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Premier of Tasmania

Head of government for the state of Tasmania, Australia


Summary

Head of government for the state of Tasmania, Australia

FieldValue
postPremier
bodyTasmania
insigniaTasmania Coat of Arms.svg
insigniasize120px
insigniacaptionTasmanian coat of arms
flagFlag of Tasmania.svg
flagsize120px
flagcaptionFlag of Tasmania
imageJeremy-Rockliff.jpg
imagesize200px
incumbentJeremy Rockliff
incumbentsince8 April 2022
departmentDepartment of Premier and Cabinet
style{{plainlist
statusHead of government
member_of
reports_toParliament
seatExecutive Building
15 Murray Street, Hobart
appointerGovernor of Tasmania
appointer_qualifiedby convention, based on appointee's ability to command confidence in the House of Assembly
termlengthAt the governor's pleasure
termlength_qualifiedcontingent on the premier's ability to command confidence in the lower house of Parliament
constituting_instrumentNone (constitutional convention)
formation1 November 1856
firstWilliam Champ
deputyDeputy Premier of Tasmania
salaryA$301,397
websitewww.premier.tas.gov.au
  • The Honourable (formal)
  • Premier (informal) 15 Murray Street, Hobart Since 8 April 2022, the premier of Tasmania has been Jeremy Rockliff, leader of the Liberal Party, which holds 14 of the 35 seats in the House of Assembly. Due to Rockliff not holding a majority since 2023, he has had to negotiate with crossbenchers to form a government. Since the 2024 state election, he has been supported intermittently by the Jacqui Lambie Network, the Greens, the SFF and various independents, including David O'Byrne whom Rockliff offered a ministerial position to. The current cabinet Rockliff leads is the third Rockliff ministry.

The premier of Tasmania is the lowest-paid Australian premier, and the second-lowest paid head of government nationwide. Incumbent premier Jeremy Rockliff turned down a 22% pay rise in 2025.

List of premiers of Tasmania

Before the 1890s, there was no formal party system in Tasmania. Party labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. The current convention of appointing the premier from the House of Assembly did not develop until the late 19th century, with eight premiers appointed from the Legislative Council (the last being Philip Fysh from 1887 to 1892).

