Tasmanian Labor concedes it has lost the state election, party leadership position becomes vacant

Tasmanian Labor has declared it has lost the state election and will not attempt to form a minority government.

On Sunday afternoon, party leader Rebecca White said it was clear that while no party had gained a majority, the Liberals had secured more seats and would be asked by the governor to form a government.

The election loss will make the party leader position, which has been held by Rebecca White, vacant.

Ms White said when the make-up of the parliamentary Labor Party is known — which could take several weeks — the question of who will be leader will be determined.

“I am still the leader of the Labor Party,” Ms White said on Sunday.

When asked if she would put her hand up to continue as leader, Ms White said she would “take the next couple of days to spend time with my family”.

“I’ll talk to my colleagues, but what I will always do is work collaboratively with them and we’ll make decisions as a consensus group.

“I’m not about to make any declarations today.”

Ms White said Premier Jeremy Rockliff would need to form a minority government.

“This result demonstrates that it’s very hard for Labor to win government,” she said.

“Ultimately it will be up to him to make it work.”

In her speech last night, Ms White said there could be a chance for Labor to implement its agenda, depending “on how things play out over the next few weeks”.

But her comments changed on Sunday, which she said was due to more votes coming in overnight.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has already reached out to the Jacqui Lambie Network and independents who are likely to be elected.

The only path to Labor minority government would have required the support of the Greens.

SOURCE: ABCNEWS