1998 Tasmanian state election

The Tasmanian state election, 1998 was held on Saturday, 29 August 1998 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 25 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The number of members was reduced from 35 to 25. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system[1]—five members were elected from each of five electorates. The quota required for election increased from 12.5% to 16.7%.

1998 Tasmanian state election

29 August 1998
All 25 seats to the House of Assembly 13 seats needed for a majority
Leader Jim Bacon Tony Rundle Christine Milne Party Labor Liberal Greens Leader since 14 April 1997 18 March 1996 1993 Leader's seat Denison Braddon Lyons (lost seat) Last election 14 seats 16 seats 4 seats Seats won 14 seats 10 seats 1 seats Seat change 0 6 3 Percentage 44.79% 38.06% 10.18% Swing 4.32 3.14 0.96
Premier before election Tony Rundle Liberal Elected Premier Jim Bacon Labor

This election saw the end of two years of a Liberal minority government headed by Premier Tony Rundle, supported by the Tasmanian Greens. The Labor Party won government in its own right for the first time since 1979, with Jim Bacon as premier.

Labor retained all their seats despite the reduction in numbers. The Liberals lost six seats. The Greens' representation was reduced from four members to one—Peg Putt in Denison.

Results

Tasmanian state election, 29 August 1998 House of Assembly << 1996–2002 >>
Enrolled voters		322,754
Votes cast		306,655		Turnout	95.01	–0.97
Informal votes		11,977		Informal	3.91	–1.49
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Labor	131,981	44.79	+4.32	14	± 0
	Liberal	112,146	38.06	–3.14	10	– 6
	Greens	30,008	10.18	–0.96	1	– 3
	Tasmania First	15,017	5.10	+5.10	0	± 0
	Democrats	2,627	0.89	+0.15	0	± 0
	Democratic Socialist	102	0.03	+0.03	0	± 0
	Independent	2,797	0.95	–2.54	0	– 1
	Others			–2.96	0	± 0
Total		294,678			25

Primary vote by division

	Bass	Braddon	Denison	Franklin	Lyons
Labor Party	41.1%	44.1%	46.3%	45.7%	46.6%
Liberal Party	41.9%	42.2%	36.2%	37.0%	33.4%
Tasmanian Greens	9.1%	8.1%	13.1%	10.4%	10.1%
Other	7.9%	5.6%	4.4%	6.9%	9.9%

Distribution of seats

Electorate Seats held Bass           Braddon           Denison           Franklin           Lyons

Labor   Liberal   Green

See also

• Candidates of the Tasmanian state election, 1998
• Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, 1998-2002

References

• Tasmanian Parliamentary Library: 1998 election results
• Voting by Division from Adam Carr's Electoral Archive
• Australian Parliamentary Library research note

Notes

1. House of Assembly Elections, Parliament of Tasmania.