30 May 2025

There was an important ceremony at the entrance of the Legislative Council this morning: the declaration of the Nelson and Pembroke polls. Tasmanian Electoral Commission officials declared Meg Webb, above, and Luke Edmunds the respective winners.
 
The successful and unsuccessful candidates made brief speeches. As well as thanking their supporters, and the Tasmanian Electoral Commission, they also thanked and congratulated their opponents.
 
Unsuccessful Pembroke candidate Tony Mulder said the declaration was “the most significant element of an open democracy”.
 
Democracy isn’t just about elections; one of its tenants is participation in the political process, be it writing to elected representatives, going to a protest or a public meeting or making a submission to a parliamentary inquiry.
 
We vote in elections managed by the independent Tasmanian Electoral Commission, confident they’re fair, and we can take part in politics. This morning’s event was a reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a democracy that isn’t just in name only.