Sky News projects hung Tasmanian parliament and Liberals to get most seats following state election
Tasmanians headed to the polls on Saturday to decide on the state's next government as Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Opposition Leader Dean Winter battled it out for the state's top job.
The early election followed a no-confidence motion against Premier Rockliff being moved last month, with the deciding vote being cast by speaker of the house Michelle O'Byrne.
The Tasmanian Liberals took an early lead as the first vote results rolled in, and the party sat on just short of 40 per cent of the statewide vote share with over 65 per cent of total votes counted.
Sky News Chief Election Analyst Tom Connell late on Saturday night shared his predicted makeup of the state's next parliament, projecting Liberals to take 15 seats and Labor securing 10, followed by Greens and Independents both on 5 seats each.
Mr Rockliff thanked the Tasmanian public in an address at The Tally Room, saying he is 'humbled' by results that have come in so far.
'A little over six weeks ago, the leader of the Opposition forced this unnecessary election on the Tasmanian people by moving a vote of no confidence,' Mr Rockliff said on Saturday night.
'Well, tonight, the people of Tasmania in return have said that they have no confidence in the Labor party to form government.
'And they have voted to reinforce our Liberal government.'
He claimed Liberals will secure more seats in the next Tasmanian parliament than any other party with a 'significantly increased vote' on Saturday.
'I intend to visit the governor and ask her to recommission my government so we can get on with a job for Tasmania,' Mr Rockliff said.
Mr Winter in his address at the at The Tally Room acknowledged Mr Rockliffe and his family, adding "elections can be tough".
"And I have fundamental and real concerns with the direction this state is moving in, but I do know that Jeremy cares deeply and he has been in parliament now for longer than anyone and his result in Braddon tonight in particular reflects his service."
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ABC News
37 minutes ago
- ABC News
Tasmania set for a mostly anti-stadium crossbench — here's how the issue might unfold
The question that's hung over Tasmania's unwanted, early snap election is: "What could it all mean for the Hobart stadium and AFL team?" While the final result of the election is nearly a fortnight away, it seems the parliament is headed for a roughly similar look and shape to the last one. Both the Labor and Liberal parties support the stadium and will hold at least 23 of the lower house's 35 seats between them, so you may think that passage of legislation for the stadium is assured. But if either party wants to hold government, it will need the support of an almost entirely anti-stadium crossbench. It raises the question of whether those crossbenchers are willing to put their differences on the issue aside and give confidence and supply to one of the major parties, or die on a hill over the issue. It also might coax one of the major parties to shift its position on the stadium, or change its approach to legislation for it, in an attempt to win the support needed to govern. What do the crossbench numbers look like? The election has delivered the most seats to the Liberal Party, but it will still be a hung parliament. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss ) The ABC has called 14 seats for the Liberals, nine for Labor, five Greens, and four independents, with three seats remaining in doubt. Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Carlo di Falco in in with a chance in Lyons. Facing a hung parliament, the Liberals will need to secure support from four crossbenchers to form government (or three, if they can win the seventh seat in Bass). The only pro-stadium member of that crossbench is David O'Byrne. Despite being a former Labor Leader, he's shown he will work with either side. To find the next three, it's more difficult. Independents Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland have been re-elected in their seats of Clark and Braddon. Both are staunch opponents of the build, and recently voted no-confidence in Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Franklin newcomer, independent Peter George, also opposes building a new stadium. The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party is a strong chance of claiming its first seat — but the party has opposed plans for a stadium since they were announced. Who supports the stadium? David O'Byrne ( ABC News: Kate Nickels ) The former Labor leader who was elected to parliament in 2024 as an independent supports the building of the Macquarie Point stadium. Who is against the stadium? Craig Garland. ( ABC News: Greg Szabo ) Returned independent MP Craig Garland does not support a new stadium but supports the formation of a Tasmanian team using existing stadiums. Ind: Kristie Johnston Kristie Johnston. ( ABC News: Kate Nickels ) Returned independent MP Kristie Johnston stands against the building of a new stadium but supports the formation of a Tasmanian team using existing stadiums. Ind: Peter George Peter George. ( ABC News: Meg Whitfield ) The new independent MP stands against the building of a new stadium but supports the formation of a Tasmanian team. SFF: Carlo di Falco Carlo Di Falco. