# 2025 Tasmanian state election
The 2025 Tasmanian state election was a general election for all 35 seats of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, held on Saturday 19 July 2025 under the Hare-Clark proportional representation system, with seven members elected from each of the five divisions of Bass, Braddon, Clark, Franklin, and Lyons[1](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/). It returned a hung parliament of 14 Liberal Party members, 10 Labor members, 5 Tasmanian Greens, 5 independents, and one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers member, and Liberal premier [Jeremy Rockliff](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeremy-rockliff) was reappointed to lead a minority government on 6 August 2025[2](https://www.govhouse.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09/Reasons%20for%20the%20Reappointment%20of%20Premier%20Jeremy%20Rockliff%20-%206%20August%202025.pdf) • [3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/jeremy-rockliff-liberals-push-for-minority-government/105609100).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Election date | Saturday 19 July 2025, for all 35 House of Assembly seats[1](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/) |
| Trigger | No-confidence motion tabled by Opposition Leader Dean Winter; Parliament dissolved 11 June 2025 and writs issued 18 June[4](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-17/tasmanian-election-summary-2025/105423504) • [5](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/info/Publications/ElectionReports/Report_on_Parliamentary_Elections_2024-2025_w.pdf) |
| Candidates | 161 candidates nominated; a record field of 44 independents ran, in the absence of the Jacqui Lambie Network[5](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/info/Publications/ElectionReports/Report_on_Parliamentary_Elections_2024-2025_w.pdf) • [6](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/minority-government-the-new-normal-in-tasmania-as-voters-turn-away-from-major-parties) |
| Result | 14 Liberal, 10 Labor, 5 Greens, 5 independents, 1 Shooters, Fishers and Farmers; the Liberals fell short of the 18 seats needed to govern in majority[2](https://www.govhouse.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09/Reasons%20for%20the%20Reappointment%20of%20Premier%20Jeremy%20Rockliff%20-%206%20August%202025.pdf) • [3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/jeremy-rockliff-liberals-push-for-minority-government/105609100) |
| Vote share | A swing of about 3% from Labor to the Liberals, who recorded 40% of the vote[6](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/minority-government-the-new-normal-in-tasmania-as-voters-turn-away-from-major-parties) |
| Participation | Turnout 90.05%, down from 91.15% in 2024; informal voting 5.84%, down from 6.31%[5](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/info/Publications/ElectionReports/Report_on_Parliamentary_Elections_2024-2025_w.pdf) |
| Outcome | Jeremy Rockliff reappointed Premier on 6 August 2025, leading a minority Liberal government[2](https://www.govhouse.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09/Reasons%20for%20the%20Reappointment%20of%20Premier%20Jeremy%20Rockliff%20-%206%20August%202025.pdf) |
## Background
The election was the second in Tasmania in just over a year, the shortest gap between state polls in Australia since [Queensland](https://www.edgepedia.org/queensland) in 1957, and the fourth election in seven years[6](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/minority-government-the-new-normal-in-tasmania-as-voters-turn-away-from-major-parties) • [7](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/13/in-tasmania-neither-the-liberals-nor-labor-seem-to-comprehend-the-reality-of-minority-government). The 2024 election had delivered a hung parliament of 14 Liberal members, 10 Labor members, five Greens, three independents, and three Jacqui Lambie Network MPs, and Rockliff had continued in office as a minority Liberal government supported by four crossbenchers: David O'Byrne, Rebekah Pentland, Miriam Beswick, and Andrew Jenner[4](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-17/tasmanian-election-summary-2025/105423504) • [3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/jeremy-rockliff-liberals-push-for-minority-government/105609100).
**The trigger.** The election was set in motion by a no-confidence motion tabled by Labor leader Dean Winter during his budget reply speech[4](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-17/tasmanian-election-summary-2025/105423504). Reporting on the motion cited issues with budget management, proposed asset sales, and major projects delivery[6](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/minority-government-the-new-normal-in-tasmania-as-voters-turn-away-from-major-parties). Acting on the Premier's advice, the Governor advised the Electoral Commissioner on 11 June 2025 that Parliament had been prorogued and the House of Assembly dissolved; the writs came out on 18 June, nominations closed at midday on 26 June, and 161 candidates stood[5](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/info/Publications/ElectionReports/Report_on_Parliamentary_Elections_2024-2025_w.pdf).
