Tasmania to hold early election after governor grants embattled premier Jeremy Rockliff’s request

Barbara Baker agrees to poll despite public interest in avoiding the cost' because no possibility of alternative government forming

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Tasmania will hold an early election on 19 July - just 16 months after last going to the polls - after the state's governor agreed to a request from the Liberal premier, Jeremy Rockliff.

The announcement followed a dramatic week in which the parliament narrowly supported a no-confidence motion in Rockliff moved by the Labor leader, Dean Winter, and the state's three main political parties each argued a fresh election could be avoided.