Sky News Chief Election Analyst Tom Connell has predicted neither party will form a majority government in the Tasmanian state election. Tasmanians have gone to the polls today to vote for the next state government. “Neither side has a majority,” Mr Connell said. “At that stage, it would be in the hands of either the Greens or the Jacqui Lambie Network … can make the Liberal Party a minority government. “Or both of them would have to go to the Labor Party.”

Senator Jacqui Lambie says what she’s seen from the Liberal Party this state election has been “absolutely shocking” and “disgraceful”. Ms Lambie said her party was hoping for Premier Jeremy Rockliff to “extend the hand of friendship”. “He didn’t bother to do that, once again,” she told Sky News Australia. “They have not played this game very well. “What we’ve seen out of the Liberal Party has been absolutely shocking; it’s been disgraceful.”

Senator Jacqui Lambie says Tasmanians are in “a world of hurt”. Ms Lambie said health and cost of living is the biggest issue in the state. “It’s just really bad,” she told Sky News Australia. “I can’t get kids in to see psychologists; I can’t get counsellors in our schools for these kids. “We’re in a world of hurt – we’re in a world of hurt down here.”

Senator Jacqui Lambie says Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has “played a really stupid game”. Ms Lambie’s remarks come after Tasmanians voted in an early state election on Saturday. “Once again, I don’t expect Jeremy to stay there for long,” she told Sky News Australia. “It was never his intention to be Premier. “That’s the other problem that’s sitting at the back of our minds – who is going to be there for four years?”

Independent MP for Bass Lara Alexander says Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is “not really prepared to collaborate” with other parties. Tasmanians have gone to the polls today to vote for the next state government. “Unfortunately, Jeremy’s leadership has not been one of consultation,” Ms Alexander told Sky News Australia. “It is really demonstrating that Jeremy is not really prepared to collaborate. “As we move into a more contemporary world, I think it is very important for parties to be able to be nimble.”

Sky News Political Presenter Ashleigh Gillon says it’s easy to see why Tasmanian voters would be “really disillusioned”. Voting has now closed for the state election. “I mean, going to three elections in six years,” she said. “There’s been all the infighting; Labor last election round. This time, the Liberals. “We’ve seen the defections – we’ve seen four cabinet ministers resign in the last term.”

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says polling indicates the Liberals will win “far more seats” than Labor in the Tasmanian state election. “The polling I received during the week indicated the Liberals would win more seats – far more seats – than Labor and that Jacqui Lambie will win seats,” he said. “Everyone coming into this election thinks it will be a hung parliament. “If it is another bad result for Labor, that will be two weekends in a row of bad results for Labor after the Queensland byelections. “After Dunkley, it might bring the Labor brand down to earth a bit in terms of, federally, they have to think there are still cost of living problems out there.”

Tasmanians are voting in an election they “didn’t need to have”, according to Tasmania Labor Senator Helen Polley. Voting has now closed for the state election. “I think the onus is now on the Premier,” Ms Polley said. “If he does not deliver a majority Liberal government, then he’s failed because he’s gone to an election early. “Tasmanians are sceptical about who’s going to be the premier.”

Less than a year after 10 platypuses were reintroduced into the Royal National Park in New South Wales, the crew has a new family member. The discovery of a juvenile platypus has left scientists and researchers ecstatic and hopeful. Reportedly, the baby is around six months old, weighs 850 grams, and is in perfect health. “She’s been named ‘Gilly’, which in the local Dharawal language means flame, so that kind of signifies the flame and life that’s been ignited,” NSW University Conservation Scientist Dr Gilad Bino told Sky News Australia. Platypus have not been sighted in Australia’s oldest national park in over 50 years.

Bondi Partners Senior Advisor Peter McGauran believes Peter Dutton is “doing well” and has had the “courage of his convictions” in the debate over nuclear power. Opposition leader Peter Dutton and Shadow Energy Minister Ted O’Brien are proposing nuclear power be used for baseload power generation to firm renewable energy and ensure Australia can reach its 2050 net zero goals. “I think Peter Dutton is doing well,” Mr McGauran told Sky News Australia. “He’s had the courage of his convictions; he’s has a united team on the issue. “Dutton has tapped into a young person’s issue.”

