Political Chronicles July to December 2013

Although the date of the election was yet to be announced during the period of this chronicle, Tasmania has been in campaign mode for most of 2013. The government has taken the opportunity in the final months of this parliament to attempt legislation in a number of contentious areas of social reform with mixed success. Other election issues flagged to influence voter behaviour include public hospital waiting lists, the pulp mill proposal for the Tamar Valley and NBN provision. Already, both major parties are exhorting the electorate to ensure a majority government is returned, but given the mood of the electorate and the subtleties of the Hare-Clark system in reflecting voting intentions, this is far from certain.