Premier of Tasmania

Premier of Tasmania
Premier of Tasmania
	Tasmanian coat of arms
	Flag of Tasmania
	Incumbent; Jeremy Rockliff; since 8 April 2022
	Department of Premier and Cabinet
Style	The Honourable (formal); Premier (informal);
Status	Head of government
Member of	Parliament; National Cabinet; Cabinet; Executive Council;
Reports to	Parliament
Seat	Executive Building; 15 Murray Street, Hobart
Appointer	Governor of Tasmania; by convention, based on appointee's ability to command confidence in the House of Assembly
Term length	At the Governor's pleasure; contingent on the premier's ability to command confidence in the lower house of Parliament
Constituting instrument	None (constitutional convention)
Formation	1 November 1856
First holder	William Champ
Deputy	Deputy Premier of Tasmania
Website	www.premier.tas.gov.au

The premier of Tasmania is the head of the executive government in the Australian state of Tasmania. By convention, the leader of the party or political grouping which has majority support in the House of Assembly is invited by the governor of Tasmania to be premier and principal adviser.[1]

Since 8 April 2022, the premier of Tasmania has been Jeremy Rockliff, leader of the Liberal Party, which holds 13 of the 25 seats in the House of Assembly.

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 was not generally applied prior to 1920, with premiers often appointed from the Legislative Council.[1]

