Socialists campaign for climate in poll

Issue 

Socialist Alliance ran two candidates in the Tasmanian state elections on March 20. Melanie Barnes in the Hobart seat of Denison and Jenny Forward in the Kingston seat of Franklin campaigned for urgent action on climate change and to increase funding to public services.

The candidates spoke at meet-the-candidates forums on education, lesbian, gay, transgender and intersex rights, women's health, climate change and other environmental issues.

Barnes won 363 votes (0.57%) and Forward won 279, both small increases from 2006.

The outcome of the election will not be clear until early April. No party won a majority of seats and there is intense speculation that a coalition government involving the Greens will be formed. Andrew Wilkie, who left the Greens two years ago and ran as an independent on a "no pokies" platform, scored a high vote and may win a seat.

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