Tasmanian parliament revealed, 13 newcomers at final count

Tasmanians have had their say and the results are in. Among the 35 candidates elected to parliament, 13 of them are newcomers. Here’s who you voted for.

Tasmanian parliament. Picture: Chris Kidd

As Premier Jeremy Rockliff prepares to form a new government with no deals or trading of ministries, the final election count has revealed there will be 13 new faces in the expanded House of Assembly with an unprecedented 11 MPs sitting on the crossbench.

The new faces will be Rob Fairs (Lib), Cecily Rosol (Greens) and Rebekah Pentland (Jacqui Lambie Network) in Bass, Miriam Beswick (JLN) and Craig Garland (Ind.) in Braddon with Helen Burnet (Greens) and Josh Willie (ALP) in Clark and Meg Brown (ALP) and Jacquie Petrusma (Lib) and Eric Abetz (Lib) in Franklin and in Lyons Jane Howlett (Lib) Andrew Jenner (JLN) and Tabatha Badger (Greens).

Three sitting members lost their seats – Liberals turned independents Lara Alexander and John Tucker and Franklin Liberal Dean Young.

The Liberals won 14 seats and Labor 10 in the restored 35-seat lower house.

While Franklin MP and likely new Labor leader Dean Winter labelled Mr Rockliff “Captain Chaos”, the Premier said with the declaration of the polls on Tuesday, he would advise Governor Barbara Baker that he be recommissioned to form a new government.

“As I said when I called the election back in February, my reason for doing so was that I believed that the previous parliament had become unstable and unworkable, which was harming the confidence of our State,” he said.

Tasmanian State Election 2024, Premier Jeremy Rockliff in the tally room, Hotel Grand Chancellor. Picture: Chris Kidd

“I am confident that we now have a parliament comprised of members who are committed to providing the stability and certainty that Tasmania needs, and who will put the best interests of Tasmanians first.

“I remain committed to the principles that I outlined on day one of the election: no deals with the Greens, no trading of Ministries and no compromise of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s future.”

Mr Rockliff said while he had aimed for majority government he would treat the outcome of the election “with respect and maturity”.

“As such, I have been engaging in constructive and positive discussions with members of the Jacqui Lambie Network and independent members,” he said.

“The people of Tasmania have had their say, and the will of the voters must be respected.

Mr Winter said despite 18 months remaining, and Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander providing supply and confidence, Mr Rockliff took Tasmanians to a second early election in a row saying it was to avoid more chaos.

Dean Winter Labor member for Franklin. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The result is that we now have more political instability and uncertainty than ever,” he said.

“Whatever government he forms, Jeremy Rockliff is now officially Captain Chaos.

“As he himself said, minority government is destabilising, it destroys confidence, it is bad for our state, and it is bad for Tasmanians.”

Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner Andrew Hawkey was relieved the counting was finished and said it “gone well”.

“We’ll now turn our attention to the Legislative Council elections on May 4.”

Here’s who you voted for:

* Denotes a newcomer

Bass

*Rob Fairs (LIB)

Liberal Rob Fairs is known for being a former sports presenter on 7Tasmania News (Formerly Southern Cross News). He is the third presenter from the network to successfully win a seat in parliament. Picture: Rob Burnett

Michael Ferguson (LIB)

Michael Ferguson has been a Liberal member in the House of Assembly since 2010. Prior to that he was Federal member for Bass from 2004 - 2007. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Simon Wood (LIB)

Simon Wood was first elected to parliament on recount after the resignation of former Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Janie Finlay (ALP)

This is Janie Finlay’s second term in parliament. Before that she was on the Launceston City Council. Picture: Richard Jupe

Michelle O’Byrne (ALP)

Michelle O’Byrne is the most experienced Labor MP in parliament having served as a federal member for Bass from 1998-2004 before running for the House of Assembly in 2006. Picture: Patrick Gee

*Cecily Rosol (GRN)

This is Cecily Rosol’s first time in parliament. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

*Rebekah Petland (JLN)

Lambie Network’s Rebekah Pentland has spent 15 years as a pharmaceutical consultant. The mother of three ran for parliament because of the of cost of healthcare and wait times to see specialists. Picture: Patrick Gee

Braddon

Felix Ellis (LIB)

This is the first time Felix Ellis has been elected to parliament in his own right. He was first elected on recount in 2020 to replace Joan Rylah. In 2021 he was elected to replace Adam Brooks at the start of the term. Picture: Chris Kidd

Roger Jaensch (LIB)

Roger Jaensch was first elected at the 2014 state election. Picture: Linda Higginson

Jeremy Rockliff (LIB)

