2007 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election

Periodic elections for the Tasmanian Legislative Council were held on 6 May 2007. The three seats up for election were Montgomery, held by independent MLC Sue Smith; Nelson, held by independent MLC Jim Wilkinson; and Pembroke, held by Labor MLC Allison Ritchie. Montgomery was last contested in 2002, while Nelson and Pembroke were last contested in 2001.

Montgomery

Independent MLC Sue Smith was elected to the Council for the seat of Leven in 1997, and successfully transferred to the new seat of Montgomery in 2002. She was not opposed in this election.^[1]

Montgomery Results

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2007: Montgomery
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Sue Smith	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Nelson

Independent MLC Jim Wilkinson first entered the Council as the member for Queenborough in 1995, successfully transferring to Nelson in 2001. His only opponent was Tom Nilsson of the Tasmanian Greens, an anti-population-growth activist.^[1]

Nelson Results

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2007: Nelson^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Jim Wilkinson	11,232	61.60	+12.61
	Greens	Tom Nilsson	7,003	38.40	+38.40
Total formal votes			18,235	97.36	+0.83
Informal votes			494	2.64	−0.83
Turnout			18,729	81.01	−1.06
	Independent hold		Swing	+3.03

Pembroke

Labor MLC Allison Ritchie had held Pembroke since defeating independent member Cathy Edwards in 2001, in a result attributed to dissatisfaction with Edwards' dual role as MLC and Mayor of Clarence. On her election Ritchie was the youngest member ever elected to the Legislative Council. In 2007 she faced five opponents. The only other party to endorse a candidate was the Tasmanian Greens, who ran protester and former candidate Neil Smith. The four independents were: Clarence alderman Richard James, a former Liberal and Democrat serial candidate; John Peers, another Clarence alderman; former Clarence alderman David Jackson; and Hobart City Council alderman Marti Zucco.^[1]

Ritchie won a majority while there were still three candidates in the count, so a two-party preferred count was not conducted.

Pembroke Results

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2007: Pembroke^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Allison Ritchie	8,513	42.87	-14.22
	Independent	Richard James	3,650	18.38	+18.38
	Greens	Neil Smith	2,662	13.41	+13.41
	Independent	Marti Zucco	2,332	11.74	+11.74
	Independent	John Peers	1,839	9.26	+9.26
	Independent	David Jackson	860	4.33	+4.33
Total formal votes			19,856	96.74	+0.09
Informal votes			669	3.26	−0.09
Turnout			20,525	87.52	−1.55
After distribution of preferences from three excluded candidates
	Labor	Allison Ritchie	10,161	51.46
	Independent	Richard James	6,156	31.18
	Greens	Neil Smith	3,428	17.36
	Labor hold		Swing

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Tucker, Peter; Bonham, Kevin (18 April 2007). "Another Leg Council no-brainer". Tasmanian Times. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
^ "Division of Nelson". 2007 Legislative Council election results. Tasmanian Electoral Commission. 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
^ "Division of Pembroke". 2007 Legislative Council election results. Tasmanian Electoral Commission. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.

[TuckerBonham-1] Tucker, Peter; Bonham, Kevin (18 April 2007). "Another Leg Council no-brainer". Tasmanian Times. Retrieved 14 March 2013.

[2] "Division of Nelson". 2007 Legislative Council election results. Tasmanian Electoral Commission. 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.

[3] "Division of Pembroke". 2007 Legislative Council election results. Tasmanian Electoral Commission. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.

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