Independent in Tasmania’s Legislative Council

Independentmembers(IMLCs)havelongdominatedtheTasmanianLegislativeCouncil(Council) andareexpectedtoplayareviewandscrutinyratherthanapolicy-makingrole.However,thisarticlepresents researchthatfindsthat such membersareindeedable toachievepolicyinfluence despitetheirlackof supportivepartycolleaguesorapartystructure.CurrentandformerIMLCs,oneLaborMLC,andoneMemberofthelowerHouse ofAssembly,wereinterviewedforthisresearch. TheywereaskedabouttheIMLC role astheyseeit,thestrategiesused,ifinfacttheyareused, togainpolicyinfluence,IMLC workandinfluenceoncommittees,andtheobstacles,includingpoliticalobstacles, toIMLCs achievinginfluence.Ourpaper addresses thelackofstudiesofthelegislativebehaviourof Councillors, andestablishesthat,despitethereviewandscrutinyfocus oftheirrole,andtheattributionofthepolicymakingroletothelowerhouse,IMLCs doseekinfluenceanduse variousmeansofachieving it.