Bridget Archer standing in for Rockliff is a soft-launched succession plan

Health Minister Bridget Archer is stepping into the role of acting Tasmanian premier for about a week, beginning tomorrow, as Premier Jeremy Rockliff and his deputy, Guy Barnett, are out of the state. The announcement was made with minimal fanfare at a press conference Tuesday morning, suggesting a deliberate, low-key approach to this significant political maneuver.

This period in the top job, however brief, is widely interpreted as a trial run for Ms. Archer, who is considered Mr. Rockliff's preferred successor. The decision to place her in the premier's seat, even temporarily, is expected to generate considerable discussion and potentially envy within her own party. This move follows Ms. Archer's return to state parliament less than a year ago, after losing her federal seat in a landslide election.

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I have made an entire career of standing up for things that I believe in. In fact, I crossed the floor 28 times in Canberra on things I believe in, and I'll stand up for my community every day.

During her federal tenure, Archer gained national recognition for her independent stance, often criticizing her own party on issues like religious discrimination, integrity, and climate change. As a minister in the current Rockliff government, she has taken on the challenging portfolio of the state's health system. This role has made her a frequent target in parliamentary debates, particularly concerning issues like ambulance wait times and patients seeking taxis to hospitals.

Archer has recently been defending the government's decision to implement $700 million in health system cuts, engaging in a semantic debate with the Labor party over the definition of 'cuts.' While health spending is increasing annually, the government is seeking efficiencies across four years. Despite the pressures of ministerial office, Archer recently asserted her commitment to her principles in parliament, stating, "I have made an entire career of standing up for things that I believe in... and I'll stand up for my community every day."

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You can bet your bottom dollar, if I'm not standing up and saying that now, it's because I believe it. It's because I believe that we need to make efficiencies to protect the wellbeing of future generations.