Article-Tight Fields Lining up for Upper House

David Killick

Thirteen candidates will vie for three seats in the Legislative Council in this month’s second chance to vote for some Tasmanian electors.

More than 78,000 voters in Montgomery, Nelson and Pembroke will vote on May 24 in a regular poll delayed by the federal election.

In the Eastern Shore division of Pembroke, incumbent Labor member Luke Edmunds is facing a challenge from former MPs Allison Ritchie and Tony Mulder. Carly Allen is running for the Greens and Steve Loring for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.

Nelson is a three-horse race between sitting member Meg Webb, Liberal Marcus Vermey and the Greens’ Nathan Volf.

In the division of Montgomery, independent Casey Hiscutt is looking to take over from his mum Leonie, and is up against Green Darren Briggs, independent Gatty Burnett, former Liberal senator Stephen Parry and the Shooter, Fishers, Farmers candidate Adrian Pickin.

Voting in Legislative Council elections is compulsory. Members sit for six-year terms.

Voters can vote in person at a polling place on polling day, or if unable can vote at a pre-poll centre, vote by phone for interstate and overseas electors only, by post or, for those in nursing homes or in some hospitals, via mobile voting teams.

Meg Webb stressed the importance of independents in the state’s upper house.

“The two major parties have lost their way and have lost the community’s confidence.

“The Legislative Council is important for scrutinising the government of the day and holding it to account.

“People are telling me they recognise the upper house is more effective with independents representing the community and doing that crucial scrutiny.”