Labor leader Dean Winter says he has no regrets over his high-stakes no-confidence motion against Premier Jeremy Rockliff, as Tasmanians get ready to vote in Saturday’s state election.
Speaking in Launceston on the final day of campaigning, Winter deflected repeated questions about whether the political gamble could backfire if Labor once again fails to form government.
“We have to win for Tasmanians,” he said more than once.
“We have to win to deliver the fresh start that Tasmania needs. It’s been 11 years for the Liberals. They’ve taken Tasmania from no net debt to $13 billion worth of net debt.”
Winter said he would respect the result Tasmanians deliver and was prepared to work with whatever parliament voters choose.
He also reiterated that Labor would not enter into any formal agreements with the Greens.
“I want to provide a firm Labor government that delivers on Labor policies [and] Labor values for Tasmanian regional communities,” he said.
“People all over the state … are relying on having a government that’s giving them a fresh start.”
Polling by Pyxis Insights, commissioned by Labor in June, found 53% of Tasmanians believe it is time for a new government. 34% said the Liberals deserve another term.
Winter’s campaign has leaned heavily on health, promising new ‘TassieDoc’ clinics with free bulk-billed GP services and committing to $1 billion in budget savings.
“Tasmanians have got a choice,” Winter said. “They’ve got a choice between a fresh start under Labor to deliver more GP services into towns and suburbs where they live or the Liberals who will just keep doing the same thing.”
“A plan to fix the budget or a Liberal plan which will send Tasmania broke.”
