Liberal Gavin Pearce has won the seat of Braddon from Labor’s Justine Keay

A triumphant Gavin Pearce says his victory in Braddon came thanks to the Liberals’ focus on northern Tasmanians.

Braddon Liberal Gavin Pearce hugs his mum Beth Pearce at Burnie. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

A TRIUMPHANT Gavin Pearce says his victory in Braddon came thanks to the Liberals’ focus on northern Tasmanians.

The new Braddon MHR told family, friends and Liberals in Burnie that he won the seat from Labor candidate Justine Keay because his party had unapologetically put Braddon first — a contrast, he said, to the Opposition.

The Tasmanian Liberals had played on Labor’s pledge to give Mona and the AFL funding as evidence the party only cared about the south, despite other funding commitments made throughout the state.

Mr Pearce drew on a friend’s quip in describing Tasmania as a funnel where wealth flowed through the top of the state and went to the bottom — Hobart.

“I’m here to stop it running out the bottom,” Mr Pearce said to cheers.

An emotional Mr Pearce last night paid tribute to his family — including partner Megan McGinty, daughter Isla, 4, and son and “best mate” Hamish, 17 — as well as Liberal state director Sam McQuestin, party president Geoff Page, senator Richard Colbeck and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Braddon Liberal Gavin Pearce and Senator Richard Colbeck at Burnie. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Mr Morrison earned special praise from Mr Pearce. The beef farmer tallied Mr Morrison’s visits to Braddon at 10 during the campaign — and he received a final boost from the Liberal leader with a fly-in visit on polling day.

“I will follow him for the rest of my dying days,” Mr Pearce said.

Ms Keay conceded the seat to Mr Pearce about 9.45pm. Her supporters had gathered at the Ulverstone Surf Club.

Mr Pearce’s election night party was attended by high-profile Liberals including Senator Colbeck, Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Housing Minister Roger Jaensch.

Hobart City Council alderman and Liberal senate candidate Tanya Denison, Braddon Liberal MHA Joan Rylah and former Braddon MHA Adam Brooks also partied with Mr Pearce.

Despite the Liberal’s success in picking up two seats, voters drifted away from the major parties across the state.

Labor’s primary vote in lower house contests was down 4.5 per cent, the Liberals were down about the same. The Greens vote statewide was almost unchanged from the last election at 10 per cent.

Andrew Wilkie’s improved result accounted for much of the 13 per cent won by independents, along with Craig Brakey in Braddon, who picked up 11 per cent of the vote in that tightly-contested seat.

MORE OF TODAY’S NEWS:

ELECTION NIGHT IN HOBART

WILKIE WINS BATTLE FOR HOBART ON SOCIAL JUSTICE

MAN “DIED IN MOTHER’S ARMS” IN TRAGIC SELF-SHOOTING ACCIDENT

COUNCIL DIVES INTO DEEP END WITH NEW POOL

POWER BROKERS TAKE POLL POSITION

And the new right wing micro parties posted patchy results in their first outings in Lower House contests in Tasmania.

Statewide, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation managed to secure 2.6 per cent of the primary vote. The party’s best result was in the seat of Lyons where candidate Tennille Murtagh won 7.8 per cent of the primary vote.

On the back of an advertising blitz, the United Australia Party managed four per cent: its best result in Franklin at 6.6 per cent.

And Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party managed 1.7 per cent in Franklin and one per cent in Braddon.

Almost 20 per cent of Tasmanians voted early — the Australian Electoral Commission reported 69,000 prepoll votes were cast statewide in the lead-up to the poll. Those votes will prove important, particularly in deciding the outcome in the Senate.

[e-mail]