No.PortraitName
Electoral division
(Birth–death)ElectionTerm of officePolitical partyMonarchTerm startTerm endTime in officeIndependent politician}}; white-space: nowrap;"1Independent politician}};"2Independent politician}};"3Independent politician}};"4Independent politician}};"(3)Independent politician}};"5Independent politician}};"6Independent politician}};"7Independent politician}};"8Independent politician}};"9Independent politician}};"10Independent politician}};"11Independent politician}};"12Independent politician}};"13Independent politician}};"14Independent politician}};"(13)Independent politician}};"15Independent politician}};"16Protectionist Party}};"(12)Free Trade Party}};"17Free Trade Party}};"18Free Trade Party}};"19Protectionist Party}};"20Free Trade Party}};"21Commonwealth Liberal Party}};"(19)Australian Labor Party}};"22Commonwealth Liberal Party}};"(19)Commonwealth Liberal Party}};"23Australian Labor Party}};"(22)Commonwealth Liberal Party}};"24Nationalist Party of Australia}};"25Nationalist Party of Australia}};"(24)Australian Labor Party}};"26Nationalist Party of Australia}};"27Nationalist Party of Australia}};"(24)Australian Labor Party}};"28Australian Labor Party}};"29Australian Labor Party}};"30Australian Labor Party}};31Australian Labor Party}};"(30)Australian Labor Party}};"32Liberal Party of Australia}}; color:white;"33Australian Labor Party}};"(32)Australian Labor Party}};"34Australian Labor Party}};"35Australian Labor Party}};"36Liberal Party of Australia}}; color:white;"37Australian Labor Party}};"38Liberal Party of Australia}}; color:white;"39Liberal Party of Australia}}; color:white;"40Australian Labor Party}};"41Australian Labor Party}};"42Australian Labor Party}};"43Australian Labor Party}};"44Liberal Party of Australia}}; color:white;"45Liberal Party of Australia}}; color:white;"46Liberal Party of Australia}}; color:white;"47
[[File:William-Champ-1856.jpg102x102px]]William Champ
MHA for Launceston
(1808–1892)18561 November
185626 February
1857IndependentVictoria
(1837–1901)
Governor:
[[File:Thomas_Gregson.jpg145x145px]]Thomas Gregson
MHA for Richmond
(1796–1874)26 February
185725 April
1857Independent
[[File:William_Weston_Premier.jpg118x118px]]William Weston
MHA for Ringwood
(1804–1888)25 April
185712 May
1857Independent
[[File:Sir_Francis_Smith.jpg117x117px]]Francis Smith
MHA for Fingal
(1819–1909)12 May
18571 November
1860Independent
[[File:William_Weston_Premier.jpg118x118px]]William Weston
MLC for Longford
(1804–1888)1 November
18602 August
1861Independent
[[File:Thomas_Chapman.jpg118x118px]]Thomas Chapman
MHA for Queensborough
(until 1862)
MHA for Campbell Town
(from 1862)
(1815–1884)18612 August
186120 January
1863Independent
[[File:James_Whyte.jpg145x145px]]James Whyte
MLC for Pembroke
(1820–1882)186220 January
186324 November
1866Independent
[[File:Sir_Richard_Dry.jpg141x141px]]Sir Richard Dry
MLC for Tamar
(1815–1869)186624 November
18661 August
1869 (†)Independent
[[File:James_Milne_Wilson.jpg146x146px]]James Milne Wilson
MLC for Hobart
(1812–1880)4 August
18694 November
1872Independent
1871
[[File:Frederick_Innes.jpg143x143px]]Frederick Innes
MHA for Selby
(1816–1882)18724 November
18724 August
1873Independent
[[File:Alfred_Kennerley.jpg126x126px]]Alfred Kennerley
MLC for Hobart
(1810–1897)4 August
187320 July
1876Independent
[[File:Thomas_Reiby.jpg134x134px]]Thomas Reibey
MHA for Westbury
(1821–1912)20 July
18769 August
1877Independent
[[File:Philip_Fysh_1898.jpg134x134px]]Philip Fysh
MHA for East Hobart
(1835–1919)18779 August
18775 March
1878Independent
[[File:WRGiblinsmall.jpg130x130px]]William Giblin
MHA for Wellington
(1840–1887)5 March
187820 December
1878Independent
[[File:William_Crowther.jpg146x146px]]William Crowther
MHA for Queensborough
(1817–1885)20 December
187830 October
1879Independent
[[File:WRGiblinsmall.jpg130x130px]]William Giblin
MHA for Wellington
(1840–1887)30 October
187915 August
1884Independent
1882
[[File:AdyeDouglas.jpg134x134px]]Adye Douglas
MLC for South Esk
(1815–1906)15 August
18848 March
1886Independent
[[File:James_Agnew.jpg146x146px]]James Agnew
MLC for Macquarie
(1815–1901)8 March
188629 March
1887Independent
1886
[[File:Philip_Fysh_1898.jpg134x134px]]Philip Fysh
MLC for Buckingham
(1835–1919)29 March
188727 August
1892Protectionist
1891
[[File:Henry_Dobson_(1898).jpg130x130px]]Henry Dobson
MHA for Brighton
(1841–1918)27 August
189214 April
1894Free Trade
1893
[[File:Edwardbraddon.jpg140x140px]]Sir Edward Braddon
MHA for West Devon
