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Jeremy Rockliff

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The Honourable
Jeremy Rockliff
MP
47th Premier of Tasmania
Elections: 2024
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 April 2022
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
GovernorBarbara Baker
DeputyMichael Ferguson
Guy Barnett
Preceded byPeter Gutwein
Deputy Premier of Tasmania
In office
31 March 2014 – 8 April 2022
PremierWill Hodgman
Peter Gutwein
Preceded byBryan Green
Succeeded byMichael Ferguson
Deputy Leader of the Tasmanian Liberal Party
In office
30 March 2006 – 8 April 2022
LeaderWill Hodgman
Peter Gutwein
Preceded byWill Hodgman
Succeeded byMichael Ferguson
Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Braddon
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 July 2002
Personal details
Born
Jeremy Page Rockliff

(1970-02-05) 5 February 1970 (age 54)
Devonport, Tasmania, Australia
Political partyLiberal
SpouseSandra Knowles
ChildrenThree daughters
ResidenceSassafras, Tasmania
Alma materLaunceston Church Grammar School
Lincoln University
OccupationPolitician, farmer, company director
PortfolioEducation and Training
Primary Industries and Water
Websitewww.jeremyrockliff.com.au
NicknameJ-Rock[1][2]

Jeremy Page Rockliff (born 5 February 1970) is an Australian politician. He has served as premier of Tasmania since 2022, as state leader of the Liberal Party. He previously served as deputy premier from 2014 to 2022.

Rockliff was raised in Sassafras, Tasmania, and was a farmer before entering politics. He was first elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly at the 2002 state election, representing the division of Braddon. He was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party in 2006 and served as deputy premier from 2014 to 2022 in the governments of Will Hodgman and Peter Gutwein. Rockliff replaced Gutwein as premier in 2022. His party lost its parliamentary majority in 2023. He subsequently called an early election in 2024 and remained as premier in minority government after securing confidence and supply from minor parties and independents.

Early life

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The "Big Spud" in Sassafras, erected by Rockcliff and his father in the 1980s

Rockliff was born on 5 February 1970 in Devonport, Tasmania.[3] He is the son of Richard "Rick" and Geraldine Rockliff, with his father's family having farmed at Sassafras since the 1850s.[4] His father, who died in 2023, farmed potatoes and opium poppies, working for Tasmanian Alkaloids.[5]

Rockliff grew up on his family's farm at Sassafras. In the early 1980s he and his siblings helped his father erect the Big Spud (also known as Kenny the Kennebec), a large pole-mounted sculpture of a potato considered one of Australia's "big things". The family used the sculpture as an advertising gimmick for its roadside potato stall on the Bass Highway.[6]

Rockliff attended Latrobe High School and Launceston Church Grammar School. He completed a diploma in farm management at Lincoln University in New Zealand, before returning to Sassafras to work on the family property. He was president of the Latrobe Football Club from 2006 to 2009.[7]

Political career

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Early career

[edit]

Rockliff joined the Young Liberal Movement in 1991, and the Liberal Party in 1992. He became MP for Braddon in the House of Assembly in 2002. He was immediately promoted to the front bench, serving as opposition whip from 2002 until March 2006. When Will Hodgman, who had also been first elected in 2002, was elected leader of The Tasmanian Liberal Party in March 2006, he named Rockliff as his deputy, and hence Deputy Leader of the Opposition.[8]

Deputy Premier

[edit]

Rockliff became Deputy Premier of Tasmania in March 2014, following the Liberal Party winning government at the 2014 state election. He was also Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for Primary Industries and Water.[9] When Hodgman resigned as party leader and Premier in January 2020, Rockcliff did not stand in the subsequent Liberal Party leadership contest, which was won by Peter Gutwein unopposed on 20 January 2020.[10] As such, Rockliff remained as deputy party leader and Deputy Premier.

Along with being Deputy Premier, Rockliff continued to hold multiple portfolios as the Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Trade, Minister for Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries, Minister for Disability Services and Community Development, and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing.[11]

Premier

[edit]

At a party-room meeting on the morning 8 April 2022, Rockliff was elected unopposed as the new leader of the Tasmanian Liberal Party, after Peter Gutwein had announced his resignation earlier that week. That afternoon he was sworn in by the Governor as the 47th Premier of Tasmania.[12][13]

As Premier, Rockliff has continued the state government's negotiations with the Australian Football League in an attempt to gain a 19th team licence for Tasmania. Rockliff has championed a proposed $715 million[14] multi-use stadium to be built in Hobart's Macquarie Point as a part of this bid. For his steadfast support of a stadium he has faced criticism from the community and the opposition parties and cross-bench Members of Parliament as well as some in the federal Liberal Party.[15] On 12 May 2023, Lara Alexander, alongside fellow Tasmanian Liberal John Tucker state MP, left the Liberal Party to sit as independent Members of Parliament, in part due to concerns related to the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium project and lack of transparency. This leaves the Liberal party in minority government and requiring seven seats to reach a majority in the next state election.[16]

On 28 September 2023, attorney general Elise Archer resigned from cabinet after being asked to do so by Rockliff in response to allegations of bullying and subsequent leaks of information from the government against her.[17] In doing so she additionally resigned from the Liberal Party, leaving the government as a minority government with ten seats in the lower house. Archer subsequently resigned from parliament, following a statement from Rockliff that he would call an early election if she did not do so.

