Mathematically Possible - Tasmanian Election May 2021

Last Saturday was election night in Tasmania.  Rebecca White conceded, Peter Gutwein claimed victory and Cassey O'Connor reminded us what's wrong with our stale, underachieving, so-called 'liberal' government.  However, despite all this, it is still mathematically possible yesterday's election could deliver the most productive, progressive and representative government in the history of Australian democracy.

Imagine this for a moment.  Gutwein's Libs get stubbornly stuck on twelve seats.  The Greens win the third seat in Bass (although Janie Findlay for Labor is not a terrible prospect) and the wildly unpredictable preference flows in Clarke deliver seats to both Sue Hickey and Kristie Johnston.

Governor Kate Warner invites Mr Gutwein to form government and test confidence on the floor of the house.  He loses.  Ms White is extended the next invitation and refuses.  The following day a curious gathering featuring current and former mayors, a Bartlett-Giddings-era minister and a couple of Greens are spotted sipping sustainable soy cap's in the back room of Bear With Me.  They have a plan...

Power-sharing governments produce superb outcomes despite what the major parties want us to believe.  They work well in many progessive, (small L) liberal democracies around the world.  Issues are judged on their merits.  Policy positions are negotiated and a wide-range of stakeholders engaged.  Democracy becomes more democratic as a broader range of views are considered and accommodated.

What an amazing, progressive and truly liberal government we could have with eight members from Labor, three from the Greens and two independents.  It's mathematically possible and I'm sure stranger groupings have happened.

We can but dream, lobby, protest and, once every few years, vote!