The recent Tasmanian election sees a significant decrease in support for the governing Liberal Party, leading to a hung parliament and spotlighting the rise of minor parties and independents.
In the recent Tasmanian election, the Liberal Party, led by Premier Jeremy Rockliff, faced a notable decrease in support, securing approximately 36.6% of the vote, which marks a 12% swing against them since the last election. This shift in voter sentiment has left the Liberals short of a majority in the parliament, necessitating negotiations with an expanded crossbench to maintain control. Conversely, the Labor opposition experienced a modest increase in backing to 29.1%.
The election, which garnered attention for the significant gains by minor parties and independents, highlights a diversifying political landscape within Tasmania. Notably, the Greens emerged with 13.7% of the vote, while the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) captured around 7% of support, predominantly in the state’s north. Independent candidates also saw a rise in voter support, further complicating the formation of a government.
The complexity of the election results is partly attributed to the Hare-Clark electoral system, coinciding with an increase in the size of the parliament from 25 to 35 members. As a result, achieving a majority requires securing 18 seats, a challenge that has placed both major parties alongside minor parties and independents in a competitive race for additional seats.
With the final election results still pending, Tasmania faces the prospect of a minority government or a coalition, underscoring a shift towards more diverse political representation and the likelihood of intricate negotiations in establishing the new government’s makeup.