On 13 February 2024, Rockliff called a snap election after his demands of a permanent supply and confidence deal were denied by the now independent MPs Alexander and Tucker due to continued disagreements.[18] At the 2024 state election, the first since the expansion of the House of Assembly to 35 seats, the Liberal Party suffered a negative swing of 12 points but still finished with the largest share of the vote. Rockliff was still unable to form a majority government, with the Liberals winning 14 out of 35 seats in an increased overall Parliament. He subsequent reached confidence and supply agreements with the three Jacqui Lambie Network MPs and with independent MP David O'Byrne.[19][20] The second Rockliff ministry was sworn in on 11 April 2024.[21]

On 19 November 2024, Rockliff's government survived an impromptu motion of no confidence put forth by the Tasmanian Greens. Rockliff was supported in the motion by the Jacqui Lambie Network, the Tasmanian Labor Party, and all independents excluding Kristie Johnston whom voted against Rockliff despite having a confidence-and-supply agreement with him.[22]

Political views

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Rockliff has been described as a moderate Liberal[23] however this is questioned by other commentators.[24]

Rockliff supported the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the lead-up to the 2023 referendum, despite federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton's opposition.[25][26] He stated that he would campaign "vigorously" for the Voice and joined several other state Liberal leaders in supporting the Voice and opposing Dutton's position.[27] Rockliff has also supported changing the date of Australia Day from 26 January.[28][29]

References

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  1. ^ "Big-name Braddon hope backs AFL stadium, and it's not just a J-Rock thing". 20 February 2024.
  2. ^ May, Natasha; May (Earlier), Natasha (24 March 2024). "Tasmanian Labor leader concedes Liberals should have first opportunity to try to form government – as it happened". The Guardian.
  3. ^ "Jeremy Page Rockliff". Parliament of Tasmania. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  4. ^ "House of Assembly Members Inaugural Speech". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 18 August 2022.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ Breen, Fiona (29 November 2023). "Rick Rockliff, Tasmanian agricultural identity and father of Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff, dies". ABC News. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Tasmania's Big Potato falls down, but Rockliff family vows 'Kenny Kennebec' to return after makeover". ABC News. 16 October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Jeremy Rockliff". Premier of Tasmania. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Rockliff, Jeremy". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  9. ^ Humphries, Alexandra. "Tassal East Coast expansion row". The Mercury. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Peter Gutwein elected unopposed to replace Hodgman as Tasmanian premier". ABC News. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Jeremy Rockliff". Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  12. ^ Alexandra Humphries (8 April 2022). "Jeremy Rockliff, Michael Ferguson announced as Tasmania's leadership team". ABC News.
  13. ^ "Jeremy Rockliff becomes Tasmania's 47th premier after being elected as state Liberal leader". The Guardian. 8 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Tasmania's new Arts, Entertainment and Sports Precinct, Macquarie Point, Hobart".
  15. ^ Langenberg, Adam (7 February 2023). "Andrew Wilkie once pushed for a soccer stadium in Hobart, but can't now support proposed AFL facility". ABC News. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  16. ^ Pridham, Bec (12 May 2023). "Tasmania's Liberal government to be thrown into minority as MPs defect over $715 million AFL stadium in Hobart". ABC News. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Did the Tasmanian government implode over the weekend? Here's your guide to what happened". ABC News. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Tasmanian state election called after Liberal defectors snub premier's ultimatum". ABC News. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  19. ^ Adam Langenberg (10 April 2024). "Jacqui Lambie Network signs deal with Liberals, as Rockliff announces ministries and Labor picks Winter to lead". ABC News.
  20. ^ Ethan James (12 April 2024). "Final minority Liberal government deal not yet signed". Australian Associated Press.
  21. ^ "Newest Tasmanian Liberal Government officially sworn in at Government House ceremony". Pulse Tasmania. 11 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Premier Rockliff branded a 'liar' as Greens launch no-confidence motion". Pulse Tasmania. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Jeremy Rockliff likely to become next Tasmanian premier, ABC understands". ABC News. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  24. ^ Marcenko, Desmond. "Rockliff is not a moderate – Togatus". togatus.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Lib Premier backs voice, republic, land returns". The Australian.
  26. ^ "Premier reveals his vote for Voice to Parliament". The Mercury.
  27. ^ "Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff pushes Yes vote on the Voice". 5 April 2023.
  28. ^ "'Leading the way': Tasmanian premier backs calls for Australia Day date change".
  29. ^ "Premier calls for Australia Day to be changed". June 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K64JNg4Nwqk

[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Deputy Premier of Tasmania
2014–2022 		Succeeded by
Minister for Primary Industries and Water
2014–2022 		Succeeded by
Jo Palmer
Minister for Racing
2014–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister for Education and Skills Minister for Education and Training
2014–2022 		Succeeded by
Roger Jaensch
Preceded by Premier of Tasmania
2022–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Liberal Party in Tasmania
2022–present 		Incumbent
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