An early Bass exit poll conducted by The Examiner suggested the Liberal Party would hold its three seats in the electorate, while Labor would likely collect the remaining two.
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In a sample taken of voters exiting the East Launceston Primary School polling booth, 56 per cent of voters said they would vote Liberal – a 2.7 per cent rise from the same booth in 2014.
The results predicted a 7 per cent increase in Labor’s polling, with 24 per cent of respondents choosing Labor as their first preference.
Greens MHA Andrea Dawkins is in trouble if the numbers are to be believed, with the Greens’ vote dropping by 11 per cent in the exit poll.
Ms Dawkins won the seat on a countback after ex-Greens leader Kim Booth retired in 2015, leaving The Greens’ Bass seat empty.
Deputy Labor leader Michelle O’Byrne was the sole Labor candidate elected for Bass in the 2014 election, while the Liberals had three – Treasurer Peter Gutwein, Health Minister Michael Ferguson and Parliamentary Secretary Sarah Courtney.
The Palmer United Party collected 4 per cent in the vote at East Launceston in the 2014 election, however the party did not field candidates in the 2018 election.
The Jacqui Lambie Network is expected to pick up that 4 per cent, according to the exit poll.
Stefan Boscia
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
