Jo Palmer

"Jo Cornish" redirects here. Not to be confused with Joe Cornish.

The Honourable
Jo Palmer
MLC
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
11 April 2024
PremierJeremy Rockliff
LeaderLeonie Hiscutt
Minister for Education
Incumbent
Assumed office
11 April 2024
PremierJeremy Rockliff
Preceded byRoger Jaensch (as Minister for Education, Children and Youth)
Minister for Disability Services
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 April 2022
PremierJeremy Rockliff
Preceded byMadeleine Ogilvie
Member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council for Rosevears
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 August 2020
Preceded byKerry Finch
Personal details
Born
Joanne Lesley Dick

(1971-04-10) 10 April 1971 (age 53)
Christchurch, New Zealand
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal Party
Spouse
Andrew Palmer
​
(m. 2007)​
[1]
OccupationTelevision journalist and newsreader

Joanne Lesley Palmer (née Dick, formerly Cornish; born 10 April 1971) is an Australian politician and former television journalist and newsreader.

Palmer was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and moved to Tasmania as a baby after being adopted by an Australian family.[2][3]

Originally employed by the station in Hobart as a journalist, she is a former Miss Tasmania and in 1993 she was awarded Miss Australia.[4] She presented the hour-long Nightly News on 7 Tasmania,[5] until leaving 7 Tasmania after 18 years to spend more time with her family.

Palmer was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council for the division of Rosevears at the 2020 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election, representing the Liberal Party.[6]

In April 2022, Palmer was elevated to cabinet and was appointed as Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Minister for Disability Services and Minister for Women.[7]

  1. ^ Dawtrey, Zara (5 May 2007). "Cornish weds dancer". The Examiner. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  2. ^ Palmer, Jo (15 September 2018). "Kiwis are our kindred spirits". The Examiner. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Former Miss Australia Joanne Palmer on track for poll victory". The Mercury. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  4. ^ Miss Australia: A Nation's Quest - National Titleholders, National Museum of Australia
  5. ^ Southern Cross Nightly News appreciation group
  6. ^ "Down to the wire: Jo Palmer elected to Legislative Council". ABC News. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Fresh faces in Tasmanian cabinet a chance to reset but a difficult sell for stability". ABC News. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.