Tasmanian state election to test support of centre-right Liberal Party

Voters in the Australian state of Tasmania head to the polls today, where they look set to re-elect the governing conservative Liberal Party back into the majority. The Liberals currently hold 15 of 25 seats in the House of Assembly and can only afford to lose two if they wish to avoid a minority government.

A last minute 12-point surge for the Liberals makes it look likely that they will expand their majority. The electorate has drifted rightward in the past three state elections due to a better economic outlook. However, voters seem to have ignored cuts to health, education, and attempts to expand logging.

Labor is expected to face a drop in its vote share due to controversial proposals like banning poker machines and limiting expanded logging. However, if the Liberals lose their majority, Labor is expected to block the conservatives’ weakening of protections for world heritage sites and easing of restrictions on gun ownership.

Voters will probably re-elect a Liberal majority for only the sixth time in the state’s history. But, despite the conservative’s polling surge, the result may be close.