## Electoral system
Members of the House of Assembly are elected through Hare-Clark, a form of proportional representation that has been used statewide since 1907[8](https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/about-the-house-of-assembly/members-and-officers-of-the-house). Voters number at least seven candidates in order of preference, and a candidate must receive a quota, calculated as the total first preferences in the electorate divided by eight, plus one vote[8](https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/about-the-house-of-assembly/members-and-officers-of-the-house). The five divisions carry the same boundaries as Tasmania's five federal House of Representatives divisions[1](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/). The system makes single-party majorities difficult: with 35 members, 18 seats are needed to govern in majority[3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/jeremy-rockliff-liberals-push-for-minority-government/105609100).
## Campaign
**The Macquarie Point stadium** dominated attention. Both major parties supported the proposed Hobart waterfront stadium, which polling found was opposed by 59% of Tasmanians[7](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/13/in-tasmania-neither-the-liberals-nor-labor-seem-to-comprehend-the-reality-of-minority-government). EMRS polling in May found a growing minority of Tasmanians ranking the stadium the most important election issue influencing their vote, and its post-budget polling found support for the stadium enabling legislation underwater in all five electorates[4](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-17/tasmanian-election-summary-2025/105423504).
**Fiscal context.** A millstone for both major parties was Tasmania's debt position, with net debt forecast to reach $10.9 billion by 2029[7](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/13/in-tasmania-neither-the-liberals-nor-labor-seem-to-comprehend-the-reality-of-minority-government). The Liberals campaigned that their costings confirmed all their policies could be implemented within existing expenditure commitments, without new or increased taxes and without adding to debt[9](https://tas.liberal.org.au/news/2025/07/18/budget-better-under-tasmanian-liberals). During the campaign the Liberals also switched to promising a government-owned insurance company, a concept blasted by experts and insurers but one that tapped into small business concerns[6](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/minority-government-the-new-normal-in-tasmania-as-voters-turn-away-from-major-parties).
**Policy promises** tracked during the campaign included a seven-storey tower directly linked to the Launceston General Hospital as part of the Liberals' 10-year LGH redevelopment plan, reforms to tackle black market tobacco, and increased funding for the Cancer Council and Quit Tasmania[10](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-18/tasmanian-2025-state-election-promise-tracker/105407176). [Environmental protection](https://www.edgepedia.org/environmental-protection) was largely absent: despite worsening outlooks from a State of the [Environment](https://www.edgepedia.org/environment) report the previous year, neither the Liberals nor Labor released specific policies for environmental protection during the campaign[11](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-13/tasmanian-election-environment-sidelined/105515986).
## Result
The election ended almost exactly where it began, with the Liberals, Labor, and the Greens holding the same number of seats they held before it[12](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/deal-making-begins-for-tasmania-next-government-analysis/105604612) • [3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/jeremy-rockliff-liberals-push-for-minority-government/105609100). The overall state vote share was a swing of about 3% from Labor to the Liberals, who recorded 40% of the vote[6](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/minority-government-the-new-normal-in-tasmania-as-voters-turn-away-from-major-parties). The result was described after the new parliament opened as the worst ever for Tasmanian Labor[13](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-09/tasmanian-52nd-parliament-preview-analysis/105748270).
**Crossbench.** The new parliament contained five independents and one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP[3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/jeremy-rockliff-liberals-push-for-minority-government/105609100). The four most prominent independents, incumbents Kristie Johnston, Craig Garland, and David O'Byrne, and anti-salmon-farming campaigner Peter George, polled strongly, while almost all other independents flopped[6](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/minority-government-the-new-normal-in-tasmania-as-voters-turn-away-from-major-parties). The Tasmanian Nationals, re-registered as a political party that year, failed, and were outpolled by the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party[6](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/minority-government-the-new-normal-in-tasmania-as-voters-turn-away-from-major-parties), whose Carlo Di Falco won a seat in Lyons[14](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/elections-2025/candidates-elected.html). Of the four crossbenchers who had supported the previous Liberal minority government, only O'Byrne was returned[3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/jeremy-rockliff-liberals-push-for-minority-government/105609100).
**Counting.** Hare-Clark counts for all divisions commenced after the close of the postal return period on 29 July. All candidates were elected by 2 August, and the declaration of the poll for each division was conducted on 5 August, with writs returned later that day[5](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/info/Publications/ElectionReports/Report_on_Parliamentary_Elections_2024-2025_w.pdf).
