25-05-2025
Meg Webb and Luke Edmunds expected to be returned, third Legislative Council seat still unclear
Two incumbent members of Tasmania's Legislative Council are expected to retain their seats, but who will win the third seat remains unclear.
Elections were held in three of the 15 Legislative Council divisions on Saturday.
Political analyst Kevin Bonham said the two southern electorates of Nelson and Pembroke would be held by sitting members, independent Meg Webb and Labor's Luke Edmunds.
Dr Bonham said Ms Webb had won "very convincingly" and could win on primaries alone.
He said Mr Edmunds had a "huge" primary vote lead from which no other candidate would be able to catch him.
In a statement released on Saturday night, the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) said Ms Webb held a majority of first-preference votes in Nelson, with 51 per cent.
Ms Webb described it as "a resounding vote for an independent Upper House, and for greater integrity, transparency and accountability in politics".
About 1,800 early votes were yet to be counted in Nelson.
The TEC said Mr Edmunds held a "strong lead" in Pembroke, with almost 44 per cent of first preference votes.
The north-west seat of Montgomery was a bit more uncertain, following the retirement of Liberal Leonie Hiscutt.
Her son, independent Casey Hiscutt, has almost 32 per cent of first preference votes, followed by the Liberal candidate, former senator Stephen Parry with 29 per cent, and the Greens' Darren Briggs with 21 per cent.
Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner Andrew Hawkey said Montgomery would be decided on preferences.
"[There are] two candidates on very level pegging … I would think for Montgomery we're going to have to distribute [the preferences given to] those lower candidates to see who comes out on top," Mr Hawkey said.
Dr Bonham said he expected Mr Hiscutt to win unless Mr Parry did better than expected on preferences.
If Mr Hiscutt wins, there will be nine independent members in the Upper House.
"That will make things hard for the government on things where Labor supports but the independents are sceptical," Dr Bonham said.
He said the Liberals' biggest obstacle in Montgomery was going up against the "Hiscutt family name".
But he said Mr Hiscutt's pro-stadium stance may have tipped some voters towards the Greens and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party.
Counting will continue Monday, with pre-poll, provisional and out-of-division votes added. Postal votes will be counted on Thursday.
Mr Hawkey said Saturday was a successful voting day despite the wet and windy weather.
"It looks like we've had good turn outs in all three divisions," he said.
He said 66 people with a print disability used the telephone voting service, which was expanded for the first time this year.
Members of the Legislative Council are elected for six-year terms on a rolling election cycle, which means two or three divisions are up for election each year.
