Independent Andrew Wilkie will demand ‘largesse’ if in balance of power but no deals, undecided on which party would back

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie will use any balance of power to negotiate on each piece of legislation, extracting “largesse” for his seat and state, rather than strike a power-sharing deal.

Independent Member for Clark Andrew Wilkie out putting up his election campaign posters in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie will use any balance of power to negotiate on each piece of legislation, extracting “largesse” for his seat and state, rather than strike a power-sharing deal.

Mr Wilkie, on a 22.1 per cent margin in Hobart-based Clark, told The Australian that in event of hung parliament, he was willing to offer confidence but not a formal deal. Instead, whichever party tried to govern would have to negotiate with him on each piece of legislation, with “concessions” for his electorate and state part of the conversation.

“I would not do a formal deal with either major party to help them form government,” Mr Wilkie said. “There will not be a ­repeat of 2010 (when he signed a formal power deal with Julia ­Gillard).”

The veteran independent, who has held the green-left-leaning Clark since wrestling it from Labor in 2010, said he had greater influence after the Gillard deal broke down over poker machines.

“When I didn’t have that deal, I found I had more influence in Canberra because they didn’t have me locked in – I wasn’t on a leash,” he said.

“Every vote they had to come to me and make the case, and that gave me an opportunity to attract some largesse.”

He may need to give concrete undertakings on supply and confidence to a major party to enable it to govern, but this would not be open-ended.

“That’s as far as I would go – I’d be constructive and help stand up the government, but no deals,” he said. “Once we get into the parliament, on every vote they’ve got to come to me and make the case.

“And then I’m sure they’ll be lots of opportunities to extract some concessions out of Can­berra for Tasmania.”

Despite his voting record suggesting he was closer to Labor than the Coalition, he did not have a position on which side he would support. “I’ve got to say ‘Who got the most votes, who got the most seats, what does my community want, what’s my conscience telling me?’ ” he said.

“You can look at my voting history, my personal history (former Greens candidate), and the nature of the Clark electorate to see which way I lean, but I’m not making any decisions before the election.

“This has been a terrible government … There’s been so many scandals, so many ministers not taking responsibility, rorts and dishonesty, inaction on integrity measures.”

He had a “thick folder” of funding needs for Clark, as well as national reforms, he wanted to progress. “I agree with the so-called teal independents on climate change and the need for a federal integrity agency,” he said.

“But the really practical, pressing needs (locally) include problems with the health system, the housing crisis, traffic congestion, the fact that some government pensions and payments are below the poverty line.”

Mr Wilkie faces challenges from Labor (Simon Davis), the Liberals (Will Coats), Greens (Janet Shelley) and United Australia (Sandra Galloway).