SUE NEALES Mercury
Mr Hodgman cannot be blind to the latest Tasmanian opinion polls, showing that with 10 months to go until the state election, one quarter of all voters are undecided about which party to support. It suggests they are seriously looking for options other than a repeat vote for Labor after its 12 years in office. Political scientist Dr Richard Herr believes there were clear signs of this intent at the recent Upper House election in Derwent, won for the fourth time by Treasurer Michael Aird.
His analysis of voting patterns showed a dramatic 18 per cent swing of disapproval against Labor among voters who had previously backed Labor at the 2006 state election.
What is clear is that many Tasmanian voters feel deep-seated discontent at the standard of governance and government shown by the scandal-plagued Lennon and Bartlett governments over the past five years.
Some probably want to express this frustration at next year’s ballot box on March 20.
But unless the Liberals start to look like they are serious, disciplined, focused and hungry to become the next Tasmanian government, it is unlikely these disenfranchised Labor voters will see any real alternative to turn to. Read more here
