Greens hold balance in Tasmania

By Fiona Carnes

HOBART — Almost four weeks after the state election, the make-up of Tasmania's parliament is finally confirmed: Liberals 16 seats, Labor 14, the Greens four and independent one (Liberal Party breakaway Bruce Goodluck). This gives the Greens the balance of power in the House of Assembly.

The Greens had hoped to win seven seats, but a 3% swing against them caused the loss of one of their previous five seats.

Prior to the election, Liberal Party leader Ray Groom stated that a minority government would be unworkable and along with the ALP, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the establishment media, pushed for the election of a "stable" majority government. Groom's resignation from the leadership on March 15 may mean that the Liberals soften their approach to the Greens.

From GLW issue 224