2008 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election

2008 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election

3 May 2008
2 of the 15 seats in the Legislative Council 8 seats needed for a majority
First party   Party Independent Seats before 2 Seats won 2 Seat change

Periodic elections for the Tasmanian Legislative Council were held on 3 May 2008. The two seats up for election were Huon, held by independent MLC Paul Harriss, and Rosevears, held by independent MLC Kerry Finch. These seats were last contested in 2002.

Huon

Independent MLC Paul Harriss had held Huon since 1996. A former Liberal Party member, there was speculation about his endorsement as a federal Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Franklin in the 2007 federal election, but this did not eventuate. His only opponent was Huon Valley councillor Mark Rickards, an endorsed candidate of the Tasmanian Greens, who focused his campaign on Harriss's support for the Gunns pulp mill.

Huon Results

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2008: Huon

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Paul Harriss	12,149	62.04	+12.61
	Greens	Mark Rickards	7,435	37.96	+37.96
Total formal votes			19,584	96.32	−1.31
Informal votes			748	4.68	+1.31
Turnout			20,332	82.86	−4.75
	Independent hold		Swing

Rosevears

Independent MLC Kerry Finch first won Rosevears in 2002, when it was a new seat. He was not opposed by the Tasmanian Greens, which was attributed to his opposition to the Gunns pulp mill and his generally socially liberal views. Like Harriss, he attracted only one challenger, in this case independent Colin O'Brien. O'Brien gave qualified support to the pulp mill.

Rosevears Results

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2008: Rosevears

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Kerry Finch	12,990	72.66	+45.43
	Independent	Colin O'Brien	4,889	27.34	+27.34
Total formal votes			17,879	95.30	−0.75
Informal votes			881	4.70	+0.75
Turnout			18,760	80.16	−5.97
	Independent hold		Swing	+21.87