(1829–1904)14 April
189412 October
1899Free Trade
1897
[[File:N.E._Lewis_(1898).jpg129x129px]]Sir Elliott Lewis
MHA for Richmond
(1858–1935)12 October
18999 April
1903Free Trade
1900
Edward VII
(1901–1910)
Governor:
[[File:William_Propsting.jpg152x152px]]William Propsting
MHA for North Hobart
(1861–1937)19039 April
190312 July
1904Protectionist
[[File:Sir_John_William_Evans.jpg169x169px]]John Evans
MHA for Kingborough
(until 1909)
MHA for Franklin
(from 1909)
(1855–1943)12 July
190419 June
1909Anti-Socialist
1906
1909
[[File:N.E._Lewis_(1898).jpg129x129px]]Sir Elliott Lewis
MHA for Denison
(1858–1935)19 June
190920 October
1909Liberal League
[[File:John_Earle_(Australian_politician).jpg167x167px]]John Earle
MHA for Franklin
(1865–1932)20 October
190927 October
1909Labor
[[File:N.E._Lewis_(1898).jpg129x129px]]Sir Elliott Lewis
MHA for Denison
(1858–1935)27 October
190914 June
1912Liberal League
George V
(1910–1936)
Governor:
1912
[[File:Albert_Edgar_Solomon.jpg178x178px]]Albert Solomon
MHA for Bass
(1876–1914)14 June
19126 April
1914Liberal League
1913
[[File:John_Earle_(Australian_politician).jpg167x167px]]John Earle
MHA for Franklin
(1865–1932)6 April
191415 April
1916Labor
[[File:Sir_Walter_Lee.jpg138x138px]]Sir Walter Lee
MHA for Wilmot
(1874–1963)191615 April
191612 August
1922Liberal League
(until 1917)
Nationalist Party of Australia}};"Nationalist
1919
1922
[[File:John_Blyth_Hayes.jpg157x157px]]John Hayes
MHA for Bass
(1868–1956)12 August
192214 August
1923Nationalist
[[File:Sir_Walter_Lee.jpg138x138px]]Sir Walter Lee
MHA for Wilmot
(1874–1963)14 August
192325 October
1923Nationalist
[[File:Joseph_Lyons.jpg139x139px]]Joseph Lyons
MHA for Wilmot
(1879–1939)25 October
192315 June
1928Labor
1925
[[File:Sir_John_McPhee.jpg162x162px]]John McPhee
MHA for Denison
(1878–1952)192815 June
192815 March
1934Nationalist
1931
[[File:Sir_Walter_Lee.jpg138x138px]]Sir Walter Lee
MHA for Wilmot
(1874–1963)15 March
193422 June
1934Nationalist
[[File:Albert_Ogilvie.jpg180x180px]]Albert Ogilvie
MHA for Franklin
(1890–1939)193422 June
193410 June
1939 (†)Labor
Edward VIII
(1936)
Governor:
George VI
(1936–1952)
Governor:
1937
[[File:Edmund_Dwyer_Gray_TasGovPhoto.jpg192x192px]]Edmund Dwyer-Gray
MHA for Denison
(1870–1945)11 June
193918 December
1939Labor
[[File:Robert Cosgrove.jpg140x140px]]Robert Cosgrove
MHA for Denison
(1884–1969)18 December
193918 December
1947Labor
1941
1946
[[File:Edward_Brooker.jpg169x169px]]Edward Brooker
MHA for Franklin
(1891–1948)18 December
194725 February
1948Labor
[[File:Robert Cosgrove.jpg140x140px]]Robert Cosgrove
MHA for Denison
(1884–1969)25 February
194826 August
1958Labor
1948
1950
Elizabeth II
(1952–2022)
Governor:
1955
1956
[[File:Eric Reece 1973 (cropped).jpg140x140px]]Eric Reece
MHA for Braddon
(1909–1999)26 August
195826 May
1969Labor
1959
1964
[[File:Angus_Bethune.jpg157x157px]]Angus Bethune
MHA for Wilmot
(1908–2004)196926 May
19693 May
1972Liberal
[[File:Eric Reece 1973 (cropped).jpg140x140px]]Eric Reece
MHA for Braddon
(1909–1999)19723 May
197231 March
1975Labor
[[File:Bill Neilson 1975 (cropped).jpg140x140px]]Bill Neilson
MHA for Franklin
(1925–1989)31 March
19751 December
1977Labor
1976
[[File:Doug_Lowe_premier.jpg172x172px]]Doug Lowe
MHA for Franklin
(born 1942)1 December
197711 November
1981Labor
1979
Harry Holgate
MHA for Bass
(1933–1997)11 November
198126 May
1982Labor
Robin Gray
MHA for Wilmot
(until 1984)
MHA for Lyons
(from 1984)
(born 1940)198226 May
198229 June
1989Liberal
1986
Michael Field
MHA for Braddon
(born 1948)198929 June
198917 February
1992Labor
Ray Groom
MHA for Denison
(born 1944)199217 February
199218 March
1996Liberal
1996
Tony Rundle
MHA for Braddon
(1939–2025)18 March
199614 September
1998Liberal
Jim Bacon
MHA for Denison
(1950–2004)199814 September
199821 March
2004Labor
2002
Paul Lennon
MHA for Franklin
(born 1955)21 March
200426 May
2008Labor
2006
[[File:DavidBartlettW1.JPG146x146px]]David Bartlett
MHA for Denison
(born 1968)26 May
200824 January
2011Labor
2010
[[File:Lara_Giddings.jpg134x134px]]Lara Giddings
MHA for Franklin
(born 1972)24 January
201131 March
2014Labor
[[File:Will_Hodgman_apples_cropped.jpg146x146px]]Will Hodgman
MHA for Franklin
(born 1969)201431 March
201420 January
2020Liberal
2018
[[File:Peter_Gutwein.jpg133x133px]]Peter Gutwein
MHA for Bass
(born 1964)20 January
20208 April
2022Liberal
2021
[[File:Jeremy-Rockliff.jpg113x113px]]Jeremy Rockliff
MHA for Braddon
(born 1970)8 April
2022IncumbentLiberal
2024Charles III
(2022–present)
Governor:
2025

