Ending years of speculation, David O'Byrne has confirmed he will be nominating for leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party on Monday.
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Outgoing leader Rebecca White confirmed she will not recontest leadership on Saturday, publicly endorsing Mr O'Byrne for the role.
Since his re-election into Parliament in 2017, Mr O'Byrne's leadership aspirations have been widely speculated, despite him fully backing Ms White's leadership.
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On Sunday afternoon he broke his silence.
"We have a meeting tomorrow [Monday], and I will be nominating when nominations are called," Mr O'Byrne said.
"I do this in the knowledge that there is a big task ahead for Labor.
"We have not been in majority government since 2006, and we have not been able to rebuild the relationship with the Tasmanian community that we would really like to.
"We know that Tasmania does better when Labor are at their best, and the community gets the best out of a state government when Labor is performing as a team - united, focussing on the issues they're wanting us to focus on."
Mr O'Byrne highlighted challenges with the health system, housing and infrastructure as key focusses for himself going forward.
"There is a massive challenge ahead for the Tasmanian community, and I'm hopeful that with the support of my colleagues, to be elected as parliamentary Labor leader, and I'll be nominating for that position," he said.
"There are challenges facing the Labor party - we know that there is work to do internally, we need to be a party that is united and that is focussed on the issues that the Tasmanian community want us to focus on.
"We also need to ensure that we keep not only the government to account and hold them to account, but Tasmanians need to be clear what the Labor party stands for and not what we are against.
"So we need to articulate a strong plan for the future of Tasmania, and I know if I am successful I will be able to work with the team to present that to the Tasmanian community."
THANKING REBECCA
Mr O'Byrne paid his respects to outgoing leader Rebecca White.
"Rebecca and I were first selected together in 2010, and we've been friends for much longer than that," he said.
"We've been close mates and supported each other through some up and down times in the parliament, and it's been my absolute honour to serve in her Labor party team.
"She is an incredible politician, she's a great human.
"She has given so much not only to the Labor party but as a representative of Lyons in her endeavour to get elected, and I know the decision she made yesterday was not an easy one, and it's one that she's made of her own volition.
"I'm very glad she's continuing to be a member of the Labor team."
WHO WILL BE DEPUTY?
Mr O'Byrne said that he had discussed his leadership with sister, and current party deputy leader, Michelle O'Byrne, who said she would not put her hand up as deputy if he was successful.
Mr O'Byrne also said he had spoken with Braddon MHA Anita Dow, who would nominate as deputy leader, who he confirmed he would endorse.
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