Parliament of Tasmania

Parliament of Tasmania
51st Parliament
Coat of arms or logo
Logo
Tasmanian Parliament logo
Type
Type
HousesLegislative Council
House of Assembly
SovereignGovernor of Tasmania[a]
History
Founded2 December 1856; 167 years ago (2 December 1856)
Leadership
Barbara Baker
since 16 June 2021
Craig Farrell, Labor
since 21 May 2019
Michelle O'Byrne, Labor
since 14 May 2024
Jeremy Rockliff, Liberal
since 8 April 2022
Dean Winter, Labor
since 10 April 2024
Structure
Seats50 MPs
35 MHAs
15 MLCs
House of Assembly political groups
Government (14)
  Liberal (14)

Opposition (10)

  Labor (10)

Crossbench (11)

  Greens (5)
  Independent (5)
[b]
Legislative Council political groups
Government (4)
  Liberal (4)

Opposition (3)

  Labor (3)

Crossbench (8)

  Greens (1)
  Independent (7)[c]
Elections
Proportional representation via Hare-Clark system (STV)
Partial Preferential (IRV)
Last general election
23 March 2024
Next general election
TBD
Meeting place
Tasmanian Parliament House
Parliament House, Hobart,
Tasmania, Australia
Website
www.parliament.tas.gov.au

The Parliament of Tasmania is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Tasmania. It follows a Westminster-derived parliamentary system and consists of the governor of Tasmania (as representative of the King), the Legislative Council (the upper house), and the House of Assembly (the lower house).[1] Since 1841, the Legislative Council has met in Parliament House, Hobart, with the House of Assembly following suit from its establishment in 1856. The Parliament of Tasmania first met in 1856.

The powers of the Parliament are prescribed in the Constitution of Tasmania. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, Tasmania has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Constitution of Australia regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth. Under the Australian Constitution, Tasmania ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas.

The leader of the party or coalition with the confidence of the House of Assembly is invited by the governor to form the Government and become the premier of Tasmania.

Throughout its history, the Tasmanian Parliament frequently had members who previously served in Federal Parliament proportionally more so than the other state and territory parliaments.

The Government currently consists of a Liberal Lambie minority government, formed after the 2024 State Election. The Second Rockliff ministry consists of solely Liberal members.

  1. ^ a b Constitution Act 1934 (Tas) s 10. "The Governor and the Legislative Council and House of Assembly shall together constitute the Parliament of Tasmania."
  2. ^ Carney, Gerard (2006). The Constitutional Systems of the Australian States and Territories. Cambridge University Press. pp. 78–79. ISBN 9780521863056.
  3. ^ "Members of the Tasmanian Legislative Council (as of 6 June 2019)" (PDF). Parliament of Tasmania. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2017.


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