2006 Tasmanian state election
A total of 95 candidates (65 men and 30 women) nominated for election: 27 from Labor, 25 from the Liberals and Greens, four from Tasmania First, two from Socialist Alliance and 12 independents.This was the first time Paul Lennon had run for election as Premier, after the resignation of Tasmanian Labor leader Jim Bacon in 2004 due to lung cancer.Labor said it would be prepared to work with the Tasmanian Greens to form government if necessary, but ruled out a formal coalition and campaigned to be returned in majority.[2] The Federal Labor member for Franklin, Harry Quick, caused a stir for his endorsement of Greens candidate Nick McKim."[3] Members of the secretive Christian group known as Exclusive Brethren were found to be behind newspaper advertisements and distributed flyers attacking Greens policies.On the final day of the campaign, the Liberals criticised the Government for funding an additional $166 million to pay for its election promises, saying the money should be used for the troubled Royal Hobart Hospital.[10] With polls showing minority government a possibility in the final stages of the campaign, the Greens moved to reassure voters they would be responsible with a share of the power.[7] Greens leader Peg Putt slammed Lennon's warning about the perils of minority government as "outrageous scare tactics" and hypocritical in the face of plummeting house prices in areas affected by forestry operations.Early in the counting Tourism Minister Paula Wriedt seemed likely to lose her seat in Franklin to Liberal candidate Vanessa Goodwin, however after preference distribution she secured the final vacancy.The Greens came close to losing Kim Booth's seat in Bass, largely as a result of the strong victory of Labor's Michelle O'Byrne.Lennon also expressed a desire to lead the nation economically and socially, and with Aboriginal reconciliation, pledging to "resolve once and for all the Stolen Generation".[14] Tasmanian Opposition Leader Rene Hidding conceded defeat, saying a majority government - even if it is Labor - is good news for the state.