Nationals apply to register as political party in Tasmania, backed by former Liberal MPs

A pair of former Liberal MPs who sensationally plunged the state government into minority last year are backing another political party as it tries to gain a foothold in Tasmania.

Former Tasmanian independent MPs Lara Alexander and John Tucker. Picture: Chris Kidd

The Nationals are making another attempt to gain a foothold in Tasmanian politics, backed by a pair of former Liberal MPs.

Historically, the centre-right party has had little electoral success in the island state but it’s hoping it can make waves in the current political climate.

A notice was published in Tasmania’s three major daily newspapers on Saturday, showing that an application had been made to the state electoral commission for the registration of the Nationals as a political party.

A list of 100 registered Tasmanian members was included alongside the notice, revealing that former state Liberal MPs Lara Alexander and John Tucker had signed up. The pair sensationally quit the Liberal Party in 2023, plunging the Rockliff government into minority. They were voted out at this year’s state election.

Lara Alexander, former member for Bass, and John Tucker, former member for Lyons. Picture: Patrick Gee

Former National Party federal president Christine Ferguson, who now lives in Tasmania, said “now’s a good time” for the party to be re-register in the state.

Former National Party federal president Christine Ferguson. Picture: ANNE FUSSELL

“We want to grow the party, get the party stronger, and perhaps aim for the next state election, which is three years away in Tasmania,” she said.

“The people who have … signed up to register believe there is a need for another conservative party in Tasmania.”

In 2018, Steve Martin became the first Tasmanian in 90 years to represent the Nationals in the federal parliament, following his defection from the Jacqui Lambie Network.

But he failed to retain his seat at the 2019 election, where he attracted just over one per cent of the statewide vote.

Ms Ferguson ruled out the prospect of the Nationals running Tasmanian candidates in the looming federal election but said the state offshoot of the party had the backing of the federal branch.

She said the party was ideally placed to form a coalition with the Liberals in Tasmania, replicating similar arrangements in other jurisdictions.

Former Nationals senator Steve Martin with former Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack. PICTURE: GRANT WELLS

According to Ms Ferguson, neither Mrs Alexander nor Mr Tucker had been asked to consider running as candidates for the Nationals.

Political analyst Richard Herr said that despite previous failed attempts by the Nationals to establish a presence in the state, there were factors that pointed to them potentially being more successful this time around.

“When we look back at the last state election here, the interesting thing was that overwhelmingly people still ended up voting for political parties. But the way the vote was distributed was very clear – they weren’t sticking to an old two-party system vote,” he said.

“That is why I think the Nationals are seeing an opening because of the opportunity that’s open to exploit the current detachment of voters from party loyalty that was exposed by the Jacqui Lambie Network and the failure of that to go to the benefit of the Greens.”

State government minister Nic Street said if the Nationals wanted to register as a party and run candidates here “then that’s completely up to them”.