Jacquie Petrusma has been elected speaker of Tasmania’s House of Assembly, defeating Labor’s Jen Butler in the first vote of the new parliament.
Her election hands the speakership to the government, with Petrusma replacing former Bass Labor MP Michelle O’Byrne.
The result was 25 votes for Petrusma and 10 for Butler.
“I’ll humbly acknowledge the great honour the house has been pleased to confer on me by choosing me to be its speaker, an office which I will endeavour at all times to fill with dignity and impartiality,” Petrusma said.
Choosing a speaker was parliament’s first order of business after the July election, which once again delivered a hung parliament.
The outcome sets the stage for another term of minority government.
The Liberals have 14 seats, Labor 10, the Greens five, independents five and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers one.
Petrusma stepped down from the health portfolio after the election, following a serious hamstring injury sustained during the campaign.
