White's future as Labor leader clouded in wake of election defeat

With votes still to be counted, Labor has suffered a 4 per cent swing against it but looks to have kept its nine seats in the 25-seat House of Assembly.

The party was hit with a diabolical 20 per cent swing away from it in the electorate of Clark, where independent candidates Kristy Johnston and Sue Hickey appeared to eat into the Labor vote.

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It comes after a chaotic start to the party's campaign, when its dominant Left faction blocked the preselection of Kingborough mayor Dean Winter, exposing internal divisions. Ms White eventually wrote to Labor's national executive 10 days into the campaign, asking it to intervene and install Mr Winter as a candidate. The popular mayor has now topped the party's ticket in Franklin.

Ms White did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday, and numerous party sources did not return calls.

But the Labor leader posted a message on her Facebook page on Sunday morning, thanking those who had voted for her and her party.

"While we didn't win the election I assure you that we won't let you down," she wrote. "I feel the greatest disappointment for those in our community who needed a change in government to change their lives. ..."

"The Labor Party will always be there for our community and we won't stop working for Tasmanians to push for the improvements people need.

"The campaign was short and the election was a year early. And when the dust settles the Liberal Party will be held accountable for their promises and their failures."

According to one member of the Right faction, Ms White, a member of the Left, "did not put a foot wrong" over the past five weeks and "brought home the campaign very strongly".

The source said Ms White should be allowed to remain leader of the party.

"I'm hoping commonsense prevails," they said.

"There are people questioning whether she should get a second go or not. But I don't think there's anyone there at the moment that would do any better at this point in time."

Franklin Labor MHA David O'Byrne has often been touted as an alternative leader, and could have the support within the party to make a run at the leadership, according to the source.

"I think the numbers within the party would probably favour him if the Left decide to walk away from Bec," they said. "But I'm not sure everyone will want to do that. And I think they'd be better off sticking with her at the moment."

Asked on election night what might come next for the party, Braddon Labor MHA Shane Broad said change would be needed.

"You can't expect to do the same thing over and over and get a different result," he said. "I think we will have to change our approach."

"I think we have got some good new members coming in that will put us in good stead in four years' time. We need to rebuild and we need to reconnect with the community."

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