Desire for majority rule sweeps Liberals to victory in Tasmania

TASMANIA has turned on Labor — long seen as its natural party of government — with a vengeance.

TAS_SUN_ELECTION_SPLASH-15MAR14

TASMANIA has turned on Labor — long seen as its natural party of government — with a vengeance.

The political map of the island state has been painted blue to an extent not seen for more than two decades.

It’s no coincidence that the last time the Liberals managed to capture close to such a large statewide vote was 1992; when the Liberals swept from office the last Labor-Green power-sharing government.

The bloodbath for Labor and the Greens has many causes — a stubbornly slow recovery from the global financial crisis, the nation’s highest unemployment rate, runaway budget deficits and growing state debt to name a few.

But underlying the surge towards Will Hodgman’s Liberals is an overwhelming desire for majority government.

Outside the public service city of Hobart, punters — including many former Labor faithful — have done what was necessary to end minority government.

It will most likely take Labor two terms to recover from this result, which will see Will Hodgman lead a team with a clear majority — at least 14 seats out of 25 — and an undeniable mandate.

Tasmania is a Labor state no more.