Independents in Tasmania’s legislative council: analysing strategies to achieve influence*

Independent members (IMLCs) have long dominated the Tasmanian Legislative Council (Council) and are expected to play a review and scrutiny rather than a policy-making role. However, this article presents research that finds that such members are indeed able to achieve policy influence despite their lack of supportive party colleagues or a party structure. Current and former IMLCs, one Labor MLC, and one Member of the lower House of Assembly, were interviewed for this research. They were asked about the IMLC role as they see it, the strategies used, if in fact they are used, to gain policy influence, IMLC work and influence on committees, and the obstacles, including political obstacles, to IMLCs achieving influence. Our paper addresses the lack of studies of the legislative behaviour of Councillors, and establishes that, despite the review and scrutiny focus of their role, and the attribution of the policymaking role to the lower house, IMLCs do seek influence and use various means of achieving it.