Tasmania Faces Election Uncertainty as Former Federal MP Seeks State Seat

Former federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer announced Sunday she will seek state pre-selection in Tasmania as the island state faces potential early elections following a successful no-confidence motion against Premier Jeremy Rockliffe.

Archer, who lost her Bass federal seat to Labor's Jess Teasdale last month, appeared alongside Rockliffe at a media conference to flag her candidacy for a yet-to-be-called state election.

"I am a strong voice. I have always been a strong voice," Archer said. "Unlike Dean Winter, I'm nobody's puppet and I will stand up every single day for what's in the best interests of Tasmania."

The announcement comes as Tasmania enters what political scientist Kate Crowley described as "political limbo" following Labor's successful no-confidence motion against Rockliffe last week.

Parliament will resume Tuesday, with all parties agreeing to pass the government's budget. However, uncertainty remains over whether Rockliffe will resign or call an election.

"We don't know whether we're going to an election," said Crowley, an adjunct associate professor at the University of Tasmania. "The Premier has said we'll go back to the House on Tuesday, we'll pass the budget, and then he said he would go direct to the governor and call an election."

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