On Aird - Tasmanian Politics Show

An updated report on the Mac Point Stadium by renowned economist Nicholas Gruen suggests costs could potentially blow out to more than $1.8 million and saddle Tasmanians with more than $2 billion of additional debt by 2040. All but the most die-hard stadium backers must be concerned about the escalating cost estimates, given the state's already dire financial position. So where to from here, and how can Labor fulfill its promise to hold the government to account on the stadium project?

In an effort to rein in Tasmania’s ballooning state debt, Eric Abetz’s 2026 budget takes a knife (or, according to Shadow Treasurer Dean Winter, a chainsaw) to the public service. With little offered in the way of specifics and no revenue raising measures in sight, how likely is it that this approach will succeed? And what should we expect from Labor in response?

We unpick the politics behind the 2026 Federal Budget, which includes a range of tax reforms aimed at addressing intergenerational inequity. While it's not without risk, is it a budget whose time has come?

If last week's Legislative Council election in Huon was a litmus test for Tasmanian Labor, the result - just 16% of the vote - was highly acidic. What lessons should be learned and where does the Party go from here?

A year into their second term and with a Federal Budget looming, we discuss the Albanese Government's performance, including a spotlight on Tasmania's Federal Labor team.

In this episode we discuss what went on at Tasmanian Labor's 2026 State Conference, and the upcoming Legislative Council elections in Huon and Rosevears. Will the usual incumbancy advantage hold true, or could there be an upset on the cards?

With Labor Party elders calling for a policy reset, and Leader Josh Willie saying there's no mood for change, we take a look at some of the challenges and opportunities for Labor when it comes to policy development. This weekend Labor will hold its first State Conference in 7 years. Amid rumours of internal efforts to stifle debate, will grassroots members have a long awaited opportunity to share their ideas?

Early elections have become a bit of a habit in Tasmania. We discuss the 2021, 2024 and 2025 elections, with a focus on how state Labor's fortunes have been impacted by repeated early trips to the polls. Is it time for Tassie to follow the other states of Australia and fix election terms? We also react to Labor's decision this week to oppose taxes on short-stay accommodation.

Everyone's talking about fuel prices. In this week's episode, we discuss the responses of the Tasmanian and Australian Governments to soaring petrol costs and potential fuel shortages. AI has also been on the agenda in Tasmania's Parliament and data centres are hungry for land, energy and water. Are governments ready to respond to the AI revolution?

In this episode of On Aird we discuss the Labor-Greens relationship in Tasmania, including why they didn't do a deal to form government in 2025. A marriage might not be on the cards any time soon, but can there be a progressive government in Tasmania if they won't even hold hands?

In this first episode of On Aird we discuss the implications of the recent Tasmanian Fiscal Sustainability Report 2026 - will Tasmania go broke? One Nation have polled at over 20 per cent both nationally and at the state level in Tasmania - are they the new force of the Right? And we look at the winners and losers in the AEC's proposed Tasmanian electoral boundary changes, which will see 1 in 4 Tasmanians move into a different Federal, and likely also State electorate.