Jeremy Rockliff became Premier after the resignation of Peter Gutwein in 2022. It was his first election as Liberal leader. Picture: Caroline Tan

Shane Broad (ALP)

Labor’s Shane Broad was elected on a recount in 2017, replacing former Labor leader Bryan Green. Before that, he was an agricultural scientist and an Australian World Championship representative rower. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Anita Dow (ALP)

Labor’s Anita Dow was deputy Labor leader and is seeking to retain that position. Picture: Rob Burnett

*Miriam Beswick (JLN)

Lambie Network’s Miriam Beswick ran a small business and is a mother of three. She ran for parliament wanting to make improvements in the areas of health and education. Picture: Patrick Gee

*Craig Garland (IND)

This is the sixth time Mr Garland has run in an election across state and federal politics. Picture: Chris Kidd

Clark

Simon Behrakis (LIB)

Simon Behrakis was initially elected on a recount in 2023 after Former Attorney-General Elise Archer quit politics. He is a former Hobart City Alderman. Picture: Chris Kidd

Madeleine Ogilvie (LIB)

Madeleine Ogilvie was once a Labor member but went independent in 2019. At the 2021 election, she switched to Liberal. This is the second time she’s won a seat as a Liberal. Picture: Chris Kidd

Ella Haddad (ALP)

Labor's Ella Haddad was first elected to the House of Assembly in 2018. This is her third term.

Josh Willie (ALP)

Labor’s Josh Willie is the former member for Elwick but took a successful gamble on his Upper House seat for the Lower House. An election will be held to replace him. Picture: Chris Kidd.

Vica Bayley (GRN)

Greens’ Vica Bayley was first elected in 2023 on a recount after the shock resignation of Cassy O’Connor. He ran for Clark in 2021 but was unsuccessful. Mr Bayley is known for campaigning against the proposed kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car. Picture: Caroline Tan

*Helen Burnet (GRN)

Helen Burnet is well known for her time on the Hobart City Council as deputy mayor. Picture: Chris Kidd

Kristie Johnston (IND)

Independent member for Clark Kristie Johnston was once mayor of the Glenorchy City Council, but she quit when she was elected to parliament in 2021. This is her second term. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Franklin

*Eric Abetz (LIB)

Eric Abetz is a former Senator who lost his seat in 2022. Now he’s landed a spot in Tasmania’s House of Assembly. Picture: Chris Kidd

Jacquie Petrusma (LIB)

Jacquie Petrusma was a former Liberal minister but she quit in 2022 for family reasons. Now she’s been re-elected. Picture: Rob Burnett

Nic Street (LIB)

Minister Nic Street during the final question time in the Tasmanian parliament for 2023. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

*Meg Brown (ALP)

Labor’s Meg Brown won her seat in Franklin over fellow Labor candidate Toby Thorpe.

Dean Winter (ALP)

Re-elected Dean Winter, who is former Kingborough mayor, was once rejected by Labor powerbrokers as a candidate. Now he’s poised to take over the leadership. Picture: Rob Burnett

Rosalie Woodruff (GRN)

Rosalie Woodruff became Greens leader after the resignation of Cassy O’Connor last year. She’s been in parliament since 2015. Picture: Chris Kidd

David O’Byrne (IND)

David O'Byrne was once a rusted on Labor MP but he’s been renewed in parliament as an independent. In 2021 he spent two weeks as Labor leader before quitting after he was accused of misconduct by a former colleague. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Lyons

Guy Barnett (LIB)

Guy Barnett spent nearly a decade in the federal Senate and was elected to state parliament in 2014. Picture: Linda Higginson

*Jane Howlett (LIB)

Jane Howlett was the Member for Prosser in the Legislative Council but left it behind to run for the House of Assembly. Her reelection means a recount will be held to fill her old seat. Picture: Linda Higginson

Mark Shelton (LIB)

Once mayor of the Meander Valley Council, Mark Shelton has more recently occupied the role of speaker of the House of Assembly. He was first elected in 2010. Picture: Chris Kidd

Jen Butler (ALP)

Labor's Jen Butler was first elected in 2018. She’s spent time as the Shadow Minister for Veterans, Building, Consumer Affairs, Science and ICT.

Rebecca White (ALP)

Rebecca White stepped down as leader of the Labor Party after her party only secured 10 seats. Dean Winter is poised to replace her. Picture: Chris Kidd

*Tabatha Badger (GRN)

Tabatha Badger previously ran in the 2022 Senate election but was unsuccessful. This is the first time she’s been elected to parliament. Picture: Caroline Tan

Andrew Jenner (JLN)

Lambie Network’s Andrew Jenner worked as a magistrate for 25 years. He moved to Tasmaniain the 70s at the age of 19. Picture: Chris Kidd