Hung parliament tipped as Tasmanian party leaders cast their votes in state election

Tasmania’s main party leaders have cast their votes in a state poll, where voters appear poised to censure the Liberals and Labor and force a hung parliament.

Australia’s only Liberal government is seeking a record fourth consecutive term in office, while Labor aims to return to power after a decade in opposition.

Saturday’s election will be held more than a year ahead of schedule after the Liberals failed to resolve a deadlock between minority governments and two independent parties.

Opinion polls point to a hung parliament, with the Liberals winning more seats than Labor, but not the 18 of 35 needed for a majority.

Prime Minister Jeremy Rockliff cast his vote at Sassafras Primary School in his seat of Braddon in the state’s north-west.

Mr Rockliff said his party was “within a stone’s throw” of a majority, despite some polls showing the Liberals likely to have a primary vote share in the 30s.

“I know our candidates will work respectfully with their constituents to see if we can achieve (the majority),” he told reporters.

Labor is led by Rebecca White, who will get a third chance to become prime minister after briefly leaving office following her 2021 defeat.

Polls suggest that more than a third of voters could disapprove of the two major parties, with Labor likely to gain a percentage of first preference in the 2020s.

Mrs White voted in Sorell, northeast of Hobart, with husband Rodney Dann and their two children.

“There’s a good chance Tasmanians won’t get an end result on Saturday night,” she said.

“It may take a number of days before we actually understand what the composition of the next government and parliament will look like.”

The final results may not be known until the week of April 8 due to the Easter holidays, a record number of 167 candidates and an expanded parliament.

Labor leader Rebecca White with family after Saturday’s vote in Hobart, Tasmania

Liberals have accused Labor of violating state election law by posting signs at polling booths.

A Labor volunteer told AAP the signs had been placed “across the state” on Friday evening, which did not breach an election law banning signs being distributed anywhere on election day.

Mr. Rockliff and Ms. White have said they are willing to govern in a minority but have ruled out making deals or trading policy positions.

The pair have exchanged views on whether a new $715 million stadium in Hobart – a condition of Tasmania’s license for an AFL club – is the right priority for the state.

Mr Rockliff, who signed the contract, supports the project but Ms White has described it as a bad deal and says she wants to renegotiate despite the AFL not wanting to budge.

The two leaders may face a crossbench made up of the Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network candidates and independents.

Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff votes in Hobart

Senator Lambie was with candidates in Devonport, in the north-west of the state.

“We’ve had 10 years of Liberal government and we’ve only seen Tasmania deteriorate,” she told reporters.

Tasmania’s lower house will be restored from 25 to 35 members, with each of the state’s five electorates electing seven MPs.

More than 90,000 of Tasmania’s 408,000 registered voters have cast their ballots early.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff wants to push the major parties to take more environmental action if the party finds itself in a balance of power.

“We want to fight hard for forests, for tenants, for health care and housing,” she said after voting in her electorate of Franklin.

‘Our message was that change is not only necessary, but also possible. We hope this will be reflected in the vote.”