Premier of Tasmania | |
---|---|
Style | The Honourable |
Appointer | Governor of Tasmania |
Term length | At the Governor's pleasure |
Inaugural holder | William Champ |
Formation | 1 November 1856 |
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.
Since the 2014 election, the Premier of Tasmania has been Will Hodgman, leader of the Liberal Party, which holds 15 of the 25 seats in the House of Assembly.
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.
As of 24 January 2011, eight 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 27 August 2004. The most recently serving premier to die was Jim Bacon (1998–2004), on 20 June 2004.