While most Tasmanians have been struggling with the cost of living and the Liberal minority government’s budget cuts, Jeremy Rockliff has been shamelessly promoting himself and the Liberal Party on social media using Tasmanian taxpayer money.

Responding to a question taken on notice during Estimates, the Premier revealed he spent over $100,000 of taxpayer money on ads for Facebook and Instagram during the 2023-24 financial year.

A couple of the most egregious examples can be found here, and here.

There is a distinction between advertising government initiatives and just advertising the Premier. The Premier shouldn’t be using this money for his own political advertising, he should be using Liberal Party funds to pay for political fluff.

What a waste, we’re more than happy to talk about this Government’s record of failing to deliver for Tasmanians – and we’ll do it for free.

Under Jeremy Rockliff’s leadership, the new Spirits project is the biggest stuff-up in Tasmanian history and has become an international embarrassment. The Liberals have completely lost control of the budget, racking up record debt set to reach $8.6 billion, but Tasmanians have nothing to show for it.

After ten years of the Liberals, Tasmania’s economy is flatlining and planeloads of young, working-age Tasmanians are leaving the state in search of better opportunities elsewhere.

I don’t think dropping $100,000 of taxpayer money on shameless political promotion passes the pub test with Tasmanians.

Luke Edmunds MLC
Shadow Minister for Finance