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss ) The Shooters Fishers & Farmers Tas candidate is likely to snag a seat in Lyons, but his election is not yet certain. The party has been against a new Hobart stadium since the project was announced. Grn: Rosalie Woodruff Rosalie Woodruff. ( ABC News: Jake Grant ) Greens leader and MP for Franklin. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Cecily Rosol Cecily Rosol. ( ABC News: Luke Bowden ) Greens MP for Bass. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Vica Bayley Vica Bayley. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) Greens MP for Clark. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Helen Burnet Helen Burnet. ( ABC News: Luke Bowden ) Greens MP for Clark. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Tabatha Badger Tabatha Badger. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) Greens MP for Lyons. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Labor's path to government is far more complicated — and still reliant on anti-stadium support. If it can hold onto its second seat in Franklin and then join forces with Greens, it would need to find three more supporters from the same pool of crossbenchers. But in that case, there would be only 11 stadium supporters in an 18-strong governing coalition. It means the path forward is still unclear. What options are available to progress the stadium? Enough crossbench MPs may simply decide to give the Liberals or Labor supply and confidence — that is, allow them to pass budget bills and not support no-confidence motions — despite their stadium stance. They could then deal with the stadium issue separately, by voting against it when the legislation comes up. But they would be powerless to stop the Liberals and Labor teaming up to help the stadium bill sail through the lower house. There are tight timelines for building the Macquarie Point stadium. ( Supplied: MPDC ) Another option might help a Liberal or Labor government keep the crossbench a little more onside. In the last parliament, the Liberals tabled special legislation that would have fast-tracked approvals for the stadium project, much to the dismay of many on the crossbench. Whoever forms government could decide to backtrack on that and keep the stadium in the more arduous Project of State Significance (POSS) pathway laid out by the Tasmanian Planning Commission. That POSS process will be completed by September, which might not be too much longer than the wait for the new parliament to reconvene. If a government does go back to the POSS process, then the final determination by the Tasmanian Planning Commission — and whatever conditions are attached — would still need to be approved by both houses of parliament in order to build the stadium. What have the party leaders said? Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff told media on Sunday he would not be abandoning his plans for the stadium. He referenced that two thirds of the vote was heading towards the stadium-backing major parties, and said it showed a majority had voted "yes stadium, yes team". Labor leader Dean Winter said the party would not be "horse trading on policy". He said his party would not switch to dumping the stadium. "We haven't changed our position on the stadium, and we won't be offering that as part of any negotiations," he said. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said there had been a big anti-stadium vote "We've got a desperate situation with the budget, and it's either cutting into essential services or spending money on a stadium. It's pretty clear that people want essential services," Dr Woodruff said. She said the Greens would be working in the next parliament to stop the stadium. However, she did not rule out backing a major party to form government, without them compromising on the stadium. What have the Tasmania Devils said? The state's AFL club was among the loudest voices when the no-confidence motion was being debated in June, warning that the political instability was a "serious risk" for the future of the club. However, it stayed relatively quiet during the election campaign itself. This morning, the club broke its silence, with the club's Kath McCann saying the Devils were staying focused on building, with no time to lose. Tasmania Football Club executive director Kath McCann says the club will work with whichever party forms government. ( ABC Northern Tasmania: Evan Wallace ) "Tasmania Football Club stands ready to work with the incoming Tasmanian government and elected members once the election outcomes are resolved," she said. "We are focused on entering the AFL and AFLW by 2028, in order to do that we have several time frames that must be met. We are very eager to work with the government to realise these."
