TASMANIA'S Liberals is set for a crushing election victory and a return to office in the island state for the first time in 16 years. 
 
Will Hodgman has led the party to victory at his second attempt and will become the first Liberal premier of the state since Tony Rundle.

Polls had predicted a bloodbath for Labor, who shared power with the Greens for the past four years, and experts were calling the result with barely 10 per cent of the vote counted.

Labor was hard hit in the north and the Greens had also lost electoral support.

Under Tasmania's unique Hare-Clark electoral system, where five members are elected in each seat, the Liberals needed to pick up three for a majority in the 25-seat lower house.

They looked set to win 14, while Labor had won five, the Greens two with four still in doubt.

But in the popular vote it was a landslide, the Liberals claiming at least 53 per cent, a swing of 14, and Mr Hodgman the highest personal tally of any candidate.

The 44-year-old father of three young children comes from a long line of Hodgmans involved in Tasmanian politics, but will be the family's first premier.

His late father Michael was a popular Fraser government minister and state politician.

His grandfather Bill Hodgman and uncle Peter were also members of the state parliament.

Also in Mr Hodgman's electorate of Franklin, Labor premier Lara Giddings looked likely to hold her seat but leadership hopeful David O'Byrne was under threat.

Greens leader Nick McKim also looked safe.

Polls taken in the final weeks of the campaign had the Liberals flying.

A Newspoll had the party at 53 per cent to the ALP's 23 and the Greens' 16.

Mr Hodgman was trumpeted as "Mr 54.6 per cent" by Hobart newspaper The Mercury.

The Liberals have promised boosts to health and education as well as the axing of 500 public service positions and budget savings of $500 million.

But they confront unemployment of 7.3 per cent, the nation's highest, and a budget blowout of $450 million over the forwards estimates.

Earlier, Ms Giddings appeared resigned to a loss.

"Of course it's going to be a difficult day, a tough day for Labor, but one where we won't give up until the very last," she told reporters as she voted in Hobart.

The ALP reportedly mounted a last-ditch campaign blitz with early morning text messages on Saturday morning.

Mr Hodgman questioned their use of robo-calls during the campaign.

"The Labor party have used my voice in their robo-calls," he said.

"I think that's unfortunate but it's part and parcel of campaigning."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/polls-open-for-tasmanian-ele...

progressiveslol wrote on Mar 15^th, 2014 at 8:20pm:

STILL

Kat wrote on Mar 15^th, 2014 at 8:25pm:


Labor had their arses handed to them last year Federally and now it's happening again in Tassie!

Zey have been on zee nose for quite some time. I used to vork in Tasmania. It vos a goldmine for analizing disaffected people. Tasmania iz a unique place because basket weavers dont usually make any moneys but down zere zey haz zee market cornered for zee basket cases.

skippy. wrote on Mar 15^th, 2014 at 8:30pm:


You'd have to say going from opposition to majority Government at a time when the party is in the middle of a federal government position as well.

That's a pretty darn good result is it not?

skippy. wrote on Mar 15^th, 2014 at 8:41pm:


I still don't think it's good.

The fascists are definitely in charge.

The Australia we knew and loved is gone.

THIS is not my country. THESE are not my people.

Seem I recall the same thing happened with Labor not long ago - every State etc.

All this means is that the Australian people are so disenchanted with BOTH sides that they keep swinging from one to the other in the fervent hope that the bastards will have learned something from their last trashing.  Seems this is not the case and they've learned nothing and just persist with the same old oppressive and rights-destroying nonsense and insanity while the country burns to the ground.

Bring On The Revolution.. People Power is the only answer.

Kat wrote on Mar 15^th, 2014 at 8:55pm:


If you loved debt, incompetence, internal party warfare and scandal that existed under Labor but that is now all gone with the new Coalition governments, then I have to say it's for the better!