Graphical timeline

ImageSize = width:720 height:750 PlotArea = left:0 right:0 bottom:65 top:10 Legend = columns:4 left:205 top:55 columnwidth:150 AlignBars = justify

DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:1887 till:2025 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical

Colors= id:canvas value:gray(0.5) id:ALP value:red legend:Australian_Labor_Party id:LPA value:darkblue legend:Liberal_Party_of_Australia id:LIB value:dullyellow legend:Liberalism id:CON value:blue legend:Conservatism id:CWL value:skyblue legend:Commonwealth_Liberal id:NAT value:powderblue legend:Nationalist

id:WAR value:gray(0.6)

Define $left = align:right shift:(-25,-5) Define $right = align:left shift:(25,-5)

PlotData= mark:(line,white) fontsize:S shift:(25,-5)

width:33 shift:(25,-5) align:right color:War fontsize:S textcolor:war

width:29 color:black textcolor:black

width:25

from:1887 till:1892 color:LIB $left text:"Philip Fysh_1887-1892" from:1892 till:1894 color:CON $right text:"1892-1894_Henry Dobson" from:1894 till:1899 color:LIB $left text:"Edward Braddon_1894-1899" from:1899 till:1903 color:CON $right text:"1899-1903_Elliott Lewis" from:1903 till:1904 color:LIB $left text:"William Propsting_1903-1904" from:1904 till:1907 color:CON $right text:"1904-1909_John Evans" from:1907 till:1908 color:LIB $left text:"(Second Term)_Elliott Lewis_1909" from:1908 till:1909 color:ALP $right text:"1909_John Earle" from:1909 till:1912 color:CWL $left text:"(Third Term)_Elliott Lewis_1909-1912" from:1912 till:1914 color:CWL $right text:"1912-1914_Albert Solomon" from:1914 till:1916 color:ALP $left text:"(Second Term)John Earle_1914-1916" from:1916 till:1922 color:CWL $right text:"1916-1922_Walter Lee" from:1922 till:1923 color:NAT $left text:"John Hayes_1922-1923" from:1923 till:1924 color:NAT $right text:"1923_Walter Lee(Second Term)" from:1924 till:1928 color:ALP $left text:"Joseph Lyons_1923-1928" from:1928 till:1934 color:NAT $right text:"1928-1924_John McPhee" from:1934 till:1935 color:NAT $left text:"(Third Term)Walter Lee_1934" from:1935 till:1939 color:ALP $right text:"1934-1939_Albert Ogilvie" from:1939 till:1940 color:ALP $left text:"Edmund Dwyer-Gray_1939" from:1940 till:1947 color:ALP $right text:"1939-1947_Robert Cosgrove" from:1947 till:1948 color:ALP $left text:"Edward Brooker_1947-1948" from:1948 till:1958 color:ALP $right text:"1948-1958_Robert Cosgrove(Second Term)" from:1958 till:1969 color:ALP $left text:"Eric Reece_1958-1969" from:1969 till:1972 color:LPA $right text:"1969-1972_Angus Bethune" from:1972 till:1975 color:ALP $left text:"(Second Term)_Eric Reece_1972-1975" from:1975 till:1977 color:ALP $right text:"1975-1977_Bill Neilson" from:1977 till:1981 color:ALP $left text:"Doug Lowe_1977-1981" from:1981 till:1982 color:ALP $right text:"1981-1982_Harry Holgate" from:1982 till:1989 color:LPA $left text:"Robin Gray_1982-1989" from:1989 till:1992 color:ALP $right text:"1989-1992_Michael Field" from:1992 till:1996 color:LPA $left text:"Ray Groom_1992-1996" from:1996 till:1998 color:LPA $right text:"1996-1998_Tony Rundle" from:1998 till:2004 color:ALP $left text:"Jim Bacon_1998-2004" from:2004 till:2008 color:ALP $right text:"2004-2008_Paul Lennon" from:2008 till:2011 color:ALP $left text:"David Bartlett_2008-2011" from:2011 till:2014 color:ALP $right text:"2011-2014_Lara Giddings" from:2014 till:2020 color:LPA $left text:"Will Hodgman_2014-2020" from:2020 till:2022 color:LPA $right text:"2020-2022 Peter Gutwein" from:2022 till:end color:LPA $left text:"Jeremy Rockliff_2022–present"

Notes

References

  1. (1 June 2021). "Here's How Much Every State Premier Gets Paid If You Wanna Get Boomer-Tier Mad About Yr Taxes".
  2. [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/tpl/Backg/Premier-Leader.htm Premier and Leader of the Opposition] {{Webarchive. link. (17 February 2011, Tasmanian Parliamentary Library.)
  3. (2024-04-10). "Jacqui Lambie trio deal with Rockliff slammed as giving Liberals 'blank cheque', Independent says". ABC News.
  4. Godde, Allanah Sciberras, Callum. (2025-06-30). "Nice work if you can get it: Premier pockets plenty".
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