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Tasmanian Liberal Party

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Tasmanian Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
(Tasmanian Division)
AbbreviationLP
LIB[1]
LeaderJeremy Rockliff
PresidentMichael McKenna
General SecretaryPeter Coulson
Deputy LeaderGuy Barnett
Senior Vice PresidentDon Morris
TreasurerRod Bramich
Young Liberal PresidentThomas Ferguson
Founded13 February 1945; 80 years ago (1945-02-13)[2]
HeadquartersSuite 4C, Level 3, 33 Salamanca Place, Hobart TAS 7000
Student wingUniversity of Tasmania Liberal Club
Youth wingYoung Liberals
Women's wingLiberal Women's Council
Ideology
Political positionCentre-right[5]
National affiliationLiberal Party of Australia
Colours  Blue
SloganSecuring Tasmania’s Future
House of Reps (Tas. seats)
0 / 5
Senate (Tas. seats)
4 / 12
House of Assembly
14 / 35
Legislative Council
3 / 15
Website
tas.liberal.org.au
Seats in local government
Clarence City
2 / 12
Derwent Valley
1 / 8
Latrobe
1 / 9

The Tasmanian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia, often referred to as the Tasmanian Liberals, is the state branch of the federal Liberal Party of Australia, representing the centre-right of Tasmanian politics. Founded in the mid-20th century in the tradition of Sir Robert Menzies’ national movement, the Tasmanian Liberals advocate for a political philosophy rooted in classical liberalism, individual enterprise, small government, personal responsibility, economic liberalisation, and regional opportunity. The party’s core beliefs reflect a commitment to free markets, support for private industry and agricultural development, prudent fiscal management, and strong law and order policies—particularly within the unique geographic and social context of Tasmania’s island identity.

The Tasmanian Liberals have long positioned themselves as champions of regional communities, infrastructure growth, educational reform, and health system investment. They have historically drawn electoral support from suburban, regional, and rural constituencies, with strongholds in areas such as the North-West Coast, the Tamar Valley, parts of Southern Tasmania outside inner Hobart, and increasingly in outer-metropolitan growth areas like Kingston and Sorell. The party maintains a competitive presence across both chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania, and it has served in government at multiple intervals since the mid-20th century, including during pivotal periods of state economic transformation and hydro-industrial expansion. In recent decades, the party has also sought to modernise its image, with an emphasis on balancing economic development with environmental stewardship, particularly in areas such as tourism, forestry, and renewable energy.

As of 2025, the Tasmanian Liberal Party is led by Jeremy Rockliff, who became Premier of Tasmania in April 2022 following the resignation of Peter Gutwein. Rockliff is Tasmania’s first Liberal Premier to hail from the state’s North-West Coast and has led the party through a period marked by electoral volatility, a rising profile for independent and minor party candidates, and the growing influence of federal political issues in state-level debates. The Rockliff Government has focused heavily on housing affordability, health infrastructure—including the redevelopment of key hospitals and regional care networks—and educational opportunity, alongside a consistent emphasis on maintaining Tasmania’s AAA credit rating and economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic era.

The Tasmanian Liberals are headquartered in Hobart, and their official colour is dark blue, consistent with the national party branding. The party’s logo includes a stylised three-tiered “L” in blue, representing the national Liberal Party, with the distinctive addition of a red silhouette of Tasmania, highlighting the state-specific identity of the branch. Campaign materials often feature the slogans “Securing Tasmania’s Future” and “Strong. Stable. Sensible.”, though national slogans such as “It won’t be easy under Albanese” have also been used in federal campaigning across the state. The party competes in elections for both the Tasmanian House of Assembly and Legislative Council, and Tasmanian Liberals also frequently serve in the federal Parliament of Australia, where the state contributes five seats to the House of Representatives and twelve to the Senate.

