Angela4Lyons

04/08/2025

Declaration of the Poll

10:30am on Tuesday 5 August 2025 at the Parliament House, 1 Salamanca Place, Hobart 7000.

The declaration of the poll is a short ceremony at which the Returning Officer announces the successful
candidates, and then invites all candidates to address the meeting.

In lieu of being able to attend and listen to all of the candidates as part of the end of our democratic electoral process for the 2025 Tasmanian House of Assembly election I will post a short address here:

A heartfelt congratulations to the TEC in conducting a successful election at short notice.
We are so very fortunate to live in a safe and democratic country with robust electoral systems and we should never take this for granted.

The public have spoken and the number of Liberal 14, Labor 10 and Greens 5 members of parliament remain the same as in the last Tasmanian parliament.
A SFF member has been elected for the first time (to the Tasmanian parliament) and there are five independents.
With no one party with a majority Tasmanians have elected a minority government once again.
It remains unclear as to who will form government.

Parliamentarians will need to find a way to work collaboratively for the best outcomes for Tasmanians and Tasmania.

Congratulations to all candidates for standing and campaigning.
It does require commitment and perseverance and a good deal of resilence and effort and I commend you all elected or not.

Thank you to everyone who helped in every way to my campaign.
I remain delightfully humbled by a growing community of support and will continue to campaign for budget repair, health care and education system reform, housing solutions, greater integrity and transparency in government, collaborative decision making and improved animal health and welfare and environmental outcomes.

Looking forward to seeing a collaborative, forward thinking visionary parliament taking action to tackle some of the complex and difficult issues so that we can continue to live well in and care for this very precious place Tasmania.

23/07/2025

The 48th Federal Parliament opened on Tuesday 22 July 2025 following the federal election which was held on 3rd May 2025.

Meanwhile, counting for the Tasmanian state election, on 19th July 2025, continues to see who will form the Tasmanian state parliament.
Provisional results are published on the TEC website.
Postal votes will be received up until 10 am on Tuesday 29th July.
A full distribution of preferences will then begin and may take several days to complete.
A big thank you to those who have voted for me -I am greatful and humbled by the result so far which is a 400% increase on 2024 numbers.

The voting system in the Tasmanian state election is known as the Hare- Clark proportional representation system.

Hare-Clark enables parties, groups and independents to be elected to the House of Assembly in proportion to their support in the division.

Hare-Clark is a Single Transferable Vote (STV) method of proportional representation. STV means that a ballot paper moves between candidates as determined by the elector’s marked preferences.

To be counted as a vote a ballot paper must have at least the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 with no repetitions or omissions.
Ballot papers with ticks or crosses, instead of numbers, will not be counted.

How is a candidate elected?

A candidate is elected when their total number of votes equals or exceeds the quota. The quota is the lowest number of votes a candidate needs to be certain of being elected.

The counting process:

The first step is to count the number of first preference “1” votes for each candidate. All candidates that have reached the quota with first preferences are declared elected after “count 1” and withdrawn from the counting process before “count 2” commences.

All votes received by an elected candidate in excess of the quota (the surplus) will be distributed to the continuing candidates according to the preferences indicated on each ballot paper.

As each division has at least one candidate that will receive more than a quota of first preference votes, on Monday 28th the Returning Officers will commence preparations for Count 2 of the Hare-Clark distribution, by physically distributing the surplus of the candidate elected with the highest number of ballot papers.



Bass – surplus of Bridget Archer

Braddon – surplus of Jeremy Rockliff

Clark – surplus of Kristie Johnston

Franklin – surplus of Peter George

Lyons – surplus of Guy Barnett

Once all surpluses have been distributed, the candidate with the fewest total votes is declared excluded, withdrawn from the counting process and all of their ballot papers will be redistributed to continuing candidates.

The deadline for return of postal votes is 10 am on Tuesday. Any final ballot papers received by that time will be included in the count and added to first preference totals. A final update of first preferences will be posted to the TEC website once that process is complete.

From Tuesday afternoon, the full Hare-Clark distribution of preferences will commence.
Updates will be posted on the TEC website throughout the week as candidates are elected or excluded.

This process will continue until all seven members are elected in each division, which is expected by Saturday 2 August.

18/07/2025

Saturday 19 July 2025

POLLING DAY

8am-6pm

🩷💚🩵Democracy in action🩵💚🩷

Take care today if you are heading to a polling booth to vote there are strong wind warnings, showers and the sun will set at 5:04 pm before the close of polls so vote early if you can.

