A Launceston doctor says he has been left “flabbergasted” after winning a seat in Tasmania’s next parliament despite securing just 3.5% of the primary vote in Bass.
Professor George Razay, a Syrian-born geriatrician at Launceston General Hospital, rode a wave of preference flows and vote leakage to clinch the electorate’s second-last seat.
Election analyst Kevin Bonham said the outcome was an unusually strong result for an independent candidate.
“He just continued to accumulate votes through the count. And at some points, he accumulated more of them than an independent usually would have in that position,” Bonham said.
The medical veteran and Launceston councillor campaigned on health reform after being “absolutely shocked” by Tasmania’s reputation as one of Australia’s sickest states.
His win adds another crossbench voice to what will be a hung parliament.
“I’m not just shocked. I’m flabbergasted. I mean, I couldn’t believe it,” an excited Razay told ABC Radio on Monday morning.
He said he already spoken with both Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor leader Dean Winter but is keeping his cards close to his chest on who he will back to form government.
“I have talked to both of them and actually some parliamentarian as well. And I feel actually even more excited after talking to them, because I feel that they are responding to what the community needs,” he said.
“And I am so optimistic and passionate that it will be like a new parliament, because I think we have to work together, but we need to work together by being nice to each other. That’s how we can achieve positive change for our community.”
However, Razay said he will maintain his council-tested approach to decision-making.
“Nobody knows George’s views until the day of voting, because I like to listen to every opinion and do my background research and then make my opinion on that day,” he said.
“So I said to both of them, look, don’t worry about me. If you are able to form a government, I am going to support whoever [can] form a government.”
“Because I believe we need stability regardless and I’ll work with whatever [party is] able to form a government.”
