
The Nationals last had a presence in Tasmanian state politics as the Country Party and Centre Party back in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
They officially re-registered in Tasmania in January and have since built what McKenzie calls “a wealth of support, particularly here in the north from Tasmanians that want and deserve better representation”.
Tasmanian Nationals chair Pip Allwright said the time felt right for a return.
“As a Tasmanian, we are really excited about having Tas Nats here. It has always been a passion in my soul about rural and regional areas,” she said.
Campaign spokesman Carl Cooper, a pharmacist and farmer from Rowella, said the state’s leadership had fallen short in recent years.
“I believe that Tasmania deserves better. We’ve had a very difficult couple of years in relation to government policy and I think governance comes to the core of the parliament,” he said.
“The Nationals stand up for business. We support the salmon industry, we support agriculture, we support mining,” he said, adding the party is firmly against the proposed Macquarie Point stadium.
The Tasmanian Nationals now have a week to lock in their candidate line-up ahead of the July 19 election. Former Liberal-turned-independent John Tucker has already thrown his hat in the ring.
“What we’re interested in doing is actually meeting people, making sure they understand who we are, what we’re about, why we are going to be a great choice for so many people in Bass, Braddon and Lyons,” McKenzie said.
“That’s our job for the next 40 days and we’re up for it and if you want to join, we’d love to have you.”