No.	Portrait	Name	Election	Term of office			Political party	Constituency
No.	Portrait	Name	Election	Took of office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Constituency
1		William Champ	1856	1 November 1856	26 February 1857	117 days	Independent	Launceston
2		Thomas Gregson	—	26 February 1857	25 April 1857	58 days	Independent	Richmond
3		William Weston	—	25 April 1857	12 May 1857	17 days	Independent	Ringwood
4		Francis Smith	—	12 May 1857	1 November 1860	3 years, 173 days	Independent	Fingal
(3)		William Weston	—	1 November 1860	2 August 1861	274 days	Independent	Longford
5		Thomas Chapman	1861	2 August 1861	20 January 1863	1 year, 171 days	Independent	Queensborough Campbell Town
6		James Whyte	1862	20 January 1863	24 November 1866	3 years, 308 days	Independent	Pembroke
7		Sir Richard Dry	1866	24 November 1866	4 August 1869	2 years, 253 days	Independent	Tamar
8		James Wilson	1871	4 August 1869	4 November 1872	3 years, 92 days	Independent	Hobart
9		Frederick Innes	1872	4 November 1872	4 August 1873	273 days	Independent	Selby
10		Alfred Kennerley	—	4 August 1873	20 July 1876	2 years, 351 days	Independent	Hobart
11		Thomas Reibey	—	20 July 1876	9 August 1877	1 year, 20 days	Independent	Westbury
12		Philip Fysh	1877	9 August 1877	5 March 1878	208 days	Independent	East Hobart
13		William Giblin	—	5 March 1878	20 December 1878	290 days	Independent	Wellington
14		William Crowther	—	20 December 1878	30 October 1879	314 days	Independent	Queensborough
(13)		William Giblin	1882	30 October 1879	15 August 1884	4 years, 290 days	Independent	Wellington
15		Adye Douglas	—	15 August 1884	8 March 1886	1 year, 205 days	Independent	South Esk
16		James Agnew	1886	8 March 1886	29 March 1887	1 year, 21 days	Independent	Macquarie
(12)		Philip Fysh	1891	29 March 1887	17 August 1892	5 years, 141 days	Protectionist	Buckingham
17		Henry Dobson	1893	17 August 1892	14 April 1894	1 year, 240 days	Free Trade	Brighton
18		Sir Edward Braddon	1897	14 April 1894	12 October 1899	5 years, 181 days	Free Trade	West Devon
19		Elliott Lewis	1900	12 October 1899	9 April 1903	3 years, 179 days	Free Trade	Richmond
20		William Propsting	1903	9 April 1903	12 July 1904	1 year, 94 days	Protectionist	North Hobart
21		John Evans	1906 1909	12 July 1904	19 June 1909	4 years, 342 days	Anti-Socialist	Kingborough Franklin
(19)		Sir Elliott Lewis	—	19 June 1909	20 October 1909	123 days	Liberal League	Denison
22		John Earle	—	20 October 1909	27 October 1909	7 days	Labor	Franklin
(19)		Sir Elliott Lewis	1912	27 October 1909	14 June 1912	2 years, 231 days	Liberal League	Denison
23		Albert Solomon	1913	14 June 1912	6 April 1914	1 year, 296 days	Liberal League	Bass
(22)		John Earle	—	6 April 1914	15 April 1916	2 years, 9 days	Labor	Franklin
24		Walter Lee	1916	15 April 1916	12 August 1922	6 years, 119 days	Liberal League	Wilmot
		Walter Lee	1919 1922	15 April 1916	12 August 1922	6 years, 119 days	Nationalist	Wilmot
25		John Hayes	—	12 August 1922	14 August 1923	1 year, 2 days	Nationalist	Bass
(24)		Sir Walter Lee	—	14 August 1923	25 October 1923	72 days	Nationalist	Wilmot
26		Joseph Lyons	1925	25 October 1923	15 June 1928	4 years, 234 days	Labor	Wilmot
27		John McPhee	1928 1931	15 June 1928	15 March 1934	5 years, 273 days	Nationalist	Denison
(24)		Sir Walter Lee	—	15 March 1934	22 June 1934	99 days	Nationalist	Wilmot
28		Albert Ogilvie	1934 1937	22 June 1934	10 June 1939	4 years, 354 days	Labor	Franklin
29		Edmund Dwyer-Gray	—	11 June 1939	18 December 1939	190 days	Labor	Denison
30		Robert Cosgrove	1941 1946	18 December 1939	18 December 1947	8 years	Labor	Denison
31		Edward Brooker	—	18 December 1947	25 February 1948	69 days	Labor	Franklin
(30)		Robert Cosgrove	1948 1950 1955 1956	25 February 1948	26 August 1958	10 years, 182 days	Labor	Denison
32		Eric Reece	1959 1964	26 August 1958	26 May 1969	10 years, 273 days	Labor	Braddon
33		Angus Bethune	1969	26 May 1969	3 May 1972	2 years, 343 days	Liberal	Wilmot
(32)		Eric Reece	1972	3 May 1972	31 March 1975	2 years, 332 days	Labor	Braddon
34		Bill Neilson	1976	31 March 1975	1 December 1977	2 years, 245 days	Labor	Franklin
35		Doug Lowe	1979	1 December 1977	11 November 1981	3 years, 345 days	Labor	Franklin
36		Harry Holgate	—	11 November 1981	26 May 1982	196 days	Labor	Bass
37		Robin Gray	1982 1986	26 May 1982	29 June 1989	7 years, 34 days	Liberal	Wilmot Lyons
38		Michael Field	1989	29 June 1989	17 February 1992	2 years, 233 days	Labor	Braddon
39		Ray Groom	1992 1996	17 February 1992	18 March 1996	4 years, 30 days	Liberal	Denison
40		Tony Rundle	—	18 March 1996	14 September 1998	2 years, 180 days	Liberal	Braddon
41		Jim Bacon	1998 2002	14 September 1998	21 March 2004	5 years, 189 days	Labor	Denison
42		Paul Lennon	2006	21 March 2004	26 May 2008	4 years, 66 days	Labor	Franklin
43		David Bartlett	2010	26 May 2008	24 January 2011	2 years, 243 days	Labor	Denison
44		Lara Giddings	—	24 January 2011	31 March 2014	3 years, 66 days	Labor	Franklin
45		Will Hodgman	2014 2018	31 March 2014	20 January 2020	5 years, 295 days	Liberal	Franklin
46		Peter Gutwein	2021	20 January 2020	8 April 2022	2 years, 78 days	Liberal	Bass
47		Jeremy Rockliff	—	8 April 2022	Incumbent	24 days	Liberal	Braddon

Statistics

The median age of a premier on the first day of their first term is roughly 50 years, and 24 days which falls between John McPhee and Henry Dobson. The youngest person to assume the office was Doug Lowe at 35 years and 200 days. The oldest person to assume office was James Agnew at 70 years and 157 days.

The oldest living former premier is Tony Rundle, born 5 March 1939 (age 83 years, 58 days). The youngest living premier is Lara Giddings, born 14 November 1972, (age 49 years, 169 days).

The longest-lived premier was Angus Bethune who died on 22 August 2004 aged 95 years and 347 days. Adye Douglas was the second longest-lived premier, aged 90 years and 314 days, 5 years and 33 days short of Bethune. Bethune surpassed Douglas' lifespan on 21 July 1999. The oldest living premier, Tony Rundle, will tie Douglas if he lives to 13 January 2030, and tie Bethune if he lives to 22 February 2035. The shortest-lived premier was William Giblin who died at the age of 46 years and 74 days on 17 January 1887.

