Rockliff did something similar in the state election held just 16 months ago before his term concluded with a no-confidence vote due to the new AFL stadium plans, prompting the snap election.

The Liberal party had 13 of the necessary 18 votes to form a majority government at the time Rockliff gave his speech at 9.30pm AEST.

Standing in front of his mother, wife and three daughters on stage, Rockliff said he was “very humbled by tonight’s result”.

“A little over six weeks ago, the Leader of the Opposition triggered this unnecessary election for the Tasmanian people by initiating a vote of no-confidence,” he started.

“This evening, in response, the people of Tasmania have expressed that they do not trust the Labor Party to govern and have chosen to reaffirm their support for our Liberal government.”

“It is our team, the Liberal Party, who will achieve the most seats in this election, with a significantly increased vote, and I thank you. I want to thank all Tasmanians.

“On that basis, there is some way to go [but] at the conclusion of the counting and the return of the writs, I intend to visit the governor and ask her to recommission my government so we can get on with the job for Tasmania.”

Labor leader Dean Winter addressed the ALP party faithful about 10.30pm AEST, and vowed to work together with the other parties in the best interest of Tasmanians but stopped short of conceding defeat.

“Tonight, the Tasmanian people have spoken and they have delivered another hung parliament and with it, a resounding message that they want their politicians to work together more collaboratively,” Winter stated.

He added that the results echo the previous election and another snap election is “not an option” so politicians will need to “collaborate on the challenges facing our state, and there are many”.

“It seems likely that the three major parties in the state will end up with more or less the same number of seats as they did in the last parliament,” Winter said.

“Another election is not an option, which means that we need to figure this out. This will take leadership, it will take maturity, and it will take a willingness to work and seek common ground.”

He also paid tribute to his opposition, in acknowledging Rockliff’s result in his own seat.

“I have fundamental and real concerns with the direction state is moving in, but I do know that Jeremy cares deeply and he has been in parliament now for longer than anyone, and his result in Braddon tonight reflects service,” Winter said.

The count remains ongoing and a formal result is yet to be called, with more than 30 per cent of the vote still to be counted at 11pm.

Tomorrow marks the 23rd anniversary of Rockcliff’s first election in 2002, which he said made today’s election more poignant.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Tasmania for the great privilege that you have provided me in being a member of parliament, a minister in a government, and Premier of Tasmania for the last three years.”