Polls close in Tasmania with last Liberal state government in Australia on the line - 9News

Polls have now closed in Tasmania's elections, which sees the last Liberal state government remaining in Australia hoping to hang on to power.

Polls opened at 8am after Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff called the early election, following the defection of two of his MPs – John Tucker and Lara Alexander – who quit the party to move to the crossbench 10 months ago, pushing the government into minority rule.

The election will see the number of MPs in the state grow from 25 to 35, but it's been widely predicted that a hung parliament will remain after today's vote, despite Rockliff's call for Tasmanians to give his party a majority.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff called an early election following the defection of two of his MPs. (Alex Ellinghausen/SMH)

Because of that, it may be some days yet before we get a clear result.

Rockliff claims the polls show his is the only party capable of forming a majority.

"What the polls say is the Liberal party is the only party within striking distance of majority government," he said yesterday.

But Opposition Leader Rebecca White says that, after 10 years of Liberal government, the time is right for change.

Tasmanian Opposition Leader Rebecca White with Anthony Albanese in 2022. (Alex Ellinghausen/SMH)

"(The vote is) between a tired, decade-old Liberal government that is focused on the wrong priorities. Or a Labor government that is ready to take urgent action to ease the cost of living, repair the health system and get more people into affordable housing," she said.

The campaign has been dominated by the cost of living, housing and the state's healthcare system, as well as a crucial flashpoint: the proposed new stadium to be built in Hobart.

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The stadium is one of the conditions of Tasmania being granted a new AFL team, whose name and colours were unveiled this week.

But its cost of $715 million and concerns about whether that budget can actually be met has proved controversial, with White saying the deal with the AFL will need to be renegotiated following the election regardless of who takes power.

Rockliff has stood by the project, saying the private sector will "support" any cost overruns.

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2024-03-23 07:30:54Z
CBMikQFodHRwczovL3d3dy45bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvdGFzbWFuaWEtZWxlY3Rpb24tMjAyNC1yZXN1bHRzLWplcmVteS1yb2NrbGlmZi1saWJlcmFsc3JlYmVjY2Etd2hpdGUtbGFib3IvOGE2Zjc3NTYtMWUyNS00MWNjLWE2YmEtY2IwZDUyYzMxNmY50gFFaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuOW5ld3MuY29tLmF1L2FydGljbGUvOGE2Zjc3NTYtMWUyNS00MWNjLWE2YmEtY2IwZDUyYzMxNmY5

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