Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Tasmanian people are about to go back to the polls on 23 March after three years of unstable majority Liberal government. I want to address the elephant in the room here today. He's back! Yes, a vote for Jeremy Rockliff, the Premier of Tasmania, is a vote for Eric Abetz. A vote for this guy is really a vote for this guy.

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, please take your seat. Props are not allowed. I warn you of that. Please continue.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That photo's like political kryptonite to the Tasmanian Liberal Party, Mr Acting Deputy President. But it's not just Eric Abetz who's back, not just Eric Abetz who you're going to get for the next Premier of Tasmania if the Liberals retain government; it's another term of chaos and instability. You have to ask yourself: why is Eric Abetz making a comeback? Is it because he wants to continue to prosecute the culture wars he prosecuted in this place? Is it because of his passion and full-throated support for the logging of Tasmania's wild places? Is it because he wants revenge on some of his colleagues? What will that look like for the Tasmanian Liberal Party after the election?

I think this is something Tasmanians need to discuss, something they need to know before voting for the Tasmanian Liberals at the next election. Remember Nemesis. Remember the power games. Remember the politics of people putting their own self-interests ahead of policy and the people. Make sure that you vote for the Greens at the next election. What you see is what you get with us—unlike the Tasmanian Liberal Party.