Throughout its history, the Tasmanian Liberal Party has alternated periods in office with the Australian Labor Party, with several landmark Liberal administrations—such as those led by Robin Gray in the 1980s and Will Hodgman in the 2010s—leaving enduring political and economic legacies. While the party has at times faced criticism over issues such as environmental policy, forestry regulation, and health service centralisation, it has remained a dominant force in Tasmanian politics, commanding strong support among business leaders, primary producers, and voters seeking economic certainty and traditional governance values. In a state known for its strong independent streak and community-based politics, the Tasmanian Liberals continue to adapt their platform to meet the challenges of a changing political landscape while remaining anchored to their foundational principles of economic growth, individual liberty, and good governance.


History

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In 1904, Elliott Lewis established the National League, which changed its name to the Progressive League in 1907. While Lewis became Premier of the state in 1909 under this banner, the League itself shortly disappeared.[6][7] Its successor was the Tasmanian Liberal League, founded later that year in collaboration with the Tasmanian Farmers and Stockowners Association.[8] In 1917, the League affiliated with the Australian Liberal Union.

Following the removal of Billy Hughes from the leadership of the Labor Party, the League merged again to become the Tasmanian National Federation. It shared government with the Labor Party from 1912 to 1923, and then from 1928 to 1934.[9] Despite the establishment of the United Australia Party by Joseph Lyons, the party continued using the name National until 1941 when it changed its name to the 'United Australia and National Organisation'.[10] In 1945 the party came under the umbrella of the new Liberal Party of Australia.

The Tasmanian Division of the party was formed at a meeting in Hobart on 13 February 1945. The first state candidates stood at the 1946 election, most of whom were ex-servicemen. The organisation recruited them by arguing that in the services they had been fighting for freedom, and it was now their duty 'to finish the job'. The party first formed a government in Tasmania 1969.[11]

In 1982, Robin Gray was elected on a platform of commitment to building the Gordon-below-Franklin hydro-electric power scheme. Continual blockades from the Labor Federal Government lead to the Premier threatening to secede from the Commonwealth if any further intervention was taken.[12] Despite the lack of success in the Tasmanian Dam Case, the Gray government won the 1986 state election and held onto power until 1989.[13]

The party was elected at the 1992 state election with Ray Groom as leader, however at the subsequent 1996 election following a promise not to form minority government Groom resigned.[14] Tony Rundle was quick to replace Groom as Liberal leader and reached an informal agreement with the Tasmanian Greens to secure support.

At the 2014 state election, Will Hodgman secured a majority of seats following a 16-year incumbent Labor government led by Lara Giddings. The party was re-elected at the 2018 state election. Hodgman retired from politics in January 2020 and was succeeded by Peter Gutwein as party leader and Premier. On 22 March 2021, lower house MP Sue Hickey announced that she would quit the Liberal Party and sit as an independent, slamming the state Liberals as "unable to accommodate strong women" after being told by Gutwein that she would not be endorsed for the next election. The Liberal government lost its majority and plunged into minority government.[15] The party was re-elected at the May 2021 state election and regained majority government status. In April 2022, Gutwein retired from politics and was succeeded by his deputy Jeremy Rockliff as party leader and Premier.

Organisation

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Each division of the Liberal Party is autonomous, with a unique organisational structure and their own constitutions.[16]

Premiers

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Seven parliamentary Liberal leaders have served as Premier of Tasmania:

Deputy Premiers

[edit]

Seven parliamentary Liberal deputy leaders have served as Deputy Premier of Tasmania:

List of parliamentary leaders

[edit]

