Polls open in Tasmania, Labor candidate dons fishy DIY costume

Tasmania is headed to the polls today after a bombshell move by the opposition sparked a snap election. Here are the main faces you need to know as the votes roll in.

Tasmanians heading to vote in the state’s west got an aquatic offering on Saturday, as the Labor candidate for Braddon donned a large tuna headpiece on the side of the road.

The D.I.Y. costume sat atop the head of Kelly ‘Hooch’ Hunt, as he danced on the side of the Bass Highway at Devonport.

Mr Hunt works for the peak body representing recreational marine fishers, but the headpiece appeared to be just an attention grabber.

He told The Mercury he built the mask for a theatre show a few years ago, when he was quoted $3000 from a specialist company.

“I’d like to be the mascot of something,” he began to explain, before running off to dance to passing cars.

There’s a political candidate under there. Picture: Facebook

Booths open

Tasmania heads to the polls on Saturday, after a bombshell move by the opposition sparked a snap election just 16 months after the last.

The state’s lower house is comprised of 35 MPs, seven chosen from each of five electorates, and the upper house is voted in with one member representing each of the 15 electorates.

With 50 state representatives and 17 on a federal level, as well as 29 councils across Tasmania, the state’s 530,000-strong population has more than its fair share of politicians.

Here are the key players you need to know as voting begins.

Jeremy Rockliff

The incumbent Premier took over in the top job in April 2022 and has faced a difficult time since.

Although he inherited a Liberal majority from his predecessor Peter Gutwein, the government went into minority after two Liberal backbench MPs quit the party to sit as independents in opposition to the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium project.

With the support of the newly independent ex-Liberals uncertain, Rockliff rolled the dice with an early election in 2024 that plunged the government even further into minority.

Since that result, things have gone from bad to worse for the Premier, with the resignation of his Deputy Premier over the botched Spirit of Tasmania rollout, a deepening budget deficit and growing opposition to the Macquarie Point stadium.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff decided to take Tasmania to the polls after a motion of no confidence against him was passed in parliament in June. Picture: NewsWire/ Nikki Davis-Jones

Things came to a head in June when the state parliament passed Labor leader Dean Winter’s motion of no confidence, forcing Rockliff to request an early election from the Governor.

While it has not been smooth sailing for the incumbent Premier, if polls are to be believed, Mr Rockliff is on track to lead his party to a form of victory for the fifth election in a row, though he is likely to preside over a hung parliament.

Mr Rockliff has pledged to create a state-owned insurance company if elected, describing it as the party’s most significant announcement.

Dean Winter

Dean Winter has led the Labor Party for little over a year, but it’s not yet clear if his legacy will be that of a rebuilder, or an agent of chaos.

Mr Winter introduced the no confidence motion in Jeremy Rockliff’s leadership in June, citing the botched roll out of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels, the state of the budget and the controversial Macquarie Point Stadium project as examples of Mr Rockliff’s failed leadership.

Mr Rockliff was scathing of the Opposition Leader in the wake of the motion’s passage, blaming him for an election that “Tasmanians don’t want and that Tasmanians cannot afford.”

“You might get rid of me mate, but they’re coming for you as well,” he told Mr Winter.

It remains to be seen whether Tasmanians will punish or reward Mr Winter’s gamble.

Labor Leader Dean Winter has been in the role for just over the year, but his no confidence motion means he’ll go down in the history books. Picture: NewsWire/ Simon Sturzaker

Rosalie Woodruff

The Greens leader is perhaps the highest profile Tassie politician fighting against the Macquarie Point stadium, which is currently tied to securing a licence for the Tasmania Devils AFL team.

Woodruff said the possible $1 billion price tag for the stadium would be better spent elsewhere, and has made the scrapping of the venture central to securing Greens support in the event of a hung parliament.

Both Labor and the Liberals have ruled out doing any deals with the Greens, meaning Woodruff’s position in the next parliament is likely to be one of irrelevancy.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff is not expected to carry much influence in the next parliament, with both major parties declaring they would not do a deal with the party in the event of a hung parliament. Picture: NewsWire / Richard Jupe

Bridget Archer

Bridget Archer is the highest profile new candidate in the state election, having previously represented the federal division of Bass in the federal parliament from 2019 until her shock defeat in Labor’s landslide in May.

Ms Archer is now running to represent the same voters, but at a state level.

During her time in Canberra, she was known for her maverick streak, most notably crossing the floor to vote in favour of the establishment of a federal anti-corruption body, in defiance of her then-leader Scott Morrison.

Liberal candidate and former federal MP Bridget Archer is running for state parliament after losing her seat in Canberra in May. Picture: NewsWire/ Scott Gelston

David O’Byrne

One of the state’s most controversial politicians, David O’Byrne is an independent MP representing the electorate of Franklin.

Mr O’Byrne was a former Labor cabinet minister and for two weeks in 2022, the state’s Labor leader until he resigned the post following accusations of historic sexual misconduct while working at a union.

A report cleared him of sexual harassment and found he had not breached any Labor Party rules.

Mr O’Byrne left the Labor Party in 2024 after his pre selection was blocked by then state leader Rebecca White (who is now the federal member for Bass) but was returned by voters to represent Franklin as an independent.

He has since provided support to the minority Liberal government.

Mr O’Byrne is a strong proponent of the Macquarie Point stadium.

Independent candidate for Franklin, David O'Byrne, is strongly in favour of the Macquarie Point stadium. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Davis-Jones

Craig Garland

First coming to the attention of political observers in the 2018 Braddon by-election, where he scored an impressive 10 per cent of the vote as an independent, Mr Garland was elected at the 2024 state election on a platform of opposing the state’s industrial salmon farming and ending native forest logging.

Mr Garland pleaded guilty to a charge of drug driving in June after testing positive for cannabis while driving to go fishing.

Independent member for Braddon Craig Garland ran a strong campaign against industrial salmon farming in the last election. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Eric Abetz

One of Australia’s most outspoken, socially conservative politicians, Mr Abetz returned to politics in 2024 when he was elected to represent Franklin.

However he is better known for his time representing the state of Tasmania in the federal Senate between 1994 and his defeat in 2022.

Mr Abetz served as leader of the Government under both Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull and was a passionate opponent of same sex marriage, saying its passage could lead to people marrying the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Mr Abetz has been touted as a potential successor to Premier Rockliff in the event of his defeat or resignation.

Eric Abetz returned to state politics at the 2024 election, but is better known for his near-30 years as a Senator for Tasmania in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Originally published as Polls open in Tasmania, Labor candidate dons fishy DIY costume