Libs and Nats likely to split Tassie race
Surprise Nationals recruit Steve Martin has driven a wedge through the federal coalition, with the Tasmanian Liberals expected to run a separate campaign at the next election.
Senior Tasmanian Liberals are pushing to shun the independent-turned-National at the federal poll, fearing he could jump the queue on a joint Senate ticket.
Liberal powerbroker Eric Abetz anticipates the parties will run separately.
"(I anticipate) that there will be respectful and healthy competition but a very strong exchange of preferences," the Tasmanian senator told Sky News on Tuesday.
Senator Martin expects to be number one on a Nationals' ticket.
"We were asked if there was going to be a dual ticket, well that's a party organisation decision, not mine. And I certainly haven't asked the Liberals to run on their ticket either," he told ABC radio.
"I expect to run number one on the National ticket for Tasmania, being the one and only National senator for Tasmania."
Nationals frontbencher Darren Chester said there was nothing new about the coalition partners running separately.
"There have been cases in the past where the Nationals senators have run by their own ticket and just run by themselves and achieved a quota in their own right," he told the ABC.
The Tasmanian Liberals are expected to resist any moves for a joint Senate ticket, like in NSW and Victoria, planning instead to impose the West Australian model where the coalition parties run separately.
Nationals leader Michael McCormack believes Tasmanian Liberals should be delighted - not angry - about a new recruit for the coalition in the island state.
"It's another voice for Tasmania in government, it's another voice for Tasmania in the coalition," he told Sky News.
Senator Martin joined the Nationals on Monday, three months after replacing his one-time party leader Jacqui Lambie after she resigned over dual citizenship.
Australian Associated Press