Tasmania’s major party leaders have cast their ballots in a state poll with voters looking set to reject the Liberals and Labor and deliver a hung parliament.
Australia’s only Liberal government is chasing a record fourth consecutive term, while Labor aims to return to power after 10 years in opposition.
Saturday’s election is being held more than a year ahead of schedule after the Liberals were unable to resolve a minority government showdown with two independents across the bench.
Polls point to a hung parliament, with the Liberals winning more seats than Labour, but not the 18 out of 35 required for a majority.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff cast his vote at Sassafras Primary School in his seat of Braddon in the state’s north-west.
Liberal Prime Minister Jeremey Rockliff cast his vote with his mother, who was celebrating her birthday
Sir. Rockliff said his party was “within a whisker” of a majority, despite some polls showing the Liberals would achieve a primary vote percentage in the 30s.
“I know our candidates will work around their constituents respectfully (to) see if we can achieve (a majority),” he told reporters.
Labor is led by Rebecca White, who has a third shot at becoming premier after briefly stepping down from the role following her defeat in 2021.
Opinion polls, which show that more than a third of voters could reject the two major parties, suggest that Labor will receive a first preference percentage in the 20s.
Ms White voted in Sorell, northeast of Hobart, with husband Rodney Dann and their two children.
“There’s a good chance Tasmanians won’t get a final result (on Saturday night),” she said.
‘It may take a number of days before we actually understand what the composition of the next government and parliament is.’
The final results may not be known until the week of April 8 due to the Easter bank holiday, a record 167 candidates and an enlarged Parliament.
Labor leader Rebecca White with family after voting in Hobart, Tasmania on Saturday
The Liberals have accused Labor of breaking the state’s electoral law by putting up signs at polling stations.
A Labor volunteer told AAP the signs had been put up ‘across the state’ on Friday evening, not in breach of an electoral law which prohibits the distribution of signs anywhere on election day.
Sir. Mr Rockliff and Ms White have said they are prepared to govern in a minority but have ruled out making deals or trade positions.
The pair have traded barbs over whether a new $715 million stadium in Hobart – a condition of Tasmania’s license for an AFL club – is the right priority for the state.
Sir. Rockliff, who signed the contract, backs the project but Ms White has described it as a bad deal and says she wants to renegotiate despite the AFL not wanting to budge.
The two leaders may have to contend with a cross-bench made up of the Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network candidates and independents.
Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff votes in Hobart
Senator Lambie was in Devonport in the North West state with candidates.
“We’ve had 10 years of Liberal government, we’ve only seen Tasmania get worse,” she told reporters.
Tasmania’s House of Commons will be restored from 25 to 35 members, with each of the state’s five electors electing seven MPs.
More than 90,000 of Tasmania’s 408,000 registered voters have cast their ballots early.
The leader of the Greens, Rosalie Woodruff, will press the major parties for greater environmental efforts if the party ends up in a position of balance of power.
“We want to fight hard for forests, for tenants, for health and housing,” she said after voting in her constituency of Franklin.
‘Our message has been that change is not just necessary, it is possible. We hope that this is reflected in the vote.’