Professor Richard Herr says Rebecca White should be minister in new government

A political expert has seen his fair share of elections and is surprised at the Tasmanian results from Saturday’s poll. Read his take on the figures.

Labor 'owes' Tassie two ministerial spots: academic

A Tasmanian academic says Labor’s “remarkable” result in the state should see Rebecca White made a minister in the new Albanese government.

Professor Richard Herr said he believed Lyons was “line ball” and that Liberal Bridget Archer had “done enough in Bass to be re-elected”.

Bridget Archer, Liberal MP for the Northern Tasmanian seat of Bass speaks to the media after voting at the Kings Meadows YMCA in Launceston on election day. Picture: NewsWire/ Scott Gelston

“It was surprising that Tasmania had the largest swing in the country because it didn’t seem to be engaged with the culture wars issues or things like nuclear power plants or whatever,” he said.

“It is remarkable. I didn’t expect us to lead the nation in terms of the swing.

“What was more damaging I think for the Liberals is that they were not trusted with cutting health services or the public services that Tasmanians get.”

Prof Herr said because of the 9.6 per cent swing to Labor in Tasmania, there would be a “serious expectation” that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would appoint Ms White, the new Lyons MP who enjoyed a 14.4 per cent swing, to a ministry.

“Given her experience in ministerial capacity and so forth, she certainly should not be treated like a first time member.

“The size of the swing in Tasmania suggests that Labor does owe Tasmania at least two ministerial positions.”

Labor member elect for Lyons Rebecca White with children Hudson and Mia at Bridgewater the day after the 2025 federal election. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Peter Dutton, he said, “certainly wasn’t a drawcard” and it would be “particularly frustrating” for the Liberal Party to rebuild itself after the election.

“They lost heavily in the urban areas,” Prof Herr said.

“Now, Tasmania is the most non-urban state in the Commonwealth and so if the Liberal Party is rebuilding its brand in the urban areas, that isn’t necessarily going to do it a lot of good in Tasmania.

“The advantage they have at the moment at the state level in Tasmania is a popular leader but he is suffering because of the unpopularity of issues like the stadium.

“As much as I think they believe that it will be a winner in the longer run, it’s a polarising issue and it’s not necessarily polarising large amounts in their favour.”

Independent candidate for Franklin Peter George voting at Cygnet Town Hall at federal election 2025. Picture: Supplied

Clark Independent Andrew Wilkie celebrates holding onto the Tasmanian seat at the 2025 federal election. Picture: Duncan Abey

Prof Herr said Tasmanian voters were “proud of our parochialism and our independence” and did not always follow national trends.

He said he was surprised Franklin Independent Peter George did not do better in terms of preference flows.

“The Green vote was down by seven or eight points and the Liberals were going nowhere.

“I think that’s one of the things that surprised me was that there still has not been a kind of preference whisperer getting all of the minor party and independent votes that are organized into an anti-two-party outcome.”

Originally published as Professor Richard Herr says Rebecca White should be minister in new government