Tasmania defies trend with swings to Liberal Party

The Liberal Party has retained its two marginal seats in Tasmania and given Labor a scare in another.

Tasmania has defied the national trend, with marginal seat swings to the Liberals seeing the party retain its two marginal seats and give Labor a scare in another.

Known for bucking national swings, voters in Liberal-held marginal Bass and Braddon swung further to the incumbents, with more than 90 per cent of the vote counted.

In notoriously fickle Launceston-based Bass, sitting Liberal MP Bridget Archer secured a 1.4 per cent swing on a two-party preferred basis to lead Labor challenger and former MP Ross Hart 51.85:48.15 on a 2PP basis.

Ms Archer, a first-term MP who crossed the floor on several occasions and clashed with her own party on an integrity commission and religious freedom legislation, has become the first MP to hold Bass for more than a term since Warwick Smith’s rein from 1984-1993.

“I’m so humbled and so proud that it appears the people of Bass have selected me,” Ms Archer told supporters. “I have given this job absolutely every ounce.

“I promise you I will be a genuine and authentic representative for the people of Bass. I am you, you can see yourself in me. I will give every inch of what I have for the next three years.”

In Northwest Braddon, Liberal incumbent Gavin Pearce – a strong supporter of Scott Morrison – secured a 5 per cent 2PP swing, defeating Labor challenger Chris Lynch 58.11:41.89.

In sprawling Lyons, taking in much of the state’s East and interior, Liberal challenger Susie Bower appears to have fallen just short of victory.

Lyons sitting Labor MP Brian Mitchell is leading Ms Bower 50.27:49.73 on a 2PP basis, suffering a 4.91 per cent swing.

In Hobart-based Clark, independent Andrew Wilkie secured a fifth term, while Labor’s Julie Collins was returned in the safe Labor seat of Franklin, in the state’s south.