1992 Tasmanian state election

1992 Tasmanian state election

1 February 1992

All 35 seats to the House of Assembly
18 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Ray Groom Michael Field Bob Brown
Party Liberal Labor Ind. Green
Leader since 17 December 1991 14 December 1988 1983
Leader's seat Denison Braddon Denison
Last election 17 seats 13 seats 5 seats
Seats won 19 11 5
Seat change 2 2
Popular vote 154,337 82,296 37,742
Percentage 54.11% 28.85% 13.23%
Swing 7.19 5.86 3.9

Results of the election

Premier before election

Michael Field
Labor

Elected Premier

Ray Groom
Liberal

The 1992 Tasmanian state election was held on 1 February 1992 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 35 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system — seven members were elected from each of five electorates. The quota required for election was 12.5% in each division.

The incumbent Labor Party minority government of Premier Michael Field, supported by the Green Independents led by Bob Brown, was defeated The Liberal Party under Ray Groom, which formed a majority government with Groom as Premier.

The Labor minority government had spent much of their term focusing on economic reform. The priority of the Field government was reducing state debt, which had the support of the Greens. Government cuts in spending, were able to help Tasmania reach its debt servicing commitments, but were a source of discontent in the community. The minority government succeeded until late 1991 when lobbying from the forestry industry caused Field to introduce legislation to protect the industry from conservation. The legislation had the support of the Liberal Party and passed both houses easily. However, the Greens withdrew their support of the government, prompting Labor to an election for February 1992.

The Liberal Party needed to win only one seat at this election to be returned into majority, and needed a primary vote swing of about 4.5 percent to gain that seat. Labor needed five seats to win an outright majority.

Minor parties contesting this election included Advance Tasmania; which ran candidates in each electorate. A political party called "More Jobs" fielded candidates in Denison.