Labor tension as Tasmanian MP calls for party 'that can win'

Tasmanian Labor Leader Josh Willie has said he "isn't going anywhere", despite leadership tension caused by Braddon MP Shane Broad's social media posts.

Mr Broad, from the party's right faction, has stirred debate with his prolific online activity.

In a video posted on Monday, he said the parliament was in "chaos" and being "dictated to by the Greens and independents, who only really represent a minority of Tasmanians".

"Tasmania needs the parliamentary chaos to end and for the state to have a clear direction for the future," he said.

"It's about making a Labor party that can win a majority of seats in the parliament so that we can get stuff done."

Mr Broad contested the party's leadership following the 2021 state election loss, but was beaten by then-Labor member David O'Byrne.

Mr Willie told the media this morning he had spoken to Mr Broad on Tuesday, but did not reveal the content of that conversation.

Asked if he would still be the leader by the end of the year, Mr Willie said he wasn't going anywhere

"I'm focused on Tasmanians. I'm concerned about the debate happening in Tasmania at the moment,"

he said.

Mr Broad declined to comment.

Willie 'ambitious' for his party

The expansion of Tasmania's lower house to 35 seats has narrowed the possibility of either major party attaining majority government.

Labor has been out of power since the Liberals took government in 2014.

Labor currently holds 10 seats, having polled just 26 per cent of the total vote at the 2025 state election.

The Liberals are governing in minority with just 14 seats, despite collecting 40 per cent of the votes.

Following the election, the Liberals made overtures to the crossbench to win its support — including by promising to ban greyhound racing and review the salmon industry.

Labor, meanwhile, is seen as having improved its working relationship with the progressive side of the crossbench.

Mr Willie is understood to have told the Labor caucus earlier this year he wanted to see the party polling 30 per cent before the turn of the calendar.

However, last week he said that goal had changed because of the emergence of One Nation.

He told reporters today the party would continue to announce policies, having done so already.

"Policies like five-day kindergarten and universal access to three-year-old preschool will be a game changer for education; it will pay dividends for decades.

"I'm ambitious for the Labor Party. I want to see us return to government and that's what I'm working to do every single day."

Liberal backbencher Michael Ferguson accused Mr Willie of distracting from his leadership woes.

"Whenever there is a decision to be made, a policy to be defended, Mr Willie hides," he said.

Apology demanded over Christmas scandal

Mr Willie held a press conference this morning to call on Premier Jeremy Rockliff to apologise for shaming a school's attempt to rename its Christmas celebration event.

"Premier Rockliff a few months ago said that culture wars frankly don't pay the rent," he said.

"He was right — yet a few months later he has taken a 180-degree U-turn."

In his original post, Premier Rockliff incorrectly asserted that there had been efforts made to "remove all references to Christmas in end of year school celebrations".

"Christmas wasn't being cancelled. He knew that; he misrepresented that, to participate in a culture war," said Mr Willie.

"Words matter when you're the leader of the state. His words have hurt a school community."

Other conservative Liberal MPs, including Deputy Premier Guy Barnett, Treasurer Eric Abetz and Police Minister Felix Ellis, have all since posted, fanning the flames of the incident.

Last night Mr Rockliff posted again to Facebook, defending his post.

"Christmas is part of our culture. It's part of our way of life,"

he said.

"I believe that I have a right to voice that opinion, on behalf of our community."