Two days after Tasmanians headed to the polls, the state remains without a definitive government, as counting continues and negotiations loom against the backdrop of a hung parliament.

With 63.5% of the vote tallied according to partial results, the Liberal Party, under Premier Jeremy Rockliff, remained in front, securing 14 seats and 39.96% of the statewide vote. Labor followed with 9 seats on 26.10%, while the Greens captured 5 seats from a 13.90% share. Independents made a noticeable impact, accounting for 15.30% of the vote and taking 3 seats. However, four seats are still undecided, a factor that could prove crucial in shaping the next government.

While no party has secured the 18-seat threshold needed for a majority in the 35-seat House of Assembly, attention has now shifted to negotiations. Both major parties may seek crossbench support to form a minority government, but formal discussions have not yet been made public.

Among the new faces stepping into the political spotlight is Marcus Vermey, a Liberal candidate in the southern seat of Clark. Vermey is expected to replace one of the party’s outgoing MPs, either Madeleine Ogilvie or Simon Behrakis, in what was described by observers as a tightly contested intra-party battle. In Braddon, Liberal candidate Gavin Pearce—formerly a federal MP—has emerged as a new state representative, succeeding Miriam Beswick. The north-west electorate had been closely watched due to recent demographic shifts and economic pressures.

Notably, the independent voice in Parliament is set to grow louder. In Franklin, former ABC journalist Peter George is poised to enter the Assembly as an independent, defeating sitting Liberals Jacquie Petrusma and Nic Street. George’s campaign focused heavily on environmental policy and government transparency, positioning him as a potentially influential player in post-election negotiations.

The leader of the Greens, Cassy O’Connor, said over the weekend that her party would “act responsibly” in the case of a minority parliament but declined to indicate whom they would support. “The people of Tasmania have sent a clear message—they want a more cooperative and collaborative parliament,” she noted.

Commenting on the overall balance of power, Electoral Analyst Antony Green noted in his election night commentary that the presence of multiple independents and strong Green representation meant any new government would likely have to “acknowledge a more fragmented political landscape.”

Meanwhile, federal implications hang in the air. National polling published over the weekend suggests that the federal Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, continues to hold a sizable lead, with recent surveys placing it ahead of the Coalition by margins of 57-43 and 56-44 on a two-party preferred basis. While federal and state dynamics often differ, the figures may nonetheless shape public and party perceptions of the electoral message from Tasmania.

As of Monday morning, the Tasmanian Electoral Commission had yet to call the remaining undecided seats, with full preferences still being distributed. The final composition of the Assembly may not be known for several more days, with postal votes continuing to be processed throughout the week.