2024 Tasmanian State Election

LAST UPDATED: 3pm, Monday 22 April 2024

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The Tasmanian Electoral Commission has completed the count and declared the elected candidates (35 members) following the 2024 Tasmanian State Election.

With no party able to form majority (18 seats), Premier Jeremy Rockliff has sought confidence and supply assurances from members of the crossbench (11 members) to enable the Tasmanian Liberals to govern, with the party winning 14 seats in their own right.

To-date, the Liberals have formerly entered into an agreement with the three newly elected members of the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN), with details on the deal publicly available here. Under the terms of this written agreement, the three JLN members will provide support to the Rockliff Government on supply, confidence and censure motions, as well as motions which bind the Government. Conversations with other crossbench members are still ongoing.

Last week, the Rockliff Government unveiled its new Cabinet line-up. The key leadership posts of Premier and Deputy Premier remain unchanged, with Michael Ferguson also retaining the Treasury portfolio.

Importantly, the key role of Minster for Community Services has changed from Jo Palmer to Roger Jaensch, with Minister Jaensch having previously held the portfolio (then Human Services). 

Tasmanian Labor has also confirmed Dean Winter will take over from Rebecca White as Leader of the Opposition. In terms of the Labor Shadow Cabinet, there has been some movement. Notably, newcomer to the House of Assembly, Josh Willie, picked up Shadow Treasurer and the newly created Cost of Living portfolio. We also have a new Shadow Minister for Community Services in Michelle O’Byrne, replacing Sarah Lovell in the role. The Tasmanian Greens have also announced portfolio responsibilities, with new MP, Cecily Rosol, stepping into Community Services.

A revised Parliamentary sitting schedule has now been released, with a new date for the 2024/25 Tasmanian Budget of Thursday 12 September 2024. 

We look forward to working with the incoming government to provide immediate cost of living relief to Tasmanians and to address the systematic issues that create poverty, disadvantage and exclusion. Securing a long-term commitment to community services indexation which is reflective of the true costs of providing services also remains a key priority, and we look forward to continuing these conversations with Minister Jaensch.

We will continue to monitor the implementation of the Liberal’s election commitments (see 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future) and measures outlined in First 100 Days Plan. Key actions which are slated to commence and/or be delivered in the first 100 days, include a $250 credit on household energy bills, introducing half price bus fares, consultation on amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act to allow pets, and an expansion of the Healthy School Lunch Program. For more information on the Liberal’s election commitments, please check out our dedicated policy trackers.

TasCOSS 2024 Tasmanian State Election Priorities
TasCOSS’s 2024 Tasmanian State Election Priorities (PDF, 3.24MB) focusses on policy solutions and investments across six key areas that will provide Tasmanians with much-needed, targeted cost of living relief, and ensure a well-resourced community services industry that can meet increasing levels of need and complexity in the community.

TasCOSS 2024 Tasmanian State Election Policy Trackers
Check out our dedicated policy trackers to see how announcements and spending commitments measure up against TasCOSS’s election priorities in the areas of digital inclusion, energy, food security, housing, industry sustainability, and transport.

2024 Tasmanian State Election: Community Services Industry Forum
On Wednesday 13 March 2023, we held our 2024 Tasmanian State Election: Community Services Industry Forum with representatives from the three major parties. If you missed the forum or want to watch it back, you can now access the YouTube recording. 

Attendees joined us in Hobart online to hear directly from the major political parties about the policy solutions and investments they are proposing. The forum was facilitated by TasCOSS CEO, Adrienne Picone, who was joined in conversation by Minister for Community Services and Development, Hon Jo Palmer MLC (Tasmanian Liberals), Shadow Minister for Community Services and Development, Hon Sarah Lovell MLC (Tasmanian Labor), and Tasmanian Greens Leader, Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP.

Resources and Assistance with Election Advocacy
TasCOSS has prepared an Advocacy Toolkit for Organisations and Individuals (PDF, 132KB) tailored to the 2024 Tasmanian State Election. This resource covers off on a range of lobbying activities you can engage in individually or on behalf of your organisation to influence candidates and political parties. 

Changes to Voting Requirements
Tasmania has five (5) electoral divisions: Bass, Braddon, Clark, Franklin and Lyons. For each division, seven (7) members will be elected to serve a term of office of up to four (4) years.

A new awareness campaign has also been developed by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) to remind electors that they now need to number at least seven (7) boxes when they vote in the upcoming Tasmanian State Election. This is because the number of members in the Tasmanian House of Assembly is increasing from 25 to 35, with each division increasing from five (5) members to seven (7). Find out more and view the campaign video.

The key dates for the election are:

  • 6pm, Wednesday 21 February 2024: Issue of the writs, close of enrolment, and candidate nominations open
  • 12noon, Thursday 29 February 2024: Candidate nominations close                       
  • 12noon, Friday 1 March 2024: Announcement of nominations
  • 8:30am, Monday 4 March 2024: Early voting commences
  • 4pm, Friday 15 March 2024: Postal vote applications close
  • 8am-6pm, Saturday 23 March 2024: Polling day

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