When asked to define the Labor Party’s year in Parliament, leader Rebecca White does not hesitate to answer with “growth”.
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While the Liberals won a second term in majority government for the first time since 1986, Ms White the Labor Party had been rebuilding its stock with an ear out for what the state’s community, workforce and industry see as pertinent issues.
There are no doubt there have been lessons to be learned from their election loss in March, however.
The party went to the polls with only five lower house members recontesting seats, and despite a five-per-cent swing back in its favour, it recorded one of the party’s worst results in its history behind the disastrous 1992 election.
"That's why I'd describe this year of being one of building and growing because we've actually been able to achieve quite a lot through only having five members contesting to 10 members in the lower house,” Ms White said.
"I think we already know that we were a small group working up against it by being in opposition for only one term and a government that was benefiting from a stronger economy after improvements following the Global Financial Crisis.”
Labor’s review of the 2018 election for now remains under wraps.
“There is no doubt our vote needs to improve in order for us to win majority government,” Ms White said.
“The last time we did was in 2006 so we understand where we need to make improvements.
“The issues that resonated particularly statewide were health, employment followed by education, skills and training.
“Other things took up a lot of airtime which meant we weren’t able to get our message out on some of those key priority areas as much as we would have liked to have done.
One policy which generated a lot of conversation its policy to ban poker machines from pubs and clubs from 2023.
"We made that decision because of the evidence we received from talking to people, industry and non-government organisations," Ms White said.
"The parliamentary inquiry (into future gaming) was based on an understanding that poker machines are addictive, they do cause harm to people's health and they harm the health of our economies.
"There will always be people who question the timing of that announcement, the breadth of the announcement and the details of the decision but I can't change any of that.
"What I can do is make sure that our policy development process continues to be informed by evidence, that we are talking to the people it directly affects, and that we are consultative with Labor Party members.
"What I learnt from that is making sure we have robust processes but certainly not shying away from the decision that we took.
"Until the evidence changes, that policy remains valid.”
She said following the election, the responsibility now rested with the new Parliamentary Labor Party to develop good policies to be announced in advance of the 2022 election.
"We have reviewed all of our policies and we will continue to do that," Ms White said.
"We're always making sure that the platform we are campaigning on is contemporary and relevant to the needs of the community.”
While the government won the election but it has not had the dream first-year run it had when it seized power in 2014.
On its first day, they were blindsided by Labor’s decision to nominate newly elected Liberal member Sue Hickey against the government’s choice Rene Hidding.
The numbers, with Ms Hickey’s acceptance and the Greens backing, ensured she took the seat.
“The fact that Sue is a moderate was always appealing to the Labor Party to have her sit in the chair because we thought she would be able to chair proceedings in a fairer way,” Ms White said.
“I believe the Parliament now is a much more democratic place.
“What I have noticed is much greater collaboration from all parties and I think that has been driven largely by having Sue Hickey in the chair.”
Having to negotiate on key legislation with the Speaker was not the government’s only persistent headache this year.
There was ongoing issues in the state’s public health system, a war with the public sector over cap on pay rises, an unfavourable Integrity Commission report on former government minister Adam Brooks, and controversy over a relationship between government minister Sarah Courtney and a department head.
“They are really having a difficult time internally,” Ms White said.
“You’ve got the hard right of the party at war with the rest of them which is distracting them from delivering good government
“Tasmania has such an opportunity right now to capitalise on all the great things that we could be doing and supporting the community but the Liberal Party seem to be distracted by internal crises.
“That’s frustrating to watch.”
The government have consistently targeted Ms White’s ongoing status as party leader with the return of David O’Byrne to the opposition’s frontbench.
She brushed off any idea he was a threat to her retaining the position for the 2022 election.
“I’m committed and absolutely driven to take the party forward and win majority government,” Ms White said.
“I think the only person who should be in any doubt about their future is Will Hodgman and whether he’ll lead the Liberal Party given how tired he looks and how dysfunctional their party room is.
“David and I are really good colleagues. We get along well, we support each other.
“I’m pleased he’s back in the team because he brings experience, contacts, expertise and knowledge we’re using now to build to take forward a comprehensive policy agenda to the next election.”