Tasmanian Government

Tasmanian Government
Tasmanian Government
Government of the State of Tasmania
State government
	Logo of the executive government specifically, while the coat of arms of Tasmania represents the state as a whole.
Overview
Established	2 December 1856; 167 years ago as responsible colonial government; 1 January 1901; 123 years ago as an Australian state;
State	Tasmania
Country	Australia
Leader	Premier of Tasmania (Jeremy Rockliff)
Appointed by	Governor of Tasmania (Barbara Baker) on behalf of the King (Charles III)
Main organ	Executive Council of Tasmania (de jure); Cabinet of Tasmania (de facto);
Ministries	8 Government Departments
Responsible to	Parliament of Tasmania
Annual budget	$8.7 billion (2023-2024)
Headquarters	Executive Building; 15 Murray Street, Hobart
Website	tas.gov.au

The Tasmanian Government or the Government of Tasmania 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.

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, which consists 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, who are appointed by the governor, but who 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.

Current ministry

The Second Rockliff ministry was sworn in on 11 April 2024. The table of ministers can be found below.

	Minister	Portfolio	Minister Since
Liberal	Jeremy Rockliff	Premier Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Minister for Trade and Major Investment	11 April 2024
Liberal	Michael Ferguson	Deputy Premier Treasurer Minister for Infrastructure	11 April 2024
Liberal	Guy Barnett	Attorney-General Minister for Justice Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister for Veterans' Affairs	11 April 2024
Liberal	Felix Ellis	Minister for Housing and Planning Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister for Skills and Training	11 April 2024
Liberal	Eric Abetz	Minister for Business, Industry and Resources Minister for Transport Leader of the House	11 April 2024
Liberal	Nick Duigan	Minister for Energy and Renewables Minister for Parks and Environment	11 April 2024
Liberal	Jo Palmer	Minister for Education Minister for Disability Services Deputy Leader for the Government in the Legislative Council	11 April 2024
Liberal	Roger Jaensch	Minister for Children and Youth Minister for Community Services Minister for Aboriginal Affairs	11 April 2024
Liberal	Jane Howlett	Minister for Primary Industries and Water Minister for Racing	11 April 2024
Liberal	Madeleine Ogilvie	Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation Minister for Arts Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence	11 April 2024
Liberal	Nic Street	Minister for Finance Minister for Local Government Minister for Sport and Events	11 April 2024
Liberal	Jacquie Petrusma	Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier	11 April 2024
Liberal	Simon Wood	Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Wellbeing Government Whip	11 April 2024
Liberal	Simon Behrakis	Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Planning	11 April 2024
Liberal	Leonie Hiscutt	Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council	11 April 2024

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

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 businesses

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

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.
Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB): 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 representative in the federal House of Representatives for the electoral divisions of Bass, Braddon, Denison, Franklin, and Lyons. Tasmania also has twelve Senators in line with other states.

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)

References

^ Tasmanian Government (May 2023). "The Budget: Budget Paper no. 1" (PDF).
^ Constitution Act 1934 (Tas) s.10
^ "Department Structures to Strengthen Tasmanian Outcomes". Premier of Tasmania. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
^ "Tasmanian Government Businesses". Tasmanian Department of Treasury and Finance. Tasmanian Government.

External links

[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.

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