The Advertiser
40 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Labor's support towers over coalition in Newspoll
Support for Labor has crept up as backers of the coalition have retreated, according to the first Newspoll since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's election win in May. The survey, published in The Australian, showed a 1.4 percentage point rise in Labor's primary vote since the election to 36 per cent while the coalition slipped from 31.8 per cent to 29 per cent. The Greens remained steady at 12 per cent, as did the independents and minor parties category on 15 per cent, while One Nation was up 1.6 percentage points to eight per cent. The 29 per cent primary vote number is the coalition's lowest reading in a Newspoll survey since November 1985. The combined Labor and coalition primary vote total - at 65 per cent - is also at its lowest level in Newspoll history. On a two-party-preferred basis, the Labor government has bolstered its lead of 55.2 per cent to 44.8 per cent on May 3 to 57 per cent to 43 per cent in the Newspoll. Mr Albanese's pre-election Newspoll net approval rating of minus 10 improved in the survey published on Monday to zero, with 47 per cent of voters satisfied with his performance and an equal number dissatisfied. The poll has new coalition leader Sussan Ley's net approval rating at minus seven, an upgrade from her predecessor Peter Dutton's minus 24 result, but 23 per cent of respondents indicated it was too early to judge her performance. The survey of 1264 voters was conducted online between July 14 and July 17. The 48th parliament has its official opening in Canberra on Tuesday. MPs and senators were welcomed by Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House on Sunday as part of formalities before the start of the new session. Labor will have an increased majority in the new term, holding 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives after its election triumph on May 3. Support for Labor has crept up as backers of the coalition have retreated, according to the first Newspoll since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's election win in May. The survey, published in The Australian, showed a 1.4 percentage point rise in Labor's primary vote since the election to 36 per cent while the coalition slipped from 31.8 per cent to 29 per cent. The Greens remained steady at 12 per cent, as did the independents and minor parties category on 15 per cent, while One Nation was up 1.6 percentage points to eight per cent. The 29 per cent primary vote number is the coalition's lowest reading in a Newspoll survey since November 1985. The combined Labor and coalition primary vote total - at 65 per cent - is also at its lowest level in Newspoll history. On a two-party-preferred basis, the Labor government has bolstered its lead of 55.2 per cent to 44.8 per cent on May 3 to 57 per cent to 43 per cent in the Newspoll. Mr Albanese's pre-election Newspoll net approval rating of minus 10 improved in the survey published on Monday to zero, with 47 per cent of voters satisfied with his performance and an equal number dissatisfied. The poll has new coalition leader Sussan Ley's net approval rating at minus seven, an upgrade from her predecessor Peter Dutton's minus 24 result, but 23 per cent of respondents indicated it was too early to judge her performance. The survey of 1264 voters was conducted online between July 14 and July 17. The 48th parliament has its official opening in Canberra on Tuesday. MPs and senators were welcomed by Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House on Sunday as part of formalities before the start of the new session. Labor will have an increased majority in the new term, holding 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives after its election triumph on May 3. Support for Labor has crept up as backers of the coalition have retreated, according to the first Newspoll since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's election win in May. The survey, published in The Australian, showed a 1.4 percentage point rise in Labor's primary vote since the election to 36 per cent while the coalition slipped from 31.8 per cent to 29 per cent. The Greens remained steady at 12 per cent, as did the independents and minor parties category on 15 per cent, while One Nation was up 1.6 percentage points to eight per cent. The 29 per cent primary vote number is the coalition's lowest reading in a Newspoll survey since November 1985. The combined Labor and coalition primary vote total - at 65 per cent - is also at its lowest level in Newspoll history. On a two-party-preferred basis, the Labor government has bolstered its lead of 55.2 per cent to 44.8 per cent on May 3 to 57 per cent to 43 per cent in the Newspoll. Mr Albanese's pre-election Newspoll net approval rating of minus 10 improved in the survey published on Monday to zero, with 47 per cent of voters satisfied with his performance and an equal number dissatisfied. The poll has new coalition leader Sussan Ley's net approval rating at minus seven, an upgrade from her predecessor Peter Dutton's minus 24 result, but 23 per cent of respondents indicated it was too early to judge her performance. The survey of 1264 voters was conducted online between July 14 and July 17. The 48th parliament has its official opening in Canberra on Tuesday. MPs and senators were welcomed by Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House on Sunday as part of formalities before the start of the new session. Labor will have an increased majority in the new term, holding 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives after its election triumph on May 3. Support for Labor has crept up as backers of the coalition have retreated, according to the first Newspoll since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's election win in May. The survey, published in The Australian, showed a 1.4 percentage point rise in Labor's primary vote since the election to 36 per cent while the coalition slipped from 31.8 per cent to 29 per cent. The Greens remained steady at 12 per cent, as did the independents and minor parties category on 15 per cent, while One Nation was up 1.6 percentage points to eight per cent. The 29 per cent primary vote number is the coalition's lowest reading in a Newspoll survey since November 1985. The combined Labor and coalition primary vote total - at 65 per cent - is also at its lowest level in Newspoll history. On a two-party-preferred basis, the Labor government has bolstered its lead of 55.2 per cent to 44.8 per cent on May 3 to 57 per cent to 43 per cent in the Newspoll. Mr Albanese's pre-election Newspoll net approval rating of minus 10 improved in the survey published on Monday to zero, with 47 per cent of voters satisfied with his performance and an equal number dissatisfied. The poll has new coalition leader Sussan Ley's net approval rating at minus seven, an upgrade from her predecessor Peter Dutton's minus 24 result, but 23 per cent of respondents indicated it was too early to judge her performance. The survey of 1264 voters was conducted online between July 14 and July 17. The 48th parliament has its official opening in Canberra on Tuesday. MPs and senators were welcomed by Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House on Sunday as part of formalities before the start of the new session. Labor will have an increased majority in the new term, holding 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives after its election triumph on May 3.
