Greens Bass MHA Andrea Dawkins filled a casual vacancy to take her place in parliament in mid-2015, following the shock retirement of then-Greens leader Kim Booth.
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She won 467 primary votes in 2014, compared to Mr Booth’s 6661.
In her maiden speech, the then-Launceston alderman and small businesswoman praised her predecessors and spoke of her commitment to the environment and the local food movement.
She became an activist when she became a vegetarian, which eventually led to her starting Launceston's Fresh on Charles in 1999, Ms Dawkins said.
She was also a long-time advocate for ensuring a pulp mill was not built in the Tamar Valley and moved a bill in November to repeal the Pulp Mill Assessment Act, killing off the project for good.
In 2014 her highest polling stations were Trevallyn, West Launceston and Launceston Central.
Political Analyst Kevin Bonham said Ms Dawkins’ seat could be lost to Labor during predictions made on January 16.
“Green support level in Bass appears to be well short of quota, leaving them dependent on breakdown between other parties,” Dr Bonham said.
“High profile saved [former Greens Bass MHA] Kim Booth in this seat at least once and I am not sure whether Dawkins is yet well enough known.”
After the release of the February 27 EMRS poll, Dr Bonham said while it looked like Labor would claim the Greens’ seat, if the polls were not repeating their past skew to the Greens then Ms Dawkins was still in with a chance.
“Labor's support candidates are all fairly modest in profile and there could well be a leakage issue for them. However JLN preferences would help,” he said.
At the start of February, Tasmanian Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor was optimistic the party could hold its Bass seat.
“We can hold Bass,” Ms O’Connor said.
“We’ve got a great sitting member. We are and have been for months doorknocking in Bass and really engaging in the community.”
Ms Dawkins said she knew when elections were “very close” it might be weeks before the result was known.
“I’m very hopeful that I am going to retain the Greens’ seat for Bass. We have lost it in the past, but I am really hoping that this is not going to be one of those times,” she said.
“We have run a strong, positive message for progressive values, for community, to ensure that everybody is taken along for the ride,” Ms Dawkins said.
She is contesting the election with Greens candidate Emma Anglesey, a musician and staffer for Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Launceston City Council alderman Emma Williams, anaesthetist Tom Hall and town planner James Ireland.
Holly Monery
Holly Monery is a journalist for The Examiner newspaper, based in Launceston, Tasmania. Her main area of focus is local government.
Holly Monery is a journalist for The Examiner newspaper, based in Launceston, Tasmania. Her main area of focus is local government.
Tess Brunton
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
