Article-Webb Back with A Clear Mandate

Amelia Swan – and Sue Bailey

Re-elected independent MLC Meg Webb says her strong showing in Nelson is a clear mandate from voters for greater integrity, transparency and accountability in Tasmania’s upper house.

Ms Webb said the issues that came up during the campaign revolved around “trust in the government”.

“On the result we’ve seen so far, Nelson has delivered a resounding vote in support of an independent upper house and greater integrity, transparency and accountability being put forward on their behalf,” she said.

“Whether that’s the stadium, whether it’s the UTAS campus sale, whether it’s the crisis in our health system, in affordable housing, in our education system, underpinning it all was people’s scepticism that this government has the community’s best interests at heart.”

Ms Webb said the strength of the Legislative Council lay in a “broad spectrum of voices”, welcoming the growth of independent representation.

“We know that major parties in the upper house will do exactly what their party did in the lower house,” she said.

“Independents bring fresh review, fresh scrutiny and a fresh opportunity for Tasmanians to be represented.”

Liberal candidate Marcus Vermey said he was disappointed with the result in Nelson because he wanted to “give back to the community”.

“I still think I did reasonably well taking on an incumbent, which is always a hard thing to do,” he said.

“I knew it would be very hard and obviously I would have liked it a little closer.”

Mr Vermey said he believed there was support for the Macquarie Point stadium in the electorate and it was important it went ahead to show interstate investors the state was open for business opportunities.

“I think it is the younger people who are definitely, unequivocally for it,” he said.

Meanwhile, sitting Labor MLC Luke Edmunds said his re-election was an “endorsement” for both himself and Labor leader Dean Winter.

“I’m still sort of absorbing everything that has happened but just so rapt to get this endorsement for not only myself but also for Dean, it’s his first test at the ballot box and we’ve smashed it,” he said.

“I think what we’ve showed is … we are back, we are the party of the middle in Tasmania and we’re getting ringing endorsements federally.

“This community has Labor values and they’ve endorsed a Labor candidate.”

Mr Winter said Labor was looking forward to working with independents, saying people felt like the government had “given up”.

“We’ve got an agenda where we want to hold the government to account but also in government we want to make sure we’ve got good solid relationships where we can make sure we get a good, strong Labor agenda through the Legislative Council,” he said.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission says checking of polling place and pre-poll first preferences will start on Monday.