Liberals win majority government in Tassie

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 15 Maret 2014 | 19.19

Over 360,000 Tasmanians will vote in 305 polling places from Hobart to King Island in Bass Strait. Source: AAP

IF only Will Hodgman's parents could have seen this.

Victorious Mr Hodgman and defeated opponent Lara Giddings united in wishing the father and mother of Tasmania's new premier had lived to see his election success.

Mr Hodgman's party swept to majority government in Saturday's poll, ending a Labor dynasty that began in 1998.

But it was another dynasty that was on many minds after Mr Hodgman lost his father Michael, a former Fraser government minister, last year after a long illness.

"I am envious that unlike (Ms Giddings) my parents are not able to see tonight," Mr Hodgman said.

Ms Giddings had earlier made a point of sympathising with her opponent.

"Having had the support of my family and the pride of my parents in what I have achieved ... I say to Will I'm only sorry for you that your father Michael and your mother Marian cannot be here," she said.

But the night belonged to the Hodgmans and the premier elect claimed victory at his second attempt with his English wife Nicky by his side, punching the air as he reached the podium.

"Tasmanians have voted for a change in direction and that is what we intend to deliver," Mr Hodgman said.

The 44-year-old father of three young children becomes Tasmania's 45th premier, and his family's first.

Michael Hodgman, known as "the mouth from the south" was also a state politician, while Will's grandfather Bill and uncle Peter were also members of parliament.

The Liberals looked likely to win 14 seats in the 25-seat parliament after four years of an ALP-Greens alliance.

Like last year's federal election, Mr Hodgman had campaigned on ending minority government and his party was rewarded with around 53 per cent of votes.

Under Tasmania's Hare-Clark system, which delivers five members per seat, the Liberals increased their number from two to three in the state's north, the same electorates that punished the ALP at last year's federal poll.

A 14 per cent swing left Labor with six seats, the Greens with two and three in doubt.

The Greens' vote plummeted in a swing of nearly 10 per cent, while the Palmer United Party looked likely to miss out after polling five per cent.

But in the popular vote it was a landslide, Mr Hodgman recording the highest personal tally of any candidate.

Ms Giddings paid tribute to Labor predecessors stretching back to the late Jim Bacon.

"Tasmania is more inclusive, Tasmania is more progressive, more dynamic and more culturally confident than we were back in 1998," she said.

With Ms Giddings absent from the Wrest Point tally room, the traditional jeering came from Liberal supporters as Greens leader Nick McKim took the podium.

Mr McKim said the past four years had proven the Greens were capable of stable and effective government.

"We've been in tougher places before and we've come right back from there," he said.

Ms Giddings looked certain to hold her seat but Labor leadership hopeful David O'Byrne had a fight on his hands.

The pair share Mr Hodgman's electorate of Franklin, along with Mr McKim who was re-elected.


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