Electoral performance

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House of Assembly

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Status
1946 Neil Campbell 44,158 34.25
12 / 30
 Increase 2 Steady 2nd Opposition
1948 54,010 37.84
12 / 30
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Opposition
1950 Rex Townley 69,429 47.57
14 / 30
 Increase 2 Steady 2nd Opposition
1955 70,959 45.35
15 / 30
 Increase 1 Steady 2nd Opposition
1956 Tim Jackson 69,477 43.61
15 / 30
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Opposition
1959 66,005 41.05
16 / 35
 Increase 1 Steady 2nd Opposition
1964 Angus Bethune 67,971 38.49
16 / 35
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Opposition
1969 83,261 43.98
17 / 35
 Increase 1 Steady 2nd Minority
1972 76,073 38.37
14 / 35
 Decrease 3 Steady 2nd Opposition
1976 Max Bingham 104,613 44.5
17 / 35
 Increase 3 Steady 2nd Opposition
1979 98,845 41.3
15 / 35
 Decrease 2 Steady 2nd Opposition
1982 Robin Gray 121,346 48.5
18 / 35
 Increase 3 Increase 1st Majority
1986 138,836 54.2
18 / 35
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Majority
1989 128,143 46.9
17 / 35
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Opposition
1992 Ray Groom 154,337 54.1
19 / 35
 Increase 2 Steady 1st Majority
1996 121,391 41.2
16 / 35
 Decrease 3 Steady 1st Minority
1998 Tony Rundle 112,146 38.1
10 / 25
 Decrease 6 Decrease 2nd Opposition
2002 Bob Cheek 81,185 27.4
7 / 25
 Decrease 3 Steady 2nd Opposition
2006 Rene Hidding 98,511 31.8
7 / 25
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Opposition
2010 Will Hodgman 124,933 39.0
10 / 25
 Increase 3 Increase 1st Opposition
2014 167,051 51.2
15 / 25
 Increase 5 Steady 1st Majority
2018 168,303 50.3
13 / 25
 Decrease 2 Steady 1st Majority
2021 Peter Gutwein 166,315 48.7
13 / 25
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Majority
2024 Jeremy Rockliff 127,837 36.7
14 / 35
 Increase 1 Steady 1st Minority

Federal election results

[edit]
Election Seats won ± Total TPP votes % Position Leader
2010
0 / 5
 Steady0 128,830 39.38% Opposition Tony Abbott
2013
3 / 5
 Increase3 161,086 48.77% Government Tony Abbott
2016
0 / 5
 Decrease3 143,093 42.64% Government Malcolm Turnbull
2019
2 / 5
 Increase2 153,246 44.04% Government Scott Morrison
2022
2 / 5
 Steady0 159,705 45.67% Opposition Scott Morrison
2025
0 / 5
 Decrease2 134,635 36.66% Opposition Peter Dutton

References

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  1. ^ "Political party name abbreviations & codes, demographic ratings and seat status". Australian Electoral Commission. 18 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Our History". 12 June 2013.
  3. ^ "After Labor's NSW election win, Tasmania is the final Liberal seat of power. Will it stay that way? - ABC News".
  4. ^ "Why wall-to-wall Labor governments won't be bad this time". 23 April 2023.
  5. ^ [3][4]
  6. ^ "Lewis, Sir Neil Elliott (1858–1935)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  7. ^ "The Liberal Party and Its Twentieth Century Precursors". The University of Tasmania. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  8. ^ McRae, J (1961). The Tasmanian Farmers, Stockowners & Orchardists Association.
  9. ^ Bennett, Scott & Bennett, Barbara (1980). Biographical register of the Tasmanian Parliament, 1851–1960 (PDF). ANU Press. ISBN 9780994637413.
  10. ^ White, K (2000). Joseph Lyons. Melbourne.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ^ Weller, P (1971). The organization of early non-Labor parties in Tasmania.
  12. ^ Pink, Kerry (2001). Through Hells Gates: A History of Strahan and Macquarie Harbour. K. Pink. ISBN 0-646-36665-3.
  13. ^ Ward, Airlie: Minority Government, Stateline Tasmania (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 10 March 2006.
  14. ^ "Ray Groom". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Tasmania's Speaker Hickey quits Liberals". Australian Associated Press. Yahoo News Australia. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  16. ^ Tasmanian Liberals. "About". Tasmanian Liberals. Retrieved 4 February 2019.

Further reading

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  • Lucadou-Wells R (1994) 50 year history of the Liberal Party (Tasmanian Division), Hobart, Tasmania.
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