Tasmanian Government

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Tasmanian Government
Tasmanian Government logo.svg
Overview
Established
StateFlag of Tasmania.svg Tasmania
CountryFlag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Leader Premier of Tasmania (Jeremy Rockliff)
Appointed by Governor of Tasmania (Barbara Baker) on behalf of the King (Charles III)
Main organ
Ministries 8 Government Departments
Responsible to Parliament of Tasmania
Annual budget$8.7 billion (2023-2024) [1]
HeadquartersExecutive Building
15 Murray Street, Hobart
Website tas.gov.au

The Tasmanian Government is the executive branch of the Australian state of Tasmania. The leader of the party or coalition with the confidence of the House of Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament of Tasmania, is invited by the governor of Tasmania to form the executive. The governor appoints the premier of Tasmania.

Contents

Since 8 April 2022, the premier of Tasmania has been Jeremy Rockliff, leader of the Liberal Party. The current ministry of Tasmania is the Second Rockliff ministry.

Constitutional framework

Tasmania is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary responsible government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power rests with the bicameral Parliament of Tasmania, which consists of the governor of Tasmania, and the two chambers: the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. [2]

Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, consisting of the governor and senior ministers, and informally called the Cabinet. In practice, executive power is exercised by the premier of Tasmania upon the advice of the Cabinet. Cabinet members are appointed by the governor but hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the House of Assembly.

Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Tasmania and a system of subordinate courts. As with all states, upon federation, Tasmania accepted the authority of the federal High Court of Australia to overrule the state judiciary.

Cabinet of Tasmania

Second Rockliff ministry
Minister
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Minister for Premier

Tourism Trade and Major Investment

Deputy Premier

Attorney-General Treasurer Justice

Department administered Premier and Cabinet

Tourism Tasmania State Growth

Justice

Treasury and Finance

Minister
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Minister for Business, Industry and Resources

Transport

Innovation, Science and Digital Economy

Corrections and Rehabilitation Environment Arts and Heritage

Department administered State Growth State Growth

Justice Natural Resources and Environment

Minister
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Minister for Energy and Renewables

Parks Sport and Events

Police, Fire and Emergency Management

Housing, Planning and Consumer Affairs Skills and Training

Department administered State Growth Justice

Communities State Growth

Minister
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Minister for Primary Industries and Water

Hospitality and Small Business Racing

Children and Young People

Mental Health and Wellbeing Community Services |Finance

Department administered Natural Resources and Environment

State Growth

Education, Children and Young People

Health Communities |Treasury and Finance

Minister
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Minister for Education

Disability Services Women and the Prevention of Family Violence

Health

Aboriginal Affairs Indigenous Affairs

Department administered Education

Health

Health
Minister
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Minister for
Infrastructure
Local Government
Department administered
Infrastructure
Local Government
Assistant Ministry
Assistant Minister
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Assistant Minister forAssistant to the Premier

Housing and Planning

Youth Engagement
Department administeredPremier and Cabinet

State Growth

Education, Children and Young People
Assistant Minister
Assistant Minister forHealth, Mental Health and Wellbeing
Department administeredHealth

Tasmanian government agencies

The Tasmanian Government delivers services, determines policy, and issues regulations through a number of agencies grouped under areas of portfolio responsibility. Each portfolio is led by a Secretary, who reports to one or more government ministers, a member of Parliament. Since reorganisation in 2022 [3] the departmental structure is the following

A range of other agencies support the functions of these departments.

State-owned enterprises

The Government of Tasmania also owns and operates a number of state-owned companies: [4]

Other levels of government

Federal representation of Tasmania

As a state of Australia, Tasmania is represented in the federal House of Representatives and Senate. Tasmania has five representatives in the federal House of Representatives for the electoral divisions of Bass, Braddon, Denison, Franklin and Lyons. In line with other states, Tasmania also has twelve Senators.

Australian House of Representatives
PartyFactionRepresentativeBackgroundRepresentative since
Labor Socialist Left Jess Teesdale Teacher 3 May 2025
Labor Socialist Left Anne Urquhart Former Senator3 May 2025
Labor Socialist Left Rebecca White Former state MLA3 May 2025
Labor Socialist Left Julie Collins Labor staffer24 November 2007
Independent N/A Andrew Wilkie Army soldier21 August 2010
Australian Senate
PartyFactionSenatorBackgroundSenator since
Liberal National Right Wendy Askew Political adviser6 March 2019
Liberal National Right Claire Chandler Liberal organiser1 July 2019
Liberal National Right Jonathon Duniam Liberal staffer2 July 2016
Liberal Moderate Richard Colbeck Devonport City Council 2002-2016, 9 February 2018
Labor Socialist Left Carol Brown Labor staffer25 August 2005
Labor Socialist Left Josh Dolega Union official27 May 2025
Labor Right Helen Polley Labor staffer1 July 2005
Labor Right Richard Dowling Economist1 July 2025
Greens Mainstream Nick McKim Former state MLA19 August 2015
Greens Mainstream Peter Whish-Wilson ADFA 20 June 2012
Lambie N/A Jacqui Lambie Army soldier2014-2017, 1 July 2019
Independent N/A Tammy Tyrrell Lambie staffer1 July 2022
Cabinet of Australia
PartyFactionMinisterPortfolioMinister since
Labor Socialist Left Julie Collins Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry intermittently since 2011

Local government in Tasmania

29 local government elections are conducted under the Local Government Act using the Hare-Clark voting system of multi-member proportional representation. Elections for mayor, deputy mayor and half the councillor positions are held during September and October in each uneven numbered year. These include six cities (three in greater Hobart, one covering each of Launceston, Burnie, and Devonport) and twenty-three municipalities. The largest council (by number of eligible voters) is the City of Launceston and the smallest council is the Flinders Council (which serves Flinders Island and the surrounds, with just over 800 electors)

See also

References

  1. Tasmanian Government (May 2023). "The Budget: Budget Paper no. 1" (PDF).
  2. Constitution Act 1934 (Tas) s.10
  3. "Department Structures to Strengthen Tasmanian Outcomes". Premier of Tasmania. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  4. "Tasmanian Government Businesses". Tasmanian Department of Treasury and Finance. Tasmanian Government.
  5. https://www.tasmanianirrigation.com.au/