## Government formation
Rockliff said he would welcome confidence and supply agreements with independent MPs but did not need them to form a minority government[3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/jeremy-rockliff-liberals-push-for-minority-government/105609100). On the Labor side, Winter refused to do a deal with the Greens, while Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff maintained that there was no possibility of any minority government without some movement, suggesting compromise[12](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/deal-making-begins-for-tasmania-next-government-analysis/105604612).
On 6 August 2025 the Governor reappointed Jeremy Rockliff as Premier, noting in her reasons that the election result was a hung parliament in which no party leader had a majority of seats[2](https://www.govhouse.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09/Reasons%20for%20the%20Reappointment%20of%20Premier%20Jeremy%20Rockliff%20-%206%20August%202025.pdf). Polling commissioned by The Australia Institute before the result had found more Tasmanians agreed than disagreed that the major parties should seek to form a power-sharing government with Greens and independents if they could not govern alone, and the institute's study of 25 power-sharing governments found that most see out a full term[15](https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/election-result-shows-tasmanians-want-a-power-sharing-government/).
## The 52nd Parliament
The new parliament began in September 2025 with every vote likely to be a negotiation[13](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-09/tasmanian-52nd-parliament-preview-analysis/105748270). The minority Liberal government had been given a boost, having survived the most recent no-confidence motion and seen a swing toward it during the election[13](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-09/tasmanian-52nd-parliament-preview-analysis/105748270). Labor's decision not to engage with the government's multi-partisan budget consultation panel, which the Greens and other independent MPs attended, was noted as unlikely to win the party fans[13](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-09/tasmanian-52nd-parliament-preview-analysis/105748270).
## References
1. [House of Assembly elections, Tasmanian Electoral Commission](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/)
2. [Reasons for the Reappointment of Premier Jeremy Rockliff, 6 August 2025, Governor of Tasmania](https://www.govhouse.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09/Reasons%20for%20the%20Reappointment%20of%20Premier%20Jeremy%20Rockliff%20-%206%20August%202025.pdf)
3. [Jeremy Rockliff vows to push ahead with forming minority government following Tasmanian election, ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/jeremy-rockliff-liberals-push-for-minority-government/105609100)
4. [2025 Tasmanian Election Preview, ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-17/tasmanian-election-summary-2025/105423504)
5. [Report on Parliamentary Elections 2024 to 2025, Tasmanian Electoral Commission](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/info/Publications/ElectionReports/Report_on_Parliamentary_Elections_2024-2025_w.pdf)
6. [Minority government the new normal in Tasmania as voters turn away from major parties (Kevin Bonham), The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/minority-government-the-new-normal-in-tasmania-as-voters-turn-away-from-major-parties)
7. [In Tasmania, neither the Liberals nor Labor seem to comprehend the reality of minority government (Kate Crowley), The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/13/in-tasmania-neither-the-liberals-nor-labor-seem-to-comprehend-the-reality-of-minority-government)
8. [Members and Officers of the House, Parliament of Tasmania](https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/about-the-house-of-assembly/members-and-officers-of-the-house)
9. [Budget better under Tasmanian Liberals, Tasmanian Liberals](https://tas.liberal.org.au/news/2025/07/18/budget-better-under-tasmanian-liberals)
10. [Tasmanian state election 2025 promise tracker, ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-18/tasmanian-2025-state-election-promise-tracker/105407176)
11. [Environmental issues sidelined in Tasmanian state election, ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-13/tasmanian-election-environment-sidelined/105515986)
12. [Vote counting done, the deal-making begins for Tasmania's next government, ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/deal-making-begins-for-tasmania-next-government-analysis/105604612)
13. [Tasmanian parliament begins, with every vote likely to be a negotiation, ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-09/tasmanian-52nd-parliament-preview-analysis/105748270)
14. [Candidates elected, 2025 State election, Tasmanian Electoral Commission](https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/elections-2025/candidates-elected.html)
15. [Election result shows Tasmanians want a power-sharing government, The Australia Institute](https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/election-result-shows-tasmanians-want-a-power-sharing-government/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Elections and representation › Elections and referendums › National and subnational elections outside the US and UK › Australian, New Zealand, and Pacific election events › Australian state and colonial elections*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license