Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)
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The role of Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He or she acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the government on the floor of parliament. They thus act as a chief critic of the government and ultimately attempt to portray the opposition as a feasible alternate government. They are also given certain additional rights under parliamentary standing orders, such as extended time limits for speeches. Should the opposition win an election, the Leader of the Opposition will be nominated to become the Premier of Tasmania.
The position of Leader of the Opposition was essentially informal throughout the nineteenth century, with formal recognition only being granted in the early twentieth century. As there was no party system until 1909, the loose ideological blocs in parliament tended to change regularly, and few people lasted in the position for more than one or two years at a time. The development of a party system in gave the role greater significance, and it was subsequently given greater formal recognition, with an additional salary payment being accommodated for in 1927 and formal recognition in the parliamentary standing orders in 1937.
The current Leader of the Opposition is Will Hodgman of the Liberal Party of Australia. He has been in the role since March 30, 2006, having been elected unopposed after the resignation of Rene Hidding. Hidding had stepped down as leader after the party's loss in the 2006 state election.
[edit] List of Leaders of the Opposition in Tasmania
| Opposition Leader | Party | Period in office |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Gregson | - | November 1856 - February 1857 |
| William Champ | - | February 1857 - April 1857 |
| Thomas Gregson | - | April 1857 - July 1862 |
| Charles Meredith | - | July 1862 - January 1863 |
| Thomas Chapman | - | February 1863 - 1864 |
| Sir William Dobson | - | June 1864 - November 1866 |
| Charles Meredith | - | November 1866 - November 1872 |
| William Giblin | - | November 1872 - August 1873 |
| Frederick Innes | - | August 1873 - March 1875 |
| Thomas Reibey | - | August 1875 - July 1876 |
| William Giblin | - | July 1876 - June 1877 |
| Philip Fysh | - | July 1877 - August 1877 |
| Thomas Reibey | - | September 1877 - December 1878 |
| William Giblin | - | January 1879 - October 1879 |
| none | - | October 1879 - October 1882 |
| Alfred Dobson | - | October 1882 - July 1885 |
| Thomas Reibey | - | July 1885 - August 1886 |
| Sir Edward Braddon | - | August 1886 - March 1887 |
| Nicholas Brown | - | July 1887 - July 1889 |
| William Burgess | - | July 1889 - August 1891 |
| Henry Dobson | - | September 1891 - August 1892 |
| Bolton Bird | - | August 1892 - February 1894 |
| Sir Edward Braddon | - | February 1894 - April 1984 |
| Sir Elliott Lewis | - | May 1894 - November 1897 |
| Andrew Clark | - | November 1897 - May 1898 |
| Bolton Bird | - | June 1898 - October 1899 |
| Sir Edward Braddon | - | October 1899 - March 1901 |
| Sir Thomas Reibey | - | May 1901 - October 1901 |
| William Propsting | - | October 1901 - April 1903 |
| Robert Patterson | - | May 1903 - March 1904 |
| Sir John Evans | - | March 1904 - July 1904 |
| William Propsting | - | July 1904 - December 1905 |
| Herbert Nicholls | - | May 1906 - January 1909 |
| John Earle | Australian Labor Party | June 1909 - October 1909 |
| Sir Neil Lewis | Anti-Socialist Party | October 1909 |
| John Earle | Australian Labor Party | October 1909 - April 1914 |
| Albert Solomon | Liberal Party | April 1914 - October 1914 |
| Norman Ewing | Liberal Party | October 1914 - September 1915 |
| Sir Walter Lee | Liberal Party | September 1915 - April 1916 |
| John Earle | Australian Labor Party | April 1916 - November 1916 |
| Joseph Lyons | Australian Labor Party | November 1916 - October 1923 |
| Edward Hobbs (acting) | Country Party | October 1923 - November 1923 |
| James Newton | Nationalist Party of Australia | November 1923 - October 1924 |
| Edward Hobbs | Country Party/Liberal Party | October 1924 - July 1925 |
| Sir John McPhee | Nationalist Party of Australia | July 1925 - June 1928 |
| Joseph Lyons | Australian Labor Party | July 1928 - September 1929 |
| Ben Watkins (acting) | Australian Labor Party | September 1929 - October 1929 |
| Albert Ogilvie | Australian Labor Party | October 1929 - June 1934 |
| Sir Walter Lee | Liberal Party | July 1934 - July 1936 |
| Sir Henry Baker | Nationalist Party of Australia | July 1936 - February 1945 |
| Neil Campbell | Nationalist/Liberal Party of Australia | February 1945 - February 1950 |
| Reginald Townley | Liberal Party of Australia | February 6, 1950 - June 26, 1956 |
| William Jackson | Liberal Party of Australia | June 26, 1956 - March 1960 |
| Sir Angus Bethune | Liberal Party of Australia | March 19, 1960 - May 27, 1969 |
| Eric Reece | Australian Labor Party | May 27, 1969 - May 4, 1972 |
| Max Bingham | Liberal Party of Australia | May 4, 1972 - August 7, 1979 |
| Geoff Pearsall | Liberal Party of Australia | August 7, 1979 - November 11, 1981 |
| Robin Gray | Liberal Party of Australia | November 11, 1981 - May 27, 1982 |
| Ken Wriedt | Australian Labor Party | May 27, 1982 - February 19, 1986 |
| Neil Batt | Australian Labor Party | February 19, 1986 - December 14, 1988 |
| Michael Field | Australian Labor Party | December 14, 1988 - June 29, 1989 |
| Robin Gray | Liberal Party of Australia | June 29, 1989 - December 17, 1991 |
| Ray Groom | Liberal Party of Australia | December 17, 1991 - February 17, 1992 |
| Michael Field | Australian Labor Party | February 17, 1992 - April 14, 1997 |
| Jim Bacon | Australian Labor Party | April 14, 1997 - September 14, 1998 |
| Tony Rundle | Liberal Party of Australia | September 14, 1997 - July 2, 1