Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirmed Tasmania will go to an election more than a year early on March 23.
With waning power in parliament, the party yesterday unanimously decided to bring forward the election in an effort to win back a majority.
Rockliff today confirmed voters will head to the polls in just over a month, saying the current situation was destabilising for the state.
“I am not going to allow myself and my government to be held to ransom for the next 12 months,” he said at a press conference.
“It is bad for Tasmania and is bad for Tasmanians.
“I’ve taken the decision to call an election so that Tasmanians can have their say.”
Rockliff had earlier this month presented the former Liberal MPs with an ultimatum, asking them to sign an agreement they would not support Labor or the Greens in parliament.
He threatened to otherwise call an early election.
The Liberals have held power in Tasmania for almost a decade, after ending Labor’s 16-year governance in 2014.
Rockliff said he was confident his party would win a majority government again against Labor, led by Rebecca White.
He said he would, however, respect the outcome of the electorate.
“We will govern alone or not at all,” he said.
Both parties will begin their election campaigns more than five weeks out from when voters head to the ballot box.
Rockliff, who took over as premier in April 2022 following the resignation of Peter Gutwein, pledged to serve out his full term if elected.
