Australian Politics and Policy - Senior, 2019a

Tasmania
mainland Australia. 13 During the 1990s, tourism marketing and air and sea access
were improved, leading to a strong increase in visitor numbers, making tourism
and hospitality a driver of economic growth. Tourism, along with Tasmania’s
growing ‘clean and green’ natural produce, has also led to strong growth in the
food and beverage industries, both for local consumption and export. Chinese
President Xi Jinping’s 2014 visit boosted Tasmania’s appeal in Asian export markets
for agricultural products and as a tourism destination for his compatriots. By 2017,
tourism accounted for 10.4 per cent of Tasmania’s economic output and 15.8 per
cent of its total employment – compared with national averages of 6.3 per cent and
7.7 per cent respectively. 14
Politically,theriseoftheGreensontheleftoftheLaborPartychangedthe
complexion of representative politics in Tasmania as well as nationally.
Key institutions and actors
Tasmania’s political practice has several distinctive features, which have evolved
over time, contributing to a unique political culture. The relationship between
electoral systems and the success of political parties has been long studied, and
Tasmania is an interesting case study in this regard. 15 Tasmania (like the Australian
Capital Territory) is unusual in using a proportional electoral system to elect its
lowerhouse,havingfiveelectorateseachoffiveseatsforaHouseofAssembly
(lower house) of 25 members. The Legislative Council (upper house) consists of
15 single-member electorates. The multi-member lower house and single-member
upper house is the inverse of all other state electoral systems.
The ‘Hare-Clark’ electoral system, used in Tasmania since 1909, allows independents
and minor parties to more easily secure representation in the House of
Assembly. In the 34 elections since it was introduced, independents or minor
parties have won seats in all but nine. In two of the nine elections where no
independent was elected, Labor and the Liberal Party each won 15 seats. Since
1989, when five Greens were elected to the House of Assembly, Tasmania has had
three ‘hung’ parliaments, which resulted in minority governments. It is fair to say
that all Tasmanian elections are close, and there has been a long-running argument
about the prospects and benefits – or otherwise – of majority government.
By-elections are rare and casual vacancies are filled by recounting the votes of
the retiring member in that division from the preceding election. While all other
states and territories have fixed four-year terms for their house of government,
Tasmania alone has a maximum four-year term.
13 Climate Council of Australia 2014, 31–2.
14 Eslake 2018.
15 See, for example, Bennett and Lundie 2007 on the effects of Hare-Clark in Tasmania.
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