Tasmanian Parliament. Credit jeaneeem flickr

By Rich Bowden:

The Greens have emerged as kingmakers in Tasmania, with neither major party able to form government following this weekend’s cliffhanger vote.

As was widely predicted, the result of the Tasmanian poll will be a hung parliament with the most likely result being 10 Liberal, 10 Labor and 5 Greens. Significantly the Liberal party was unable to form government depite a swing of 12 percent against the governing Labor party.

However Liberal leader Will Hodgman claimed the right to govern as his party leads the primary vote count.

“It is clear that the Liberal party has the strongest number of votes and if that remains the case then I expect we would be given the opportunity, the privilege and the honour of governing this state,” he told the tallyroom in Hobart.

Greens leader Nick McKim said the opportunity of a hung parliament was a “great opportunity” for the people of Tasmania and said his party stood ready to work with either of the major parties to form government.

“Our hand remains extended to the Labor and Liberal parties and it will remain extended. The ball is now in their court,” he told the tallyroom during his speech.

Labor leader David Bartlett congratulated the Greens and Liberals campaign and said he took full responsibility for his party’s poor showing.

However he did not concede defeat and told the tally room his party would listen to the electorate.

“No matter what Will, Nick and I agree or disagree on, I am convinced that they like me they are motivated by doing their bit for Tasmania and seeing the lives of Tasmanians improve,” he said.

“The electorate has sent Labor a message and I take responsibility to listen today and to continue to listen into the future.”

Tags: david bartlett, hung parliament, nick mckim, Tasmanian election, will hodgman