The premier with the longest retirement is Francis Smith. He left office on 1 November 1860, and died 48 years and 77 days later on 17 January 1909. Doug Lowe left office on 11 November 1981. If he's still alive on 28 December 2029, he will surpass Smith's record, and become the premier with the longest retirement. The premier with the shortest retirement is Jim Bacon, who died on 20 June 2004, 91 days after leaving office on 21 March 2004.

#	Premier	Born	Took office	Age	Left office	Age	Died	Length of retirement	Lifespan
1	William Champ	15 April 1808	1 November 1856	48 years, 200 days	26 February 1857	48 years, 317 days	25 August 1892	35 years, 181 days	84 years, 132 days
2	Thomas Gregson	7 February 1796	26 February 1857	61 years, 19 days	25 April 1857	61 years, 77 days	4 January 1874	16 years, 254 days	77 years, 331 days
3	William Weston	28 November 1804	25 April 1857	52 years, 148 days	2 August 1861	56 years, 247 days	21 February 1888	26 years, 203 days	83 years, 85 days
4	Francis Smith	13 February 1819	12 May 1857	38 years, 88 days	1 November 1860	41 years, 262 days	17 January 1909	48 years, 77 days	89 years, 339 days
5	Thomas Chapman	31 October 1815	2 August 1861	45 years, 275 days	20 January 1863	47 years, 81 days	17 February 1884	21 years, 28 days	68 years, 109 days
6	James Whyte	30 March 1820	20 January 1863	42 years, 296 days	24 November 1866	46 years, 239 days	20 August 1882	15 years, 269 days	62 years, 143 days
7	Richard Dry	20 September 1815	24 November 1866	51 years, 65 days	1 August 1869[2]	53 years, 315 days	1 August 1869	N/A	53 years, 315 days
8	James Milne Wilson	29 February 1812	4 August 1869	57 years, 157 days	4 November 1872	60 years, 249 days	29 February 1880	7 years, 117 days	68 years, 0 days
9	Frederick Innes	11 August 1816	4 November 1872	56 years, 85 days	4 August 1873	56 years, 358 days	11 May 1882	8 years, 280 days	65 years, 273 days
10	Alfred Kennerley	10 October 1810	4 August 1873	62 years, 298 days	20 July 1876	65 years, 284 days	15 November 1897	21 years, 118 days	87 years, 36 days
11	Thomas Reibey	24 September 1821	20 July 1876	54 years, 300 days	9 August 1877	55 years, 319 days	10 February 1912	34 years, 185 days	90 years, 139 days
12	Philip Fysh	1 March 1835	9 August 1877	42 years, 161 days	17 August 1892	57 years, 169 days	20 December 1919	27 years, 125 days	84 years, 294 days
13	William Giblin	4 November 1840	5 March 1878	37 years, 121 days	15 August 1884	43 years, 285 days	17 January 1887	2 years, 155 days	46 years, 74 days
14	William Crowther	15 April 1817	20 December 1878	61 years, 249 days	30 October 1879	62 years, 198 days	12 April 1885	5 years, 164 days	67 years, 362 days
15	Adye Douglas	31 May 1815	15 August 1884	69 years, 76 days	8 March 1886	70 years, 281 days	10 April 1906	20 years, 33 days	90 years, 314 days
16	James Agnew	2 October 1815	8 March 1886	70 years, 157 days	29 March 1887	71 years, 178 days	8 November 1901	14 years, 224 days	86 years, 37 days
17	Henry Dobson	24 December 1841	17 August 1892	50 years, 237 days	14 April 1894	52 years, 111 days	10 October 1918	24 years, 179 days	76 years, 290 days
18	Edward Braddon	11 June 1829	14 April 1894	64 years, 307 days	12 October 1899	70 years, 123 days	2 February 1904	4 years, 113 days	74 years, 236 days
19	Elliott Lewis	27 October 1858	12 October 1899	40 years, 350 days	14 June 1912	53 years, 231 days	22 September 1935	23 years, 100 days	76 years, 330 days
20	William Propsting	4 June 1861	9 April 1903	41 years, 309 days	12 July 1904	43 years, 38 days	3 December 1937	33 years, 144 days	76 years, 182 days
21	John Evans	1 December 1855	12 July 1904	48 years, 224 days	19 June 1909	53 years, 200 days	2 October 1943	34 years, 105 days	87 years, 305 days
22	John Earle	15 November 1865	20 October 1909	43 years, 339 days	15 April 1916	50 years, 152 days	6 February 1932	15 years, 297 days	66 years, 83 days
