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The politics of Tasmania takes place in context of a bicameral parliamentary system. The main parties are the Liberal and the Labor Party. Other minor political parties include the Greens and One Nation along with several independent politicians.
The executive government (called the Tasmanian Government) comprises 8 portfolios, led by a ministerial department and supported by several agencies. There are also a number of independent agencies that fall under a portfolio but remain at arms-length for political reasons, such as the Integrity Commission and Electoral Commission. The state Executive Council, consisting of the governor and senior ministers, exercises the executive authority through the relevant portfolio.
The legislative branch includes the bicameral state parliament, which includes the monarchy as represented by the governor, the House of Assembly, and Legislative Council. The judicial branch consists of three general courts (Magistrates', and Supreme Court), and several specialist courts such as the Coroner's Court.[1]
Tasmania received statehood upon the federation of Australia in 1901, with the state's Constitution establishing a parliamentary democracy. Its relationship with the federal government is regulated by the Australian Constitution. The current government is held by the state Liberal Party, led by Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Rockliff succeeded Peter Gutwein of the Liberal Party on 8 April 2022 following the 2022 Tasmanian Liberal Party leadership election.
State politics
Parliament of Tasmania
The Australian state of Tasmania has a bicameral parliament. The House of Assembly (lower house) is composed of 35 members of parliament, where each electorate is represented by 7 members. The voting system is preferential. The Legislative Council (upper house) comprises 15 members, who each serve terms of 5 years and are elected in groups of 3 per year. The King is represented by the governor, who formally appoints the premier, as nominated by the majority party in the Assembly.
Office holders
The formal chief executive of Tasmania is the governor, who is appointed as the King's representative on the advice of the head of the governing party. The current governor is Barbara Baker. The governor holds limited reserve powers, but with few exceptions is required by convention to act on the advice of the government.
The Premier of Tasmania is currently Jeremy Rockliff of the Liberal Party. The 47th Premier, Rockliff assumed office on 21 March 2022. The Deputy Premier of Tasmania is Guy Barnett.
Officially opposing the Tasmanian government is the opposition Labor Party.
The government is decided every four years by election. The most recent election was held in 2022, with the next in 2027.
Political parties
Tasmania is currently governed by the Liberal Party. The two main parties are the Liberal Party, and the Labor Party.[2] Other currently elected parties in Tasmanian politics include the Greens, and One Nation, along with multiple independents.
Political structure
South Australia is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power formally rests with the King, acting with the advice and consent of the House of Assembly and Legislative Council—together known as the Parliament of South Australia.[3] Executive power is exercised by the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior ministers.[4]
The Governor, as representative of the Crown, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of South Australia and the cabinet. The Premier and ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Tasmania and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.[5]
State party support by region
Liberal
Northwest Tasmania is considered to be a heartland of the state Liberal Party.[6]
Federal politics
Tasmania has 5 seats in the Australian House of Representatives, the least of any state.
Party support by region
Liberals
There is no seat that is considered to be a safe Liberal seat.[7]
Labor
Franklin is traditionally considered to be a safe Labor seat.[8]
Marginal seats
Lyons, Bass, Braddon are considered to be marginal seats.[9]
Referendum results in Tasmania
Results of referendums
| Year | No. | Name | National Voters | States | Tas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | 1 | Senate Elections | 82.65% | 6:0 | 81.32% |
| 1910 | 2 | State Debts | 54.95% | 5:1 | 59.99% |
| 3 | Surplus Revenue | 49.04% | 3:3 | 80.97% | |