The Advertiser
40 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Drawn-out minority talks after state's snap election
Tasmania faces a protracted period of political limbo as election votes are counted and major parties court the cross bench. The incumbent Liberals (14) claimed more seats than Labor (nine) in Saturday's snap election but neither can reach the 18-seat mark required for majority. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff, whose refusal to resign after losing a no-confidence vote sparked the poll, has been given "first crack" at forming government by Labor leader Dean Winter. However, Mr Winter hasn't ruled out trying to get the numbers to govern if Mr Rockliff is unable to form a working government. It could be weeks for three in-doubt seats to be confirmed via preferences, and any formal minority agreements might not be arranged until after the numbers are settled. Mr Rockliff on Sunday said he had reached out to independents on the cross bench, pledging to work collaboratively. The Liberals' failure to keep the cross bench onside in minority resulted in an early election in March 2024 as well as the successful no-confidence vote against Mr Rockliff in June. Mr Rockliff will have to mend bridges and deal with several crossbenchers who are against the Liberals' stadium plan and don't like Liberal-backed salmon farming and forestry. Two of the four elected independents, Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland, voted for the no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff and have been critical of Tasmania's ballooning debt. Mr Winter, however, has ruled out doing a deal with the five-seat Greens to form government, despite needing their votes, but has reached out to independents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff urged Mr Winter to pick up the phone again on Sunday and potentially form an alliance. Mr Rockliff said the Liberals would not walk away from their pet project $945 million AFL stadium, or their support for traditional industry. STATE OF PLAY AND NEW FACES * Seats: Liberal 14, Labor nine, Greens five, independent four, in doubt three * Bridget Archer (Liberal): The former federal MP was successful in the northern electorate of Bass just a few months after losing her federal seat * Gavin Peace (Liberal): Another former federal MP who jumped on board to help the party * Marcus Vermey (Liberal): A third-generation butcher and first-term MP who picked up the most votes for his party in the Hobart-based seat of Clark * Peter George (Independent): Anti-salmon farming activist coming off a strong campaign at the federal election Tasmania faces a protracted period of political limbo as election votes are counted and major parties court the cross bench. The incumbent Liberals (14) claimed more seats than Labor (nine) in Saturday's snap election but neither can reach the 18-seat mark required for majority. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff, whose refusal to resign after losing a no-confidence vote sparked the poll, has been given "first crack" at forming government by Labor leader Dean Winter. However, Mr Winter hasn't ruled out trying to get the numbers to govern if Mr Rockliff is unable to form a working government. It could be weeks for three in-doubt seats to be confirmed via preferences, and any formal minority agreements might not be arranged until after the numbers are settled. Mr Rockliff on Sunday said he had reached out to independents on the cross bench, pledging to work collaboratively. The Liberals' failure to keep the cross bench onside in minority resulted in an early election in March 2024 as well as the successful no-confidence vote against Mr Rockliff in June. Mr Rockliff will have to mend bridges and deal with several crossbenchers who are against the Liberals' stadium plan and don't like Liberal-backed salmon farming and forestry. Two of the four elected independents, Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland, voted for the no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff and have been critical of Tasmania's ballooning debt. Mr Winter, however, has ruled out doing a deal with the five-seat Greens to form government, despite needing their votes, but has reached out to independents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff urged Mr Winter to pick up the phone again on Sunday and potentially form an alliance. Mr Rockliff said the Liberals would not walk away from their pet project $945 million AFL stadium, or their support for traditional industry. STATE OF PLAY AND NEW FACES * Seats: Liberal 14, Labor nine, Greens five, independent four, in doubt three * Bridget Archer (Liberal): The former federal MP was successful in the northern electorate of Bass just a few months after losing her federal seat * Gavin Peace (Liberal): Another former federal MP who jumped on board to help the party * Marcus Vermey (Liberal): A third-generation butcher and first-term MP who picked up the most votes for his party in the Hobart-based seat of Clark * Peter George (Independent): Anti-salmon farming activist coming off a strong campaign at the federal election Tasmania faces a protracted period of political limbo as election votes are counted and major parties court the cross bench. The incumbent Liberals (14) claimed more seats than Labor (nine) in Saturday's snap election but neither can reach the 18-seat mark required for majority. