Labor’s lesson from Tassie triumph: ‘go hard for jobs, industry’

Having virtually wiped the Liberals from the federal political map of Tasmania, Labor says it will apply the lessons learned to other looming battles.

New Labor MP-elect for Bass Jess Teesdale.

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After virtually wiping the Liberals from the federal political map of Tasmania, Labor has resolved to adopt the same strategies to defeat the embattled state Liberal government.

Labor enjoyed stunning swings across the state – 17 per cent in northwest Braddon, 14 per cent in central Lyons, and 11 per cent in northern Bass – to snatch the two northern marginal seats and hold two existing seats.

Its Tasmanian triumph leaves the Liberals with no House of Representative seats in the state, while the Liberals are not guaranteed of securing more than one of the six Senate seats being contested.

In Braddon, Labor parachuted in pro-industry senator Anne Urquhart as its candidate, and passed legislation to guarantee salmon jobs in the electorate threatened by a federal approvals review.

The strategy appeared to pay off with Ms Urquhart securing a 17 per cent swing in primary votes to defeat Liberal candidate Mal Hingston, who presided over a 12 per cent swing against his party.

Member-elect for Braddon Anne Urquhart. Picture: Grant Wells

State Labor, which since its loss at the 2024 Tasmania election has adopted a pro-industry approach under a new leader Dean Winter, said the lesson was clear.

“The Tasmanian Liberal Party’s vote has collapsed across the state, with just 24.3 per cent of people voting Liberal,” said opposition state Treasury spokesman Josh Willie.

“That is the lowest primary vote for the Coalition in any state or territory by a considerable margin. Anne Urquhart backed our salmon industry – hard. She fought for her community and won … Tasmanian Labor stands for jobs. Safe, secure, well-paid jobs – that’s what paid off for Labor.”

While the next state election is not due until 2028, the minority Liberals govern at the mercy of a sometimes hostile crossbench, amid opposition to their AFL stadium and privatisation agenda.

The $1.4bn salmon industry hailed the Tasmanian result as providing it with “a clear mandate”. “Tasmanians voted with force for candidates who wholeheartedly back the salmon industry,” said Salmon Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin.

Ms Urquhart thanked voters. “I’ll work hard every day to build a better Braddon,” she said. In Bass, defeated Liberal MP and prominent moderate Bridget Archer attributed her loss in part to Labor’s campaign message that a vote for her was a “vote for Dutton”. “I have fought every day that I have been elected to uphold the values of the Liberal Party and of liberalism,” she said.

The victor in Bass, Labor’s Jess Teesdale, said voters had listened to the party’s message that it “genuinely cared” for their health and educational outcomes.

“We do genuinely care, and we are here for you,” the former teacher said.

In previously ultra-marginal Lyons, Labor’s decision to replace sitting MP Brian Mitchell with former state Labor leader Rebecca White paid off, with the party ­securing a 14 per cent swing on ­primary votes.

In southern Franklin, sitting Labor MP and Agriculture Minister Julie Collins withstood a strong challenge from anti-salmon independent Peter George, holding the seat with a positive 2.6 per cent swing.