| 1911 | 4 | Trade and Commerce | 39.42% | 1:5 | 42.11% |
| 5 | Monopolies | 39.89% | 1:5 | 42.43% | |
| 1913 | 6 | Trade and Commerce | 49.38% | 3:3 | 45.16% |
| 7 | Corporations | 49.33% | 3:3 | 45.08% | |
| 8 | Industrial Matters | 49.33% | 3:3 | 45.01% | |
| 9 | Trusts | 49.78% | 3:3 | 45.38% | |
| 10 | Monopolies | 49.33% | 3:3 | 46.85% | |
| 11 | Railway Disputes | 49.13% | 3:3 | 51.26% | |
| 1919 | 12 | Legislative Powers | 49.65% | 3:3 | 34.08% |
| 13 | Monopolies | 48.64% | 3:3 | 33.43% | |
| 1926 | 14 | Industry and Commerce | 43.50% | 2:4 | 44.86% |
| 15 | Essential Services | 42.80% | 2:4 | 48.59% | |
| 1928 | 16 | State Debts | 74.30% | 6:0 | 66.89% |
| 1937 | 17 | Aviation | 53.56% | 2:4 | 38.94% |
| 18 | Marketing | 36.26% | 0:6 | 21.88% | |
| 1944 | 19 | Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights | 45.99% | 2:4 | 38.92% |
| 1946 | 20 | Social Services | 54.39% | 6:0 | 50.58% |
| 21 | Marketing | 48.74% | 3:3 | 42.55% | |
| 22 | Industrial Employment | 50.30% | 3:3 | 48.20% | |
| 1948 | 23 | Rents and Prices | 40.66% | 0:6 | 35.45% |
| 1951 | 24 | Communists and Communism | 49.44% | 3:3 | 50.26% |
| 1967 | 25 | Parliament | 40.25% | 1:5 | 33.91% |
| 26 | Aboriginals | 90.77% | 6:0 | 90.21% | |
| 1973 | 27 | Prices | 43.81% | 0:6 | 38.22% |
| 28 | Incomes | 34.42% | 0:6 | 28.31% | |
| 1974 | 29 | Simultaneous Elections | 47.14% | 1:5 | 65.99% |
| 30 | Mode of Altering the Constitution | 47.99% | 1:5 | 40.72% | |
| 31 | Democratic Elections | 47.20% | 1:5 | 40.81% | |
| 32 | Local Government Bodies | 46.85% | 1:5 | 42.52% | |
| 1977 | 33 | Simultaneous Elections | 62.22% | 3:3 | 34.26% |
| 34 | Senate Casual Vacancies | 73.32% | 6:0 | 53.78% | |
| 35 | Referendums | 77.72% | 6:0 | 62.25% | |
| 36 | Retirement of Judges | 80.10% | 6:0 | 72.46% | |
| 1984 | 37 | Terms of Senators | 50.64% | 2:4 | 39.29% |
| 38 | Interchange of Powers | 47.06% | 0:6 | 34.65% | |
| 1988 | 39 | Parliamentary Terms | 32.92% | 0:6 | 25.34% |
| 40 | Fair Elections | 37.60% | 0:6 | 28.89% | |
| 41 | Local Government | 33.62% | 0:6 | 27.50% | |
| 42 | Rights and Freedoms | 30.79% | 0:6 | 25.49% | |
| 1999 | 43 | Establishment of Republic | 45.13% | 0:6 | 40.37% |
| 44 | Preamble | 39.34% | 0:6 | 35.67% | |
| 2023 | 45 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice | 39.94% | 0:6 | 41.04% |
Notable Tasmanian political figures
- Robert Cosgrove, 30th premier of Tasmania, longest-serving premier
-
Robert Cosgrove
Recent state election results
| Primary vote | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ALP | LPA | Oth. | |
| 2002 Tasmanian state election | 39.34% | 39.97% | 20.69% |
| 2006 Tasmanian state election | 38.87% | 36.88% | 24.26% |
| 2010 Tasmanian state election | 25.55% | 51.15% | 22.93% |
| 2014 Tasmanian state election | 34.08% | 45.63% | 20.29% |
| 2018 Tasmanian state election | 33.31% | 41.58% | 25.11% |
| 2021 Tasmanian state election | 36.97% | 35.37% | 27.68% |
| 2024 Tasmanian state election | 36.97% | 35.37% | 27.68% |
See also
References
- ^ "Section 10: NSW State Courts". Legal Answers. State Library of New South Wales. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Bongiorno, Frank (2025-02-12). "Splits, fusions and evolutions: how Australia's political parties took hold". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
- ^ Constitution Act 1934 (SA) s 4 (definition of "The Legislature")
- ^ "The Executive Council". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Schriever, Jordanna; Blandis, Eva (2024-09-12). "Government lawyers argue coroner acted 'beyond power' when issuing certificate compelling doctor to appear at inquest". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
- ^ Rowbottom, Chris (2025-02-25). "Poll reveals support levels for proposed Hobart stadium across Tasmania". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
- ^ Cassidy, Caitlin (2022-05-21). "Seats to watch: the electorates that could decide who will win the federal election". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
- ^ "Climate independent takes on Bean's safe Labor foe". Canberra CityNews. 2025-03-07. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
- ^ "Your Say: Voters in Tasmania's most marginal electorates share what they care about". ABC News. 2025-02-27. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
- ^ Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) "Part 5 – Referendums and Plebiscites – Referendum results". Parliamentary Library of Australia..
