Australia’s only Liberal government appears set for a challenging parliamentary return and a lost vote on opening day.
Tasmania’s parliament sits on Tuesday for the first time since the Liberals were returned to power in minority at the March 23 state election.
The party secured just 14 of 35 lower-house seats – four short of a majority.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff signed a deal with three first-term Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) members for supply and confidence in exchange for reviews, including of government finances.
Independents Kristie Johnston and David O’Byrne have given their votes of supply and confidence on merit and insist they’ll maintain their independence.
The Liberals will nominate Mark Shelton for Speaker but he’ll face competition from Labor’s Michelle O’Byrne.
Ms O’Byrne was first elected to state parliament in 2006 and previously served as federal member for Bass for six years.
The Greens, who have five MPs, have said they’ll vote for Ms O’Byrne, while the JLN members and the three independents, including her brother David, could also.
“(The Speakership) is a question the parliament will get to answer,” Liberal MP Nick Duigan told reporters on Monday.
“(The JLN members) are absolutely free to vote as they see fit.”
There will be 13 fresh faces in a lower house restored from 25 to 35 seats, including former senator Eric Abetz for the Liberals.
“The parliament will be different to previous years and it will require a collaborative and consultative approach,” Mr Abetz said.
“We recognise the goodwill of those who have provided the certainty and stability Tasmanians deserve by agreeing in good faith to a workable parliament.”
JLN MP Andrew Jenner has expressed regret about the deal with the Liberals, which was criticised for being too restrictive.
The Liberals suffered a 12 per cent against swing at the election but Labor only picked up 0.8 per cent of the vote.
Labor, which has been in opposition for a decade, conceded defeat a day after the vote after winning 10 seats.
Tasmania went to the polls early after the Liberals were unable to resolve a stand-off with two independents who quit the party and plunged the government into minority.