Premier of Tasmania

The premier of Tasmania is the head of government of the Australian state of Tasmania. The premier is the leader of the cabinet of Tasmania, and nominates its ministers for appointment by the governor. The premier is appointed by the governor based on the premier's ability to command confidence within the House of Assembly.Premier and Leader of the Opposition , Tasmanian Parliamentary Library. To this end, the governor usually appoints the leader of the party or coalition that controls a majority of seats in the House of Assembly. However, due to Tasmania's electoral system and tendency to elect minority governments, the governor can appoint a premier on the expectation that confidence is tested in parliament. 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).

PortraitNameElectoral division(Birth–death)ElectionTerm of officePolitical partyMonarchTerm startTerm endTime in office 1William ChampMHA for Launceston(1808–1892)18561 November185626 February1857IndependentVictoria(1837–1901)Governor: 2Thomas GregsonMHA for Richmond(1796–1874)—26 February185725 April1857Independent 3William WestonMHA for Ringwood(1804–1888)—25 April185712 May1857Independent 4Francis SmithMHA for Fingal(1819–1909)—12 May18571 November1860Independent(3)William WestonMLC for Longford(1804–1888)—1 November18602 August1861Independent5Thomas ChapmanMHA for Queensborough(until 1862)MHA for Campbell Town(from 1862)(1815–1884)18612 August186120 January1863Independent6James WhyteMLC for Pembroke(1820–1882)186220 January186324 November1866Independent7Sir Richard DryMLC for Tamar(1815–1869)186624 November18661 August1869 (†)Independent8James Milne WilsonMLC for Hobart(1812–1880)—4 August18694 November1872Independent18719Frederick InnesMHA for Selby(1816–1882)18724 November18724 August1873Independent10Alfred KennerleyMLC for Hobart(1810–1897)—4 August187320 July1876Independent11Thomas ReibeyMHA for Westbury(1821–1912)—20 July18769 August1877Independent12Philip FyshMHA for East Hobart(1835–1919)18779 August18775 March1878Independent13William GiblinMHA for Wellington(1840–1887)—5 March187820 December1878Independent14William CrowtherMHA for Queensborough(1817–1885)—20 December187830 October1879Independent(13)William GiblinMHA for Wellington(1840–1887)—30 October187915 August1884Independent188215Adye DouglasMLC for South Esk(1815–1906)—15 August18848 March1886Independent16James AgnewMLC for Macquarie(1815–1901)—8 March188629 March1887Independent1886(12)Philip FyshMLC for Buckingham(1835–1919)—29 March188727 August1892Protectionist189117Henry DobsonMHA for Brighton(1841–1918)—27 August189214 April1894Free Trade189318Sir Edward BraddonMHA for West Devon(1829–1904)—14 April189412 October1899Free Trade189719Sir Elliott LewisMHA for Richmond(1858–1935)—12 October18999 April1903Free Trade1900Edward VII(1901–1910)Governor:20William PropstingMHA for North Hobart(1861–1937)19039 April190312 July1904Protectionist21John EvansMHA for Kingborough(until 1909)MHA for Franklin(from 1909)(1855–1943)—12 July190419 June1909Anti-Socialist19061909 (19)Sir Elliott LewisMHA for Denison(1858–1935)—19 June190920 October1909Liberal League 22John EarleMHA for Franklin(1865–1932)—20 October190927 October1909Labor (19)Sir Elliott LewisMHA for Denison(1858–1935)—27 October190914 June1912Liberal LeagueGeorge V(1910–1936)Governor:1912 23Albert SolomonMHA for Bass(1876–1914)—14 June19126 April1914Liberal League1913 (22)John EarleMHA for Franklin(1865–1932)—6 April191415 April1916Labor 24Sir Walter LeeMHA for Wilmot(1874–1963)191615 April191612 August1922Liberal League(until 1917)Nationalist19191922 25John HayesMHA for Bass(1868–1956)—12 August192214 August1923Nationalist(24)Sir Walter LeeMHA for Wilmot(1874–1963)—14 August192325 October1923Nationalist 26Joseph LyonsMHA for Wilmot(1879–1939)—25 October192315 June1928Labor1925 27John McPheeMHA for Denison(1878–1952)192815 June192815 March1934Nationalist1931 (24)Sir Walter LeeMHA for Wilmot(1874–1963)—15 March193422 June1934Nationalist 28Albert OgilvieMHA for Franklin(1890–1939)193422 June193410 June1939 (†)LaborEdward VIII(1936)Governor:George VI(1936–1952)Governor:193729Edmund Dwyer-GrayMHA for Denison(1870–1945)—11 June193918 December1939Labor 30Robert CosgroveMHA for Denison(1884–1969)—18 December193918 December1947Labor19411946 31Edward BrookerMHA for Franklin(1891–1948)—18 December194725 February1948Labor (30)Robert CosgroveMHA for Denison(1884–1969)—25 February194826 August1958Labor19481950Elizabeth II(1952–2022)Governor:1955195632Eric ReeceMHA for Braddon(1909–1999)—26 August195826 May1969Labor1959196433Angus BethuneMHA for Wilmot(1908–2004)196926 May19693 May1972Liberal(32)Eric ReeceMHA for Braddon(1909–1999)19723 May197231 March1975Labor34Bill NeilsonMHA for Franklin(1925–1989)—31 March19751 December1977Labor197635Doug LoweMHA for Franklin(born 1942)—1 December197711 November1981Labor197936Harry HolgateMHA for Bass(1933–1997)11 November198126 May1982Labor 37Robin GrayMHA for Wilmot(until 1984)MHA for Lyons(from 1984)(born 1940)198226 May198229 June1989Liberal1986 38Michael FieldMHA for Braddon(born 1948)198929 June198917 February1992Labor 39Ray GroomMHA for Denison(born 1944)199217 February199218 March1996Liberal1996 40Tony RundleMHA for Braddon(1939–2025)—18 March199614 September1998Liberal 41Jim BaconMHA for Denison(1950–2004)199814 September199821 March2004Labor2002 42Paul LennonMHA for Franklin(born 1955)—21 March200426 May2008Labor2006 43David BartlettMHA for Denison(born 1968)—26 May200824 January2011Labor2010 44Lara GiddingsMHA for Franklin(born 1972)—24 January201131 March2014Labor 45Will HodgmanMHA for Franklin(born 1969)201431 March201420 January2020Liberal2018 46Peter GutweinMHA for Bass(born 1964)—20 January20208 April2022Liberal2021 47Jeremy RockliffMHA for Braddon(born 1970)—8 April2022IncumbentLiberal2024Charles III(2022–present)Governor:2025

Graphical timeline

Premier of Tasmania

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