Bondi Partners Senior Advisor Peter McGauran says Donald Trump’s “soft underbelly” is that donations are “not pouring in as it did” in previous campaigns. The former US president’s efforts to secure a bond to cover a $US454 million judgement in his New York fraud case has been rejected by 30 underwriters, his lawyers said this week. “Donald Trump has a lot of self-generating publicity because of the controversy, the rallies – and that’s why he does the rallies,” Mr McGauran told Sky News Australia. “It’s free publicity. “It is his soft underbelly that the money is not pouring in as it did in his previous campaign.”

Five people have been killed and close to one million residents are without power after strikes on key energy infrastructure across Ukraine. Russia fired 150 missiles and drones in the largest assault on Ukraine’s energy grid since the conflict began. The city of Kharkiv and parts of Odesa were the worst-affected areas. Russia said the attacks were in response to previous Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory. Russia’s war with Ukraine has now lasted over two years.

Bondi Partners Senior Advisor Peter McGauran does not believe “anything can save the Labor government” in Queensland ahead of its state election in October. The Queensland state election will be held on October 26. Labor, led by Premier Steven Miles, will attempt to win a fourth term against the Liberal National Party, led by Opposition leader David Crisafulli. “It’s a disastrous state, but I think that will change on October 26th when the Liberal National Party will win the Queensland election,” Mr McGauran told Sky News Australia. “I don’t think anything can save the Labor government there.”

Bondi Partners Senior Advisor Peter McGauran says Princess Kate “will be receiving all the love and support” that is “able to be given to her”. Princess Catherine has revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer in a video message released earlier today and says she is undergoing preventative cancer treatment. “A cancer diagnosis for any family, and any individual, is shattering, but families rally around it at a time like this,” Mr McGauran told Sky News Australia. “She will be receiving all the love and support able to be given to her. “It is a very, very tested physically, emotionally and psychologically time for anyone in that situation.”

The Princess of Wales has announced she is receiving treatment for cancer, the Coalition has hinted at repealing Labor's prohibition on vapes at the next election, and up to 40 people have died and dozens more are injured in a shooting in Moscow. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Candidates in the South Australian seat of Dunstan have made their final appeal to voters before they too head to the polls on Saturday. Almost 27,000 South Australians are set to vote to elect a replacement for outgoing MP and former premier Steven Marshall. The contest will decide one of the state’s most marginal electorates, which was last won by the Liberals with just 260 votes. Labor’s candidate for Dunston Cressida O'Hanlon will likely be dependent on preferences from the Greens. “I hope that people think about what’s actually in the best interest of this community of Dunstan,” she said.

Sky News Digital Editor Jack Houghton has weighed in on the debate around Kevin Rudd’s appointment as Ambassador to the US following Donald Trump’s comments about the former prime minister this week. The former president called Rudd “nasty” in an interview with GB News host Nigel Farage and also said Rudd wouldn’t stay long in his posting if he remained hostile towards him. Mr Houghton said old footage dug up by Skynews.com.au on Thursday demonstrated Rudd’s “well-established history of public hostilities” towards Trump. “But many in the media were simply unable to comprehend why this was news, and more importantly why we wanted the question asked," he said. “Rudd might be trying to present himself as a balanced statesman but only the most inept of journalists would fall for that charade. “And if Albanese did not want our most important diplomatic position scrutinised in the media, perhaps he should not have appointed an incredibly divisive and controversial figure to the role.”

Synology has unveiled a brand new addition to its product line called the BeeStation. “The BeeStation is actually a personal cloud system,” Tech Guide Editor Stephen Fenech told Sky News Australia. “It looks like a hard drive but it’s connected to your home network. “You set it up really easily too, just scan a QR code and it connects to your network. “You can create accounts for people in your household, so you’re able to treat this as your personal cloud.”

Racing NSW Nick Berney previews a stacked weekend of racing, including the Golden Slipper. “It is something else and I am really excited about today,” Mr Berney told Racing Dreams host Julie Snook. “It is such a fantastic field and we are going to get a perfect track. “I’m going to bet up today, it is the perfect day.” In partnership with Racing NSW.

Entertainment commentator Shane A Bassett says the news that Aaron Taylor-Johnson could be playing the next James Bond may have been the result of a leak. “I think he’s a great choice,” Mr Bassett told Sky News Australia. “But whether he actually is the next James Bond – I’m not sure it’s been confirmed. “A lot of people don’t know who Aaron Taylor-Johnson is but he’s an accomplished actor. “I like him, I think he’s a great choice, and they’re going for a younger James Bond, different to what they’ve had in the past.”