2006 Tasmanian state election

2006 Tasmanian state election

← 2002 18 March 2006 2010 →
All 25 seats to the House of Assembly 13 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   LAB LIB Leader Paul Lennon Rene Hidding Peg Putt Party Labor Liberal Greens Leader since 21 March 2004 6 August 2002 29 August 1998 Leader's seat Franklin Lyons Denison Last election 14 seats 7 seats 4 seats Seats won 14 seats 7 seats 4 seats Seat change Popular vote 152,544 98,511 51,501 Percentage 49.27% 31.82% 16.63% Swing 2.61 4.43 1.50
Results of the election
Premier before election Paul Lennon Labor Elected Premier Paul Lennon Labor

An election for the House of Assembly (lower house) was held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 18 March 2006, the same day as the South Australian elections. The Labor Party led by Premier Paul Lennon, won a third successive majority government term in office, despite predictions the election would result in a minority government. Although there was a small swing against Labor, they finished with 14 seats, and there were no changes in the party composition of the assembly. The Liberal Party led by Rene Hidding gained a small swing and finished with seven seats. The Tasmanian Greens led by Peg Putt suffered a small swing and finished with four seats; meaning no change in seat representation since the last election. Had the Greens lost one of their four seats, they would have lost their status as a major party and would lose financial resources, offices and support staff.

Minor parties such as the Australian Democrats and the Family First Party did not contest the election. The Tasmania First Party, the Socialist Alliance and the Christian Democratic Party (who stood as grouped independents) polled poorly. A total of 95 candidates (65 men and 30 women) nominated for election: 27 from Labor, 25 from the Liberals and Greens, four from Tasmania First, two from Socialist Alliance and 12 independents.

This was the first time Paul Lennon had run for election as Premier, after the resignation of Tasmanian Labor leader Jim Bacon in 2004 due to lung cancer. On the day the election results were finalised, the Liberals installed Will Hodgman as their new leader and Jeremy Rockliff as deputy leader. Hodgman said the Liberals were disappointed with their result.^[1]