Fun fact:

412,117 Tasmanians are enrolled to vote in this election.

As of today more than 110,000 (one quarter) Tasmanians have cast their vote early!

Trusting the outcome of this election is that our elected representatives work cooperatively together for the best outcomes for Tasmanians, Tasmania, animal health and welfare and the environment.

Vote for long term vision and robust policy making in :

* budget repair

* healthcare

* education

* housing

* integrity in politics

Fun fact:

Tasmania is the last state to host a physical tally room on polling night.
It is a great and fun night.

Where: Federation Ballroom at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart.

Who: All welcome

When: Doors open at 6 pm

Once the poll closes at 6 pm all Saturday polling places and 9 /15 pre-poll center will count their first preference votes and return figures to the TEC which go up in the tally room and on the TEC website.
First results are expected from around 6:45 pm.
Leaders of the three major parties expected to speak from around 9:30 pm, and the tally room will close around 11 pm.

18/07/2025

Day 37 on the Campaign Trail

Final day of the campaign.

Wobbleboarding day!

Thank you Chris and family for a really wonderful fun afternnoon wobbleboarding and counting horns!

17/07/2025

Day 36 on the Campaign Trail

Today I want to thank you.

We are extremely fortunate to live in this most beautiful of places for a precious time.

I am continually humbled at the level of engagement from everyone during this campaign.

We do, as a state, face significant challenges:

* Healthcare

* Education

* Budget

* Cost of living

* Housing

* Environment

* Animal Health and Welfare

Come polling day night on Saturday we will begin to find out who is voted in to be our elected representatives to work collaboratively for the best outcomes for Tasmanians and Tasmania.

Remember for your vote to count you must NUMBER (ticks and crosses dont count) at least SEVEN boxes from 1-7 (numbering just one box won’t count) in the order of your choice/preference.
You decide where your preferences go.

If your number 1 doesn’t get enough votes to be elected, your number 2,3,4 etc might so number every box from at least 1-7 (more if you like) to make your vote count.

This short video explains how the counting system works.

Apologies to Triabunna and Orford today- I was on my way when the old girl broke down.
So thankful for the RACT.
These may be the last pictures of her in the field .

16/07/2025

And you can read more about my commitment to our community on my website

https://angelaofford.com.au/

🗳️ Angela Offord, Independent candidate for Lyons, has signed the pledge to protect Tasmanians from privatisation.

Her support shows a clear commitment to keeping essential services public—accessible, accountable, and run for the people who need them.

👏 We're pleased to have her standing with us to protect what matters.

16/07/2025

Day 35 on the Campaign Trail

3 sleeps until polling day

Began the day in Richmond today, 25 km north-east of Hobart, in the Coal River region.
2021 Census data Richmond has a population of 1,583. The median age is 51 and there are 710 private dwellings.
Richmond's most famous landmark is the heritage listed, sandstone arch Richmond Bridge, built by convict labour in 1823 to 1825.
It is Australia's oldest bridge still in use.
Richmond’s St John's Catholic church was built in 1836, and is considered the oldest Roman Catholic church in Australia.

Celebrated Xmas in July at Fingal Neighbourhood House 🏠 with a yummy traditional Christmas dinner and great company.
2021 Census data Fingal has a population of 431. The median age is 51 and there are 211 private dwellings.

Ended the day on the East Coast at Swansea and had some wonderful conversations with community members.
2021 Census data Swansea has a population of 997. The median age is 62 and there are 705 private dwellings.

Common topics of conversation:

1. Budget repair
2. Healthcare system issues
3. Education system concerns
4. Housing availability and affordability
5. Integrity in politics
6. Referendum by proxy on the stadium for many Yes or No

Local issues: Disparity in council funding and infrastructure, attracting and retaining workers -exacerbated in Swansea because Swansea postcode (as apposed to Bicheno) is not a “designated regional area” meaning that backpackers cant extend their working holiday visa by completing 88 days working there. Homelessness particularly women in their 50s, 60s and 70 (New Norfolk caller).

14/07/2025

Day 33 and 34 of the Campaign

Mondays and Tuesdays are my days in veterinary practice day 33 and 34.

Pictured are the snow on Drys Bluff on the way to work this morning and partially completed candidate bingo cards.

