Tasmania faces a protracted period of political limbo as election votes are counted and major parties court the cross bench.

The incumbent Liberals (14) claimed more seats than Labor (nine) in Saturday’s snap election but neither can reach the 18-seat mark required for majority.

Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff, whose refusal to resign after losing a no-confidence vote sparked the poll, has been given “first crack” at forming government by Labor leader Dean Winter.

However, Winter hasn’t ruled out trying to get the numbers to govern if Rockliff is unable to form a working government.

It could be weeks for three in-doubt seats to be confirmed via preferences, and any formal minority agreements might not be arranged until after the numbers are settled.

On Sunday, Rockliff said he had reached out to independents on the cross bench, pledging to work collaboratively.

The Liberals’ failure to keep the crossbench onside in minority resulted in an early election in March 2024 as well as the successful no-confidence vote against Rockliff in June.

Rockliff will have to mend bridges and deal with several crossbenchers who are against the Liberals’ stadium plan and don’t like Liberal-backed salmon farming and forestry.

Two of the four elected independents, Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland, voted for the no-confidence motion against Rockliff and have criticised Tasmania’s ballooning debt.

Winter, however, has ruled out doing a deal with the five-seat Greens to form government, despite needing their votes. He has started speaking to independents.

On Sunday, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff urged Winter to pick up the phone again and potentially form an alliance.

Rockliff said the Liberals would not walk away from their pet project, the controversial $945 million AFL stadium, or their support for traditional industry.

State of play and new faces

• Seats: Liberal 14, Labor nine, Greens five, independent four, in doubt three;
• Bridget Archer (Liberal): The former federal MP was successful in the northern electorate of Bass just a few months after losing her federal seat;
• Gavin Peace (Liberal): Another former federal MP;
• Marcus Vermey (Liberal): A third-generation butcher and first-term MP who picked up the most votes for his party in the Hobart-based seat of Clark;
• Peter George (independent): Anti-salmon farming activist coming off a strong campaign at the federal election.

-AAP