MAD’S DASH
Ogilvie win returns Liberals to majority govt:
PETER Gutwein’s Liberals will be returned to power in majority after securing the crucial second seat in Clark following an update in the state election count.
It means the Liberals have now secured 13 seats in the 25-seat House of Assembly, the same number they held before the party and Speaker Sue Hickey cut ties in late March.
Political analyst Kevin Bonham said the final two seats in Clark would go to Liberal candidate Madeleine Ogilvie and independent Kristie Johnston.
The election of Ms Ogilvie or fellow Liberal candidate Simon Behrakis was the final piece of the puzzle the Liberals needed to secure a majority.
The result came 11 days after Tasmania went to the polls on May 1 for the snap election, called almost a year before it was due.
Mr Gutwein had repeatedly said he would resign if the Liberals did not achieve that, despite a huge personal vote he received.
The re-election of Greens leader Cassy O’Connor, Liberal Elise Archer and Labor’s Ella Haddad had already been confirmed.
Dr Bonham said it was the first time five women had been elected at the general state election in any seat.
However, it is not the first time Clark has had five serving MPs — it did during the most recent term but only after a recount.
Former Labor MP Ms Ogilvie lost her seat at the 2018 election but returned to parliament to replace Scott Bacon, following his resignation mid-term.
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission confirmed the result in Clark about 7.30pm on Wednesday.
Mr Gutwein said it was a historic result for the Liberals because they had never before secured three consecutive terms of majority government. He vowed to not let Tasmanians down.
“I would like to acknowledge members of my team, and all those who put themselves forward this election — regardless of their political colours,’’ he said.
“It’s no easy thing to put yourself forward and stand for parliament, and I know all share a common goal to be a strong voice for our communities and for Tasmania.”
Ms Ogilvie said she was humbled to be elected, thanking the Liberal Party and voters for putting their trust in her.
“I have always sought to place the people of Clark first, and this will not change moving forward,’’ she said.
Ms Johnston, who will be the only independent in parliament, told the Mercury she was privileged and humbled to be elected.
“My role is obviously going to be to ensure I am holding the government to account on a whole range of issues,’’ she said.
“What the community have clearly said is they want a collaborative and productive parliament and my role is to help facilitate that.”
Ms Johnston said health, housing, the harm caused by poker machines, and a light rail system would be among her priorities in parliament.
Meanwhile, counting is ongoing in other electorates to finalise seats, with Labor expected to claim two in Bass with Michelle O’Byrne and Janie Finlay.
Mr Gutwein, Michael Ferguson and Sarah Courtney have been re-elected.
In Franklin, Liberal Jacquie Petrusma has been elected, Nic Street is the leading contender for the Liberals’ second quota, Greens’ Rosalie Woodruff has been elected and Labor’s Dean Winter and David O’Byrne are expected to fill that party’s two quotas.
In Braddon, Liberal Jeremy Rockliff has been elected, Adam Brooks and Felix Ellis are the leading contenders for the other two Liberal quotas while Labor’s Shane Broad and Anita Dow are expected to be re-elected.
In Lyons, Labor leader Rebecca White and Liberals Guy Barnett and Mark Shelton have been re-elected, John Tucker is likely to be the third Liberal and Jen Butler the second Labor member.