Australia’s last Liberal premier pulled the trigger on an early election to overcome the “instability and uncertainty” of minority government.
But if voting follows opinion polls, neither of Tasmania’s major parties will be able to reach the required 18 seats to form a majority at the March 23 poll.
A recent survey indicated more than a third of voters are set to snub the Liberals and Labor, who have been in opposition for a decade.
Independent candidate for the rural seat of Lyons, John Tucker, was one of two Liberals whose decision to quit the party in May plunged the government into minority.
In January, he threatened to pull his vote of supply and confidence in the government, sparking an unresolved stand-off with Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
Tucker says he’s getting more support on the campaign trail as an independent than he did as a Liberal.
“Even to the point where it is dividing relationships,” he said.
“I’ve got wives who are saying ‘my husband doesn’t want me to put any signs on the property, but I’m voting for you’.
“Overall I’m pretty pleased with where I’m sitting at the moment and what I’m hearing on the streets.”
Tasmania’s lower house is being restored from 25 to 35 members, dropping the vote required for a candidate to get elected.
Tucker said cost-of-living struggles and access to health care have been the biggest issues raised by voters.
He hasn’t ruled out working with his former party in some sort of minority government scenario but says there have been no preliminary chats with the Liberals or Labor.
“I will not be ruling out anything. I’m not going to say I won’t deal with anyone,” he said.
“I’m prepared to work for good government and that is what I will do, with either party.”
Tucker supports Labor’s forestry policy over the Liberals, saying it provides greater certainty around plantation timber supply for local sawmillers.
Incumbent independent in the Hobart-based seat of Clark, Kristie Johnston, has urged the major parties to work constructively with any crossbench.
She took a crack at the Liberals for labelling Labor minority governments a “coalition of chaos”.
“What both political parties need to understand is the parliament will be made up of who the people elect,” she said.
“This fear-mongering campaign about minority government is not fair on the community. It’s disrespectful.”
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