Arabic version: تسمانيا تُنهي فرز نتائج جميع المجالس الـ29

According to ABC News, counting has finished in Tasmania’s 2026 local government elections, confirming results across all 29 council areas after an estimated 30 million keystrokes.

The election was Tasmania’s second compulsory local poll and produced a national record voter participation rate of 85.6 per cent, slightly above the 2022 council election. The statewide number of councillors fell from 263 to 213. The five largest councils — Hobart City, Launceston, Clarence, Kingborough and Glenorchy — each moved from 12 seats to nine, while other councils will have seven.

Election analyst Kevin Bonham said fewer seats had been available for incumbents, but many new candidates were elected, particularly in the south. Several established mayors did not seek another term, including Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, who had held the position for eight years.

Former 60 Minutes journalist Charles Wooley was elected Hobart lord mayor. Hobart’s deputy lord mayor will be chosen by councillors at their first meeting after the elected candidate did not retain a council seat. Dr Bonham said three sitting Hobart councillors were unsuccessful and described the turnover as high.

Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood retained his position with 53.2 per cent of the vote. In Clarence, Drew Jenner was elected mayor, an outcome Dr Bonham described as unusual because Jenner was sixth on the council ballot. Some positions were uncontested: Kate Haberle was elected Kentish mayor unopposed, while deputy mayoral candidates at Central Highlands and Flinders were also elected unopposed.

King Island and Tasman had fewer nominations than vacancies, resulting in councillors being elected unopposed. Unsuccessful candidates will remain available for possible call-up if vacancies arise during the four-year council term.