1986 Tasmanian state election

The 1986 Tasmanian state election was held on 8 February 1986 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 35 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system[1] — seven members were elected from each of five electorates. The quota required for election was 12.5% in each division.

1986 Tasmanian state election

← 1982 8 February 1986 1989 →

All 35 seats to the House of Assembly
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Robin Gray Ken Wriedt Bob Brown
Party Liberal Labor Ind. Green
Leader since 11 November 1981 27 May 1982 1983
Leader's seat Lyons Franklin Denison
Last election 19 seats 14 seats 0 seats
Seats won 19 14 2
Seat change Steady Steady Increase 2
Percentage 54.2% 35.14% 5.55%
Swing Increase 5.68 Decrease 1.72 Increase 3.84

Results of the election

Premier before election

Robin Gray
Liberal

Elected Premier

Robin Gray
Liberal

The incumbent Liberal government headed by Robin Gray hoped to secure a second term in office. The Labor Party was headed by Ken Wriedt. The Green independents were headed by Bob Brown. The Australian Democrats contested the electorates of Braddon and Bass. Green candidates contested the electorates of Denison and Franklin.

Prior to the election the Liberals held 18 of the 35 seats in parliament. The Labor Party held 14, and there were three independents—former Labor Premier Doug Lowe, Green independent Bob Brown, and ex-Liberal MHA Gabriel Haros.

Results

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The representation of the Liberal and Labor parties remained unchanged after the election, at 19 and 14 respectively, leaving Robin Gray's Liberal government in power. It was the first time in 58 years that a non-Labor government had won a second term in Tasmania.

The Greens increased their representation from one to two, with Gerry Bates replacing independent Doug Lowe as the seventh member for the Division of Franklin (Lowe did not contest the election).

 
PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Liberal138,83654.20  5.6819 
Labor90,00335.14  1.7214 
Ind. Green14,2275.55  3.842  1
Independents6,3852.49  0.500 
Democrats5,2722.06  3.330 
Others1,4380.56  4.970  1
Total256,161100.0035
Valid votes256,16194.07
Invalid/blank votes16,1455.93  0.27
Total votes272,306100.00
Registered voters/turnout290,27793.81  0.34

Distribution of votes

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Primary vote by division

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Bass Braddon Denison Franklin Lyons
Labor Party 37.4% 34.1% 30.8% 36.5% 36.9%
Liberal Party 56.2% 60.1% 43.6% 51.6% 59.4%
Independent Greens 15.9% 11.9%
Other 6.4% 5.8% 9.7% 3.6%

Distribution of seats

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Aftermath

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Shortly after the election, Ken Wreidt was replaced as Labor leader by Neil Batt.

See also

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References

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  • "House of Assembly Election Results 8 February 1986". Tasmanian Parliamentary Library.