IVAN DEAN has officially been returned in the Northern seat of Windermere, joining victorious incumbents Mike Gaffney and Craig Farrell for another term in the upper house. Mr Dean was expected to reclaim his seat ahead of preference distributions Sunday afternoon, with the final result set in stone after 5pm. He eventually overcame Labor’s Jennifer Houston by a margin of 55.7 to 44.3, which was roughly the same result as when Mr Dean was last re-elected in 2009. Mr Dean said he was relieved to put the election campaign behind him, describing it as a long and stressful period underscored by some personal attacks. ‘‘I just look forward to the six years now in front of me, getting back into committee work and scrutinising upcoming legislation,’’ he said. Mr Dean said his attention would turn to an Electoral Act inquiry, which is investigating ways to overhaul the elections. He said much of his campaign was spent explaining to people an election was looming and that voting was compulsory. Mr Dean said staggered, six-year Legislative Council election cycles were not serving the state well. He said half-in, half-out upper house elections every three years would see more voters engaged. Saturday’s election saw poor voter turnouts in all three contested seats, with each slipping backward by up to four per cent compared to 2009. Windermere had the worst turnout with 77 per cent, despite hosting the longest running campaign. Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner Julian Type said the decline was disappointing. ‘‘I’m really at a loss to know why we have a decline in turnouts and if I knew I could fix it,’’ Mr Type said. ‘‘It’s not falling off a cliff stuff but it’s disappointing nonetheless.’’ Mr Type said the commission would now re-evaluate how to promote future elections.
IVAN DEAN has officially been returned in the Northern seat of Windermere, joining victorious incumbents Mike Gaffney and Craig Farrell for another term in the upper house.
Mr Dean was expected to reclaim his seat ahead of preference distributions Sunday afternoon, with the final result set in stone after 5pm.
He eventually overcame Labor’s Jennifer Houston by a margin of 55.7 to 44.3, which was roughly the same result as when Mr Dean was last re-elected in 2009.
Mr Dean said he was relieved to put the election campaign behind him, describing it as a long and stressful period underscored by some personal attacks.
‘‘I just look forward to the six years now in front of me, getting back into committee work and scrutinising upcoming legislation,’’ he said.
Mr Dean said his attention would turn to an Electoral Act inquiry, which is investigating ways to overhaul the elections.
He said much of his campaign was spent explaining to people an election was looming and that voting was compulsory.
Mr Dean said staggered, six-year Legislative Council election cycles were not serving the state well. He said half-in, half-out upper house elections every three years would see more voters engaged.
Saturday’s election saw poor voter turnouts in all three contested seats, with each slipping backward by up to four per cent compared to 2009.
Windermere had the worst turnout with 77 per cent, despite hosting the longest running campaign.
Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner Julian Type said the decline was disappointing.
‘‘I’m really at a loss to know why we have a decline in turnouts and if I knew I could fix it,’’ Mr Type said.
‘‘It’s not falling off a cliff stuff but it’s disappointing nonetheless.’’
Mr Type said the commission would now re-evaluate how to promote future elections.
