The other may election
Because who needs an opposition when Labor votes with the liberals 90% of the time?
Why Tasmania’s Parliament needs more independents
[tl/dr] key points at a glance
- The upcoming LC (upper house) elections will be held in May for the seats of Pembroke, Montgomery, and Nelson.
- Labor has voted with the Liberal Government 90% of the time, blurring the lines between Government and Opposition.
- Independents like Meg Webb, Bec Thomas, and Mike Gaffney are crucial for holding the government accountable.
- The LC is intended to be a house of review, but the alignment of Labor and Liberals prevents proper examination of issues.
- More community-minded independents are needed to balance the power of party machines.
- Tasmania‘s independent spirit should be reflected in its Parliament.
The federal election being called means the polling day for the Tasmanian Legislative Council (LC) seats of Pembroke, Montgomery and Nelson will be shifted to later in May. The LC is the state’s version of the senate. It has 15 members and seats are contested on a rotational basis.
Usually there are two seats contested a year, but this time its three. Polling suggests Pembroke which eastern Greater Hobart, will be held by the incumbent, Labor’s Luke Edmonds, Montgomery in the north-west will be Liberal or a liberal independent but Nelson, which is southern Greater Hobart, could be anyone’s guess. The incumbent is independent Meg Webb.
Something unusual is happening in the LC at the moment, and it’s not democracy at its best.
Dr Kevin Bonham’s analysis shows that Labor has voted with the Government in 90% of divisions in the past year. This voting pattern blurs the line between Government and Opposition. Labor is now statistically voting more like a party of the right than the centre-left.
When the Liberal Government and the Labor Opposition vote together 90% of the time, you’ve got to wonder: who’s actually holding the government to account? The answer isn’t Labor. It’s independents like Meg Webb, Bec Thomas, Mike Gaffney, and a few others who are standing up for scrutiny, fairness, and real debate.
The Council is supposed to be a house of review. But when Labor and Liberals act like a two-party bloc, critical issues are waved through without proper examination. This is not what Tasmanians expect from their Parliament.
When Liberals and Labor gang up, Meg Webb often stands alone, or with a small number of brave independents, to push for transparency and fairness. That’s not “left-wing”, that’s leadership.
Labor’s Craig Farrell, as President, doesn’t vote during committee stages, meaning Labor gives up a voice every time. This further tips the balance toward major party control. Voters in that seat effectively lose representation in some of the most important stages of legislation.
With the LC elections coming up in Nelson, Pembroke, and Montgomery, we need more community-minded independents, not party insiders. The LC works best when independents outnumber the party machines.
Tasmania’s strength is its independent spirit, let’s reflect that in Parliament.