Lyons is the biggest electorate out of the 5 electorates in Tasmania.
Covering some 35 000 sq km it extends from the mountains and rolling foothills of Railton and Sheffield in the NW through the snowy (today) Central Highlands to New Norfolk and the Derwent Valley, east through Brighton, Bridgewater, Old Beach to Sorell and the Tasman Peninsula and then all the way back up the East Coast to Eddystone Point and SW encompassing Launceston southern suburbs.
It is so big that you might expect not to cross paths with another Lyons candidate during the campaign period.

GREAT for DEMOCRACY and CIVICS

This election campaign however has been different.

There is a really high level of voter engagement, there is a greater awareness of minor parties and independents and minority government, there have been four meet the candidate forums and many sightings of other Lyons candidates in the field- hence the bingo cards.

13/07/2025

Day 32 on the Campaign Trail

Evandale Market on a very mid winter weather day 🥶 ❄️

Thank you community members, fellow stall holders and party candidates for all of the conversation and exchange of ideas.

https://angelaofford.com.au/

12/07/2025

Day 31 on the Campaign Trail

From mountains and lakes yesterday to the sea today.
I love the geographic diversity of the Lyons electorate- a 35 000+ sq km snapshot of lutruwita/Tasmania.

Fun fact: almost 54,000 electors have already voted in the 2025 State election — more than double the 26,000 reported at the same time in 2024.

The overlap with school holidays and being mid winter- a time when many Tasmanian’s head north to warmer climes, likely big contributors to these numbers.

By the end of Thursday 10 July, 38,628 electors had attended a pre-poll centre.
In Lyons there are 35 candidates / 7 to be elected / 89,460 electors enrolled
6,977 electors have attended a pre poll centre with more people phone voting (if they are interstate) and having applied for postal voting-
By my calculation that is 8 % have early voted in Lyons already!

https://angelaofford.com.au/

2000 people attended tonight’s Bicheno Beams event in its 5th year. WOW AMAZING FUN

11/07/2025

Day 30 on the Campaign Trail

8 days until Polling Day

Good Morning Northern and Central Lyons - Northern Midlands, Southern Midlands and the Central Highlands where I find myself today.

Fun fact: Tasmania is the last state to have a physical Tally Room on polling day night and this year it will be at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart.
This is such an interesting and fun place to be if the electoral system and process excites you like it does me.

Hope to see you there if you can make it.

Reminder that today is the last day to apply for a postal vote if it is to be counted in this election.

The Central Highlands along with Tasman Peninsula residents have a relatively small rate/voter base and the inequitable political reality is that these areas miss out on real engagement with their elected representatives, promises, grants and funding compared to the more populated local government areas.

Residents really need easy access to health services, the promised Arthur Rd (no longer Highway) upgrade, small business assistance (insurance is becoming cost prohibitive), basic amenities like sports ground change rooms and community priority projects such as new Independent Living Units at Ellendale, Emergency Services Complex at yinga/Great Lake, sealing the Marlborough Highway, Gretna Cricket Club Rooms upgrade and GPs at Ouse 3-4 days a week.

10/07/2025

Day 29 on the Campaign Trail

The trail took us once again down the Midland Highway and Northern Midlands through Campbell Town to historic Ross with its highly decorative sandstone bridge, convict female factory, wool 🐑 museum, bakery 🥧 and Australia’s only chilli 🌶️ shop.
Lovely community, wonderful engaging conversations.

Onward destination Oatlands known for and ending the evening with an independents and minor party candidates forum/ politics at the Kentish Hotel.

It was a great opportunity to be able to meet and hear from the other candidates and share thoughts and ideas. Thank you Jo for organising.

I am campaigning on and advocating for real outcomes on issues identified by the community and that I have been researching:

* Budget reform

* Health system reform

* Education system reform

* Housing reform

* Integrity reform

in addition to priority issues I have identified specific to specific areas in Lyons which is a vast electorate in terms of size and very diverse demographically.

As an independent not aligned or influenced by party ideology, politics or vested interests I promise to:

* Listen to you 🙂

* Work collaboratively with all other elected members for you 🐕 🐴 🐐🦔 🌲 🍂 💦

* Be accountable to you

N.B. This is the job of every elected representative!
Yet our current system of two party dominated adversarial politics has lost sight of this.
Our elected representatives should not be influenced by party politics and vested interests.