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff, whose refusal to resign after losing a no-confidence vote sparked the poll, has been given "first crack" at forming government by Labor leader Dean Winter. However, Mr Winter hasn't ruled out trying to get the numbers to govern if Mr Rockliff is unable to form a working government. It could be weeks for three in-doubt seats to be confirmed via preferences, and any formal minority agreements might not be arranged until after the numbers are settled. Mr Rockliff on Sunday said he had reached out to independents on the cross bench, pledging to work collaboratively. The Liberals' failure to keep the cross bench onside in minority resulted in an early election in March 2024 as well as the successful no-confidence vote against Mr Rockliff in June. Mr Rockliff will have to mend bridges and deal with several crossbenchers who are against the Liberals' stadium plan and don't like Liberal-backed salmon farming and forestry. Two of the four elected independents, Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland, voted for the no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff and have been critical of Tasmania's ballooning debt. Mr Winter, however, has ruled out doing a deal with the five-seat Greens to form government, despite needing their votes, but has reached out to independents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff urged Mr Winter to pick up the phone again on Sunday and potentially form an alliance. Mr Rockliff said the Liberals would not walk away from their pet project $945 million AFL stadium, or their support for traditional industry. STATE OF PLAY AND NEW FACES * Seats: Liberal 14, Labor nine, Greens five, independent four, in doubt three * Bridget Archer (Liberal): The former federal MP was successful in the northern electorate of Bass just a few months after losing her federal seat * Gavin Peace (Liberal): Another former federal MP who jumped on board to help the party * Marcus Vermey (Liberal): A third-generation butcher and first-term MP who picked up the most votes for his party in the Hobart-based seat of Clark * Peter George (Independent): Anti-salmon farming activist coming off a strong campaign at the federal election Tasmania faces a protracted period of political limbo as election votes are counted and major parties court the cross bench. The incumbent Liberals (14) claimed more seats than Labor (nine) in Saturday's snap election but neither can reach the 18-seat mark required for majority. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff, whose refusal to resign after losing a no-confidence vote sparked the poll, has been given "first crack" at forming government by Labor leader Dean Winter. However, Mr Winter hasn't ruled out trying to get the numbers to govern if Mr Rockliff is unable to form a working government. It could be weeks for three in-doubt seats to be confirmed via preferences, and any formal minority agreements might not be arranged until after the numbers are settled. Mr Rockliff on Sunday said he had reached out to independents on the cross bench, pledging to work collaboratively. The Liberals' failure to keep the cross bench onside in minority resulted in an early election in March 2024 as well as the successful no-confidence vote against Mr Rockliff in June. Mr Rockliff will have to mend bridges and deal with several crossbenchers who are against the Liberals' stadium plan and don't like Liberal-backed salmon farming and forestry. Two of the four elected independents, Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland, voted for the no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff and have been critical of Tasmania's ballooning debt. Mr Winter, however, has ruled out doing a deal with the five-seat Greens to form government, despite needing their votes, but has reached out to independents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff urged Mr Winter to pick up the phone again on Sunday and potentially form an alliance. Mr Rockliff said the Liberals would not walk away from their pet project $945 million AFL stadium, or their support for traditional industry. STATE OF PLAY AND NEW FACES * Seats: Liberal 14, Labor nine, Greens five, independent four, in doubt three * Bridget Archer (Liberal): The former federal MP was successful in the northern electorate of Bass just a few months after losing her federal seat * Gavin Peace (Liberal): Another former federal MP who jumped on board to help the party * Marcus Vermey (Liberal): A third-generation butcher and first-term MP who picked up the most votes for his party in the Hobart-based seat of Clark * Peter George (Independent): Anti-salmon farming activist coming off a strong campaign at the federal election
