New independent MP Peter George calls out Tasmania's major parties as he joins a progressive crossbench
Former ABC journalist Peter George will be elected in Franklin, describing the two major parties as "a bunch of squabblers" who need to engage more constructively with the crossbench.
With counting continuing, the crossbench could be five Greens MP, Mr George, progressive independents Kristie Johnston in Clark and Craig Garland in Braddon, and former Labor leader David O'Byrne.
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate in Lyons, Carlo Di Falco, is also a chance of being elected.
That would make a 10-member crossbench in the 35-seat lower house — nine from the progressive side of politics, and one conservative.
The Liberals could end with 15 or 16 seats, and Labor with 10, with 18 needed for majority.
Mr George said the Liberals and Labor need to change how they approach state politics.
"We need some maturity from those two old parties to negotiate a way through that gives us four years of stable government for the benefit of all Tasmanians, not for party political interests."
Mr George said he would focus on "budget repair, social repair, island repair and integrity repair".
The likely returned Braddon independent MP Craig Garland supported the no-confidence motion against Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
He said he wanted to ensure the next parliament could go the distance.
"If Jeremy is the premier, we've already had discussions," he said.
We've tried to push things along, it didn't work, but now we have to make it work.
"There's no other choice than to make it work."
Independent candidate David O'Byrne has served in Tasmania's parliament for 11 years, and said independents should not come to the major parties with a list of conditions for their support.
"I think that becomes transactional," he said.
"If you have a list of 10 issues that you want to prosecute, what happens if those 10 issues are resolved? There will be issues in months or years to come.
"I won't make the perfect the enemy of the good, I will allow a government to form, and I won't be supporting frivolous no-confidence motions regardless of who forms government."
The last election saw three Jacqui Lambie Network MPs elected. This election two ran with the Nationals, and one as an independent.
All three have been defeated.
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