Tasmanian Government

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.

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

Tasmanian government agencies

Main article: List of 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 the departmental structure is the following

• Department of Education, Children and Young People
• Department of Health
• Department of Justice
• Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management
• Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Department of Natural Resources and Environment
• Department of State Growth
• Department of Treasury and Finance

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:

• Aurora Energy: electricity and gas retailer.
• Sustainable Timber Tasmania: the manager of public forests and plantations for logging, sawmilling and woodchipping.
• Hydro Tasmania: a large generator of electricity, management of hydroelectric schemes. Also owns a mainland Australian energy retailer, Momentum Energy.
• Tasmanian Irrigation: tasked with the planning, construction and maintenance of the Tasmanian Irrigation Schemes culminating pipes, dams and pumping stations.
• Metro Tasmania: a public transportation company, running busses in the metropolitan areas of the state. Metro is under de-facto administration of the Department of State Growth.
• Motor Accidents Insurance Board: public insurance resulting from car accidents.
• Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority: operates the tourism venture at Port Arthur, maintains the ruins of the gaol and historic site.
• Public Trustee: an independent trustee organisation.
• Tascorp: management of the other public companies' finances and government investment.
• TasNetworks: electricity transmission and distribution.
• TasPorts: port management and stevedoring.
• Tasracing: the operator of Tasmania's horse and dog racing venues, management of betting
• TasRail: rail freight transportation, railway management.
• TT-Line Company: operates the Bass Strait ferries.

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.

Local government in Tasmania

Main article: Local government areas of 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)

References

References

1. Tasmanian Government. (May 2023). "The Budget: Budget Paper no. 1".
2. [http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/tas/consol_act/ca1934188/s10.html Constitution Act 1934 (Tas) s.10]
3. "Department Structures to Strengthen Tasmanian Outcomes".
4. "Tasmanian Government Businesses". Tasmanian Government.
5. https://www.tasmanianirrigation.com.au/