Tasmania election 2025: Another Tasmanian hung parliament, but Liberals ahead

Tasmania faces a period of political talks after a snap election delivered another hung parliament and more seats to the Liberals than Labor.

Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff declared victory on Saturday night after his party secured 14 seats to Labor’s nine, both short of the 18 required for majority.

Mr Rockliff said he would ask the governor to recommission his government, noting a roughly three per cent swing to the Liberals.

However, Labor leader Dean Winter, whose party experienced its worst-ever result in Tasmania with just 26 per cent of the primary vote, didn’t concede defeat.

He appeared to leave the door open to governing, if the Liberals couldn’t make it work.

“The result of this election is that the Liberals will have the most seats, but it is uncertain as to how they will achieve a majority,” Mr Winter said.

“Another election is not an option, which means we need to figure this out.”

The Greens have retained at least five seats while there are three independents, with counting potentially extending for weeks to determine four undecided seats.

Mr Rockliff would need to work with left-leaning independent crossbenchers to govern.

Independents Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland, who both voted for the June no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff that triggered the election, have been returned.

Ms Johnston urged the next premier to be more collaborative and said she wouldn’t enter into a formal deal for confidence and supply with either major party.

“They need to negotiate and respect the views of parliament,” she told AAP.

Anti-salmon activist and independent Peter George has been elected after a strong campaign at the federal election.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has called on Mr Winter to “have a conversation” about forming an alliance with her party.

However, Mr Winter has repeatedly ruled out doing a deal with the Greens and on Saturday night also said he wouldn’t “be trading away any of Labor’s policies or our values”.

The drawn-out post-election scenario, just 16 months after the previous poll, will further delay the parliamentary approval process for a new $945 million stadium in Hobart.

The venue, a condition of Tasmania’s AFL licence, is supported by the Liberals and Labor but opposed by the Greens, Mr Garland, Ms Johnston and Mr George.

The new parliament will be very similar to the previous one that included 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, five independents and one Jacqui Lambie Network member.