Veteran Tasmanian Liberal Eric Abetz faces a nervous wait to learn his political future.
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The Hobart-based senator is third on the Liberals' state ticket and is not guaranteed an ongoing place on the upper house benches, where he has sat since 1994.
Voting in suburban Hobart on Saturday, the 64-year-old continued to campaign for a coalition government, in the knowledge it could be several days before he knows his own political future.
"The support I've had has been very heartening," Senator Abetz told News Corp.
"(I'm) always nervous on election day and it's up to the people to decide," he told ABC Radio.
Senate colleagues Jonno Duniam and Wendy Askew won first and second place respectively on the Tasmanian Liberal ticket.
Hobart Independent MP Andrew Wilkie claimed victory from COVID-19 isolation on Saturday.
"Elections are a wonderful celebration of democracy and to have secured a fifth term is tremendous validation that my consistent calls for greater fairness and action on many key issues have resonated in the greater Hobart community," he said in a statement.
He planned to join his election night function via video call.
"I only wish I had been able to meet electors on polling day, as that is always a highlight for me. Having to attend your own election night party via Zoom is a little disappointing to say the least."
Across the Derwent River in the seat of Franklin, long-term Labor MP Julie Collins is expected to become a minister in an Anthony Albanese government.
"I'm hoping for a good result," she told News Corp on Saturday.
"I've felt it was a pretty positive campaign on the ground and people want to get rid of Scott Morrison."
In the north of the state, the electorate of Bass is the nation's most marginal Liberal seat.
Former George Town mayor Bridget Archer is defending her 0.4 per cent margin, fighting off a resurgent Ross Hart who she took the seat from in 2019.
"Whatever happens, I am really proud of what I've achieved in Bass," she told News Corp on Saturday.
"I've tried to work hard for the community and connect with them throughout my term. It's not good enough to just turn up at campaign time."
An early tally of first- preference votes across Bass showed Ms Archer is likely to retain her seat.
Australian Associated Press
