Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2011

Periodic elections for the Tasmanian Legislative Council were held on 7 May 2011. The three seats up for election were Launceston, held by retiring independent MLC Don Wing; Murchison, held by independent MLC Ruth Forrest; and Rumney, held by Labor MLC Lin Thorp. These seats were last contested in 2005.

On the same day, a by-election was held for the seat of Derwent following the resignation of Labor MLC Michael Aird. Derwent was last contested in 2009.

Launceston

The seat of Launceston, previously known as Paterson, had been held by Don Wing since 1982; the last time the seat was up for election, Wing was re-elected unopposed. His retirement left the seat vacant. One of the stronger Liberal areas in Tasmania, that party selected Sam McQuestin, the state party president, as their candidate.[1][2] The Labor Party selected Steve Bishop, while Launceston Alderman Rosemary Armitage and businesswoman Lou Clark were independent candidates.[3]

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2011: Launceston[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Sam McQuestin 6,575 34.00 +34.00
Independent Rosemary Armitage 6,136 31.73 +31.73
Labor Steve Bishop 3,815 19.73 +19.73
Independent Lou Clark 2,811 14.54 +14.54
Total formal votes 19,337 96.64 N/A
Informal votes 673 3.36 N/A
Turnout 20,010 84.47 N/A
Two-candidate-preferred result
Independent Rosemary Armitage 10,861 56.17 +56.17
Liberal Sam McQuestin 8,476 43.83 +43.83
Independent hold Swing N/A

Murchison

Sitting independent MLC Ruth Forrest was the sole nominee for the election in Murchison, which she had held since 2005. She was thus declared re-elected unopposed.

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2011: Murchison
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Ruth Forrest unopposed
Independent hold Swing N/A

Rumney

Rumney had been held since 1999 by Labor MLC and Children's Services Minister Lin Thorp, who was elected in 2005 with a primary vote majority. The only party to preselect an opponent was the Greens, who nominated schoolteacher Penelope Ann; however, Tony Mulder, an independent candidate, was a past candidate for the Liberal Party. Other independents included former Children's Commissioner Paul Mason, former Labor member Cate Clark, and business analyst and serial candidate John Forster.[5]

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2011: Rumney[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labor Lin Thorp 6,754 32.77 −18.18
Independent Tony Mulder 5,839 28.33 +28.33
Independent Paul Mason 3,114 15.11 +15.11
Greens Penelope Ann 2,762 13.40 +1.15
Independent Cate Clark 1,356 6.58 +6.58
Independent John Forster 785 3.81 +3.81
Total formal votes 2,610 95.51 −0.78
Informal votes 968 4.49 +0.78
Turnout 21,578 85.33 −0.49
Two-party-preferred result
Independent Tony Mulder 10,785 53.15 N/A
Labor Lin Thorp 9,507 46.85 N/A
Independent gain from Labor Swing N/A

Derwent by-election

Labor MLC and Treasurer Michael Aird had held the seat of Derwent since 1995, and the seat had been in Labor hands since 1979. Aird announced his retirement on 9 November 2010 and formally resigned from the Legislative Council on 6 December 2010. As his replacement, Labor preselected Craig Farrell, the Deputy Mayor of Derwent Valley Council. The Greens selected Phillip Bingley, while independent candidates included retailer Ray Williams, Glenorchy Alderman Jenny Branch (a former Liberal Party candidate), and Central Highlands Councillor Deirdre Flint.[5]

Derwent state by-election, 2012[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labor Craig Farrell 7,595 38.60 −13.01
Independent Jenny Branch 3,990 20.28 −13.18
Independent Ray Williams 3,197 16.25 +16.25
Independent Deirdre Flint 2,943 14.96 +14.96
Greens Phillip Bingley 1,950 9.91 −5.02
Total formal votes 19,675 93.31 −2.44
Informal votes 1,410 6.69 +2.44
Turnout 21,085 84.66 +2.60
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Craig Farrell 11,118 56.61 N/A
Independent Jenny Branch 8,521 43.39 N/A
Labor hold Swing N/A

References

  1. ↑ "Liberals eye Launceston seat". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Libs' president vies for Upper House". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "Experts predict close finish in Upper House poll". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "Division of Launceston". 2011 Legislative Council election results. Tasmanian Electoral Commission. 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Upper House candidates finalised". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Division of Rumney". 2011 Legislative Council election results. Tasmanian Electoral Commission. 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "Division of Derwet". 2011 Legislative Council election results. Tasmanian Electoral Commission. 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
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