Tasmania goes red; Labor surprises with wins in Bass and Braddon

Tasmania has helped propel Labor to a second term majority, wiping Liberals from the political face of the island state.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese In Devonport, Tasmania in the electorate of Braddon. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire

The Liberals have been wiped from the face of Tasmania, with Labor picking up two crucial marginal seats, shoring up Anthony Albanese’s historic second consecutive majority government.

After a political bloodbath for the Dutton-led Coalition in the island state, Labor holds four of the state’s five seats, with independent Andrew Wilkie strengthening his hold on Hobart-based Clark.

The Liberals have lost northern Bass and northwest Braddon to Labor, which has held southern Franklin from a strong challenge by an anti-salmon independent and consolidated its hold on central Lyons.

In northern Bass, the previously popular Liberal incumbent Bridget Archer has lost to first-time challenger, Labor’s Jess Teesdale.

Ms Teesdale, who initially caused heartache for Labor by backing an end to native forest logging before backtracking, had about 40 per cent of the primary vote with 50 of 58 booths counted.

The teacher – who hosted Mr Albanese in her Launceston-based electorate repeatedly during the campaign - was expected to defeat Ms Archer 59 per cent to 41 on a 2PP basis.

Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers told ABC TV Labor won the notoriously fickle seat by telling voters that while “you may like Bridget Archer but if you vote for her you’ll get Dutton”.

In neighbouring Braddon, the Liberals appear to have suffered from the combination of an underwhelming first-time candidate in Mal Hingston and a popular Labor opponent in former Labor senator Anne Urquhart.

With 66 of 74 booths counted, Ms Urquhart was set to take the seat 57 per cent to 43 per cent on a 2PP basis.

Mr Albanese was a frequent visitor to both northern marginals during the campaign, and personally intervened to end uncertainty over salmon farming in Braddon.

In central and eastern Lyons, Labor has – as with Ms Urquhart – triumphed with a carefully chosen candidate.

Former state leader Rebecca White, parachuted in to the federal seat that mirrors her state seat to replace sitting Labor MP Brian Mitchell, has rewarded her party with a stellar result.

Ms White appeared set to retain the seat for Labor 60:40 on a 2PP basis, with 47 of 81 booths counted, defeating seasoned Liberal candidate Susie Bower.

The effective dumping of Mr Mitchell has paid off, with an almost 13 per cent swing on primary votes to Labor, which has 42.2 per cent to the Liberals’ 25.6 per cent and the Greens 11.8 per cent.

In southern Franklin, sitting Labor MP and Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has survived a strong push by independent Peter George, with 38 per cent of primary votes, to Mr George’s 23 per cent and the Liberals’ 17 per cent.

Ms Collins should be re-elected, with the Liberals deciding to give her their second preferences over the anti-salmon Mr George.

In Clark, independent Andrew Wilkie has improved his stranglehold on the Hobart-based seat, which he was on track to hold 71:29 in a 2PP basis against Labor.