With just 37 days until Tasmanians head to the polls, the Liberal Party has unveiled a Bass team made up entirely of familiar faces.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday announced seven candidates for the northern electorate – all of them having previously appeared on a ballot, whether in state or federal contests or at the March 2024 election.
The headline inclusion is Bridget Archer, the former federal Bass MP who lost her seat to Labor in May’s federal election sweep.
After six years representing the electorate in Canberra, she is now eyeing a return through state politics.
“Bridget, who loves our community, is a fighter for Tasmania and has achieved a great deal in the federal parliament, local governments and the community,” Rockliff said when announcing the team.
Archer joins sitting Liberal MPs Michael Ferguson, Rob Fairs and Simon Wood, who are all running again after being elected at the 2024 state poll.
Rounding out the ticket are Chris Gatenby, Sarah Quaile and Julie Sladden.
Gatenby is a former state Liberal president, Quaile is a public school teacher with over 20 years’ experience and Sladden, a general practitioner, serves as a West Tamar councillor.
“It’s just magnificent to be here with such a very strong team in Bass and I couldn’t be prouder of what our team is going to do for this community in building a better Tasmania,” Rockliff said.
The Liberals are aiming to pick up as many seats as they can across the state’s five electorates in a push for majority government.
Under Tasmania’s Hare–Clark voting system, each electorate elects seven members, meaning the Liberals can field up to 35 candidates statewide.
Rockliff confirmed every current Liberal MP will be running again in their local seat, adding the team is “ready to go” and “firing on all cylinders”.
