Labor is running candidates in all three Legislative Council seats, while the Liberals are running one
Thousands of Tasmanians have already voted ahead of Saturday’s Legislative Council elections. Find out if you have to vote, plus a list candidates and polling places.
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Fresh from being consigned to opposition at again at a state election, Labor is looking to Saturday’s Legislative Council elections as chance to increase their numbers in parliament.
Electors in the divisions of Elwick, Hobart and Prosser will vote for their representatives in the Tasmanian Legislative Council on May 4.
Independent Upper House MPs and candidates have voiced concerns that more party members in the Legislative Council will reduce the Council’s ability to act as a house of review.
However Labor leader Dean Winter sees the elections as a chance for the party to boost its representation.
“I think we need good people in the parliament. Every one of these candidates is going to add to our Labor caucus. It’s no secret that we wanted a bigger Labor caucus out of the last House of Assembly election,” he said.
All three seats are vacant due to resignations and retirements.
Labor’s strongest chances are considered Elwick and Prosser, however candidates Tessa McLaughlin and Bryan Green are facing strong competition from local mayors Bec Thomas and Kerry Vincent.
In Hobart former Greens leader Cassy O’Connor is a likely front-runner given her party’s strong support in the state’s capital, but she is battling independents such as John Kelly and Charlie Burton, and Labor’s John Kamara.
Labor veteran and Prosser hopeful Bryan Green said he felt the tide turning against the Liberals as he door knocked during the campaign.
“I do feel as though there is a swing on. Us three standing here should symbolise the fact the Labor party is prepared to have a crack. There’s only one of them for three seats,” Mr Green said.
Mr Green has criticised Liberal candidate and Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent for making election funding commitments.
“I don’t think Upper House elections were ever designed for people to splash money around. The house is a house of review...just buying your way in is not appropriate,” he said.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it was “entirely appropriate” for Mr Vincent to make commitments on behalf of the Liberals.
“At every election, political parties and candidates make commitments to their electorate because those commitments reflect the needs of their electorate. All those commitments of course will go through the budget, they will go through the approval process of both houses of parliament,” Mr Rockliff said.
More than 14,000 people have already cast their vote at pre-polling centres.
A further 4500 people will vote by post, with 70 per cent of postal votes already returned.
On polling day, people can cast their vote at any one of the 49 polling places that will open from 8am to 6pm.
A full list of polling places and information on how to vote with be printed in Saturday’s Mercury and on themercury.com.au
ELECTION GUIDE
WHO HAS TO VOTE?
If you live in one of the following local government areas, suburbs or towns, you have to vote in Saturday’s Legislative Council elections.
• Elwick
The Glenorchy City municipal area south of Berriedale Road, including the localities of Glenlusk, Collinsvale and Rosetta through to the Hobart City municipal boundary, and part of the Hobart City municipal area north of Lenah Valley Road, Augusta Road, Forster Street and Risdon Road.
• Hobart
South of Lenah Valley Road, Augusta Road, Forster Street and Risdon Road including parts of Lenah Valley and New Town through to the area north of the Sandy Bay Rivulet and west of the Southern Outlet, including Tolmans Hill, Dynnyrne, South Hobart, Battery Point, Fern Tree and Ridgeway.
• Prosser
The Glamorgan-Spring Bay, Southern Midlands and Tasman municipal areas, the Northern Midlands municipal area south of Conara Junction, including Campbell Town and Lake Leake,
the Sorell municipal area east of Orielton Rivulet and the Tasman Highway, including Sorell, Forcett and Nugent, and the Brighton, Tea Tree and Pontville localities located within the Brighton municipal area.
WHEN AND HOW TO VOTE
On polling day Saturday May 4. There are 49 polling places across the three electorates and they will be open from 8am to 6pm.
Or you can vote early at a pre-poll voting centre. Pre-poll centres will be open until 6pm on Friday May 3.
In each division, electors must number at least three candidates (1-3) on their ballot paper for their vote to count.
THE CANDIDATES
Elwick
• Fabiano Cangelosi, IND
• Tessa McLaughlin, ALP
• Janet Shelley, GRN
• Bec Thomas, IND
Hobart
• Charlie Burton, IND
• Sam Campbell, IND
• Michael Haynes, IND
• John Kamara, ALP
• John Kelly, IND
• Cassy O’Connor, GRN
• Stefan Vogel, IND
Prosser
• Phillip Bigg, SFF
• Bryan Green ALP
• Pam Sharpe, IND
• Kelly Spaulding, IND
• Kerry Vincent, LIB
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