Tasmania’s political uncertainty has drawn sharp criticism from one of the state’s most respected multicultural voices, as talks of another possible state election swirl barely 14 months after the last.
Devi Sharma, President of the All Indians Association Inc. Tasmania and a board member of the Multicultural Council of Tasmania, has issued a pointed public statement expressing growing frustration from everyday residents—especially those from multicultural backgrounds—over the state’s inability to form or maintain a stable government.
“Every election is paid for with public money—not party money,” Sharma said. “That money comes from taxpayers—including our multicultural communities.”
Her message is not directed at any single party. Instead, she calls on all political actors—Liberal, Labor, Greens, and independents—to stop treating the electorate as a fallback option every time negotiations falter.
“The public cannot be treated as a fallback option whenever there is no clear majority,” she said. “Repeated elections without results are not democracy at work—they are democracy in crisis.”
The comments come as political manoeuvring intensifies in the wake of continued deadlock within Tasmania’s parliament, where slim margins and minority positions have made stable governing difficult. The possibility of an early election—again—has left many residents wondering what the point of voting is if it simply leads to further rounds of costly elections without decisive outcomes.
Sharma’s tone is respectful, but firm. “I urge all political parties to reflect deeply on the consequences of political instability,” she said. “Do we keep spending millions in circles?”
Official figures suggest the cost of a state election in Tasmania runs into the millions. While the price tag is technically an investment in the democratic process, repeated ballots that lead to the same result offer diminishing returns—both financially and socially.
“Public money must be protected,” Sharma said. “Political leadership must act responsibly. The people deserve results.”
Her appeal is framed as a message from and for the wider community. She doesn’t invoke partisanship. Instead, she champions the basic principles of good governance—transparency, accountability, and long-term planning.
“These are not abstract ideals,” Sharma said. “They are what people expect when they go to the ballot box. And they deserve that trust to be respected.”
The multicultural population in Tasmania—while smaller in raw numbers compared to mainland states—has grown steadily over the past decade, contributing not only to the economy through small business and skilled migration, but also to the civic fabric of the state.
“We as citizens and community leaders have the right—and duty—to question how our taxes are spent,” Sharma noted. “And we have every right to demand a responsible approach to governance.”
Her statement ends with a clear message: “I stand for fairness, not politics. I stand for the community, not for division. The trust of the people is not to be taken lightly.”
Whether Tasmania heads to another ballot or not, the discomfort with repeated elections is no longer confined to political insiders. It has now reached the community level—and people like Sharma are putting it on the record.
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🗳️#Tasmania's political instability draws criticism from multicultural leader Devi Sharma. 💸 "Repeated elections waste public funds," she warns amid deadlock. 🤝 Urges all parties to prioritise stable governance over political games. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/4cc5PWVKd6
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