23	Albert Solomon	7 March 1876	14 June 1912	36 years, 99 days	6 April 1914	38 years, 30 days	5 October 1914	182 days	38 years, 212 days
24	Walter Lee	27 April 1874	15 April 1916	41 years, 354 days	22 June 1934	60 years, 56 days	1 June 1963	28 years, 344 days	89 years, 35 days
25	John Hayes	21 April 1868	12 August 1922	54 years, 113 days	14 August 1923	55 years, 115 days	12 July 1956	32 years, 333 days	88 years, 82 days
26	Joseph Lyons	15 September 1879	25 October 1923	44 years, 40 days	15 June 1928	48 years, 274 days	7 April 1939	10 years, 296 days	59 years, 204 days
27	John McPhee	4 July 1878	15 June 1928	49 years, 347 days	15 March 1934	55 years, 254 days	14 September 1952	18 years, 183 days	74 years, 72 days
28	Albert Ogilvie	10 March 1890	22 June 1934	44 years, 104 days	10 June 1939[2]	49 years, 92 days	10 June 1939	N/A	49 years, 92 days
29	Edmund Dwyer-Gray	2 April 1870	11 June 1939	69 years, 70 days	18 December 1939	69 years, 260 days	6 December 1945	5 years, 353 days	75 years, 248 days
30	Robert Cosgrove	28 December 1884	18 December 1939	54 years, 355 days	26 August 1958	73 years, 241 days	25 August 1969	10 years, 364 days	84 years, 240 days
31	Edward Brooker	4 January 1891	18 December 1947	56 years, 348 days	25 February 1948	57 years, 52 days	18 June 1948	114 days	57 years, 166 days
32	Eric Reece	6 July 1909	26 August 1958	49 years, 51 days	31 March 1975	65 years, 268 days	23 October 1999	24 years, 206 days	90 years, 109 days
33	Angus Bethune	10 September 1908	26 May 1969	60 years, 258 days	3 May 1972	63 years, 236 days	22 August 2004	32 years, 111 days	95 years, 347 days
34	Bill Neilson	27 August 1925	31 March 1975	49 years, 216 days	1 December 1977	52 years, 96 days	9 November 1989	11 years, 343 days	64 years, 74 days
35	Doug Lowe	15 May 1942	1 December 1977	35 years, 200 days	11 November 1981	39 years, 180 days		40 years, 172 days	79 years, 352 days
36	Harry Holgate	5 December 1933	11 November 1981	47 years, 341 days	26 May 1982	48 years, 172 days	16 March 1997	14 years, 294 days	63 years, 101 days
37	Robin Gray	1 March 1940	26 May 1982	42 years, 86 days	29 June 1989	49 years, 120 days		32 years, 307 days	82 years, 62 days
38	Michael Field	28 May 1948	29 June 1989	41 years, 32 days	17 February 1992	43 years, 265 days		30 years, 74 days	73 years, 339 days
39	Ray Groom	3 September 1944	17 February 1992	47 years, 167 days	18 March 1996	51 years, 197 days		26 years, 45 days	77 years, 241 days
40	Tony Rundle	5 March 1939	18 March 1996	57 years, 13 days	14 September 1998	59 years, 193 days		23 years, 230 days	83 years, 58 days
41	Jim Bacon	15 May 1950	14 September 1998	48 years, 122 days	21 March 2004	53 years, 311 days	20 June 2004	91 days	54 years, 36 days
42	Paul Lennon	8 October 1955	21 March 2004	48 years, 165 days	26 May 2008	52 years, 231 days		13 years, 341 days	66 years, 206 days
43	David Bartlett	19 January 1968	26 May 2008	40 years, 128 days	24 January 2011	43 years, 5 days		11 years, 98 days	54 years, 103 days
44	Lara Giddings	14 November 1972	24 January 2011	38 years, 71 days	31 March 2014	41 years, 137 days		8 years, 32 days	49 years, 169 days
45	Will Hodgman	20 April 1969	31 March 2014	44 years, 345 days	20 January 2020	50 years, 275 days		2 years, 102 days	53 years, 12 days
46	Peter Gutwein	21 December 1964	20 January 2020	55 years, 30 days	8 April 2022	57 years, 108 days		24 days	57 years, 132 days
47	Jeremy Rockliff	5 February 1970	8 April 2022	52 years, 62 days	Incumbent	Incumbent		Incumbent	52 years, 86 days

[3]

Living former premiers

As of 2 May 2022, ten former premiers are alive, the oldest being Tony Rundle (1996–98, born 1939). The most recent premier to die was Sir Angus Bethune (1969–72), on 22 August 2004. The most recently serving premier to die was Jim Bacon (1998–2004), on 20 June 2004.

