Senior Liberal minister Michael Ferguson believes the party's likely outcome of 13 seats was an "endorsement" of their policies and he defended the need for the election, which ultimately turned up a very similar result to 2018.
The provisional result ultimately swapped housing minister Roger Jaensch for embattled candidate Adam Brooks in Braddon and brought either Madeleine Ogilvie or Simon Behrakis into the Liberal party room.
The result also effectively saw Sue Hickey dropped for Kirstie Johnston as an independent, and Janie Finlay and Dean Winter replace Jennifer Houston and Alison Standen for Labor. The remaining positions in the lower house were expected to be unchanged.
Ms Ogilvie's shift from independent to Liberal candidate just days after the election was called could have restored the government's majority, but Mr Ferguson said it was still a worthwhile election because "we went into minority government".
ELECTION 2021:
When asked if 13 seats was a good result for the Liberals, he had a two-word response.
"Heck yeah," Mr Ferguson said.
"You can achieve a 59 per cent vote in an electorate (Bass) and still only have three seats. It does, I think, show the vagaries of Hare-Clark. So if we are able to secure what we believe on our advice we'll achieve that's a great result, and we're very grateful for it.
"It allows us to ... not have to worry day by day about independents and the Greens threatening to bring the government down."
Labor's decision to run Ms Finlay in Bass was crucial to preventing the Liberals from competing with the Greens for the final seat and increasing their majority as they desired, according to psephologist Kevin Bonham. Mr Gutwein's huge personal popularity was not quite enough to win a fourth Bass seat.
Overall, the Liberals suffered a slight swing against them.
Labor campaigned heavily on health and housing, while numerous stories of Tasmanians facing dire situations in the public health system were raised.
But Mr Ferguson said the government stood by its record.
"You'll always hear from patients," he said.
"You always hear from people who say that more needs to be done, and we agree with them, and we will do more.
"We've just made a large series of commitments across the portfolios, including in health, and we will deliver those.
"I want my nana, I want my parents, I want my family to be able to have access to our health services just like yours."
Adam Holmes
From Adelaide to south-west Victoria, Bendigo to Tasmania, I've provided in-depth stories in politics, environmental affairs, issues facing disadvantaged communities, legal affairs and much more. Contact me at adam.holmes@examiner.com.au or on Twitter at @adamholmes010
From Adelaide to south-west Victoria, Bendigo to Tasmania, I've provided in-depth stories in politics, environmental affairs, issues facing disadvantaged communities, legal affairs and much more. Contact me at adam.holmes@examiner.com.au or on Twitter at @adamholmes010