Name	Term as premier	Date of birth
Doug Lowe	1977–1981	(1942-05-15) 15 May 1942
Robin Gray	1982–1989	(1940-03-01) 1 March 1940
Michael Field	1989–1992	(1948-05-28) 28 May 1948
Ray Groom	1992–1996	(1944-09-03) 3 September 1944
Tony Rundle	1996–1998	(1939-03-05) 5 March 1939
Paul Lennon	2004–2008	(1955-10-08) 8 October 1955
David Bartlett	2008–2011	(1968-01-19) 19 January 1968
Lara Giddings	2011–2014	(1972-11-14) 14 November 1972
Will Hodgman	2014–2020	(1969-04-20) 20 April 1969
Peter Gutwein	2020–2022	(1964-12-21) 21 December 1964

Oldest living premiers of Tasmania

Not all premiers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 36 deceased premiers, 13 eventually became the oldest of their time, while 23 did not (including both premiers who died in office, and 21 others). Angus Bethune became the oldest living premier when Robert Cosgrove died in 1969 and remained so until his death in 2004 for a record 34 years and 363 days. Francis Smith became the oldest living premier when Adye Douglas died in 1906, but he survived Douglas by only 2 years and 282 days.

On one occasion the oldest living premier lost this distinction not by his death, but due to the appointment of a premier who was older. William Champ lost this distinction when Thomas Gregson was appointed, but when William Weston died in 1888, Champ regained it again until his own death in 1892 for a total period of 4 years and 303 days.

Thomas Reibey was the oldest to acquire this distinction at the age of 87 years and 115 days. Eric Reece, who was aged 90 years and 109 days when he died, on 23 October 1999 was the oldest premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction. Jim Bacon who died on 20 June 2004 aged 54 years and 36 days is the most recent premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction.

Premier	Period when oldest living premier		Age		Duration
Premier	Start date	End date	at start	at end	Duration
William Champ	1 November 1856	26 February 1857	48 years, 200 days	48 years, 317 days	117 days
Thomas Gregson	26 February 1857	4 January 1874	61 years, 19 days	77 years, 331 days	16 years, 312 days
William Weston	4 January 1874	21 February 1888	69 years, 37 days	83 years, 85 days	14 years, 48 days
William Champ	21 February 1888	25 August 1892	79 years, 312 days	84 years, 132 days	4 years, 186 days
Alfred Kennerley	25 August 1892	15 November 1897	81 years, 320 days	87 years, 36 days	5 years, 82 days
Adye Douglas	15 November 1897	10 April 1906	82 years, 168 days	90 years, 314 days	8 years, 146 days
Francis Smith	10 April 1906	17 January 1909	87 years, 56 days	89 years, 339 days	2 years, 282 days
Thomas Reibey	17 January 1909	10 February 1912	87 years, 115 days	90 years, 139 days	3 years, 24 days
Philip Fysh	10 February 1912	20 December 1919	76 years, 346 days	84 years, 294 days	7 years, 313 days
John Evans	20 December 1919	2 October 1943	64 years, 19 days	87 years, 305 days	23 years, 286 days
John Hayes	2 October 1943	12 July 1956	75 years, 164 days	88 years, 82 days	12 years, 284 days
Walter Lee	12 July 1956	1 June 1963	82 years, 76 days	89 years, 35 days	6 years, 324 days
Robert Cosgrove	1 June 1963	25 August 1969	78 years, 155 days	84 years, 240 days	6 years, 85 days
Angus Bethune	25 August 1969	22 August 2004	60 years, 349 days	95 years, 347 days	34 years, 363 days
Tony Rundle	22 August 2004	Current oldest living premier	65 years, 170 days	Current oldest living premier	17 years, 253 days
Premier	Start date	End date	Age at start	Age at end	Duration

[4]

Graphical timeline

Notes

Premier and Leader of the Opposition, Tasmanian Parliamentary Library.
Died in office on this date.
Updated daily according to UTC.
Updated daily according to UTC.

External links

PREMIERS OF TASMANIA Parliament of Tasmania

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[tpl-1] Premier and Leader of the Opposition, Tasmanian Parliamentary Library.

[do-2] Died in office on this date.

[3] Updated daily according to UTC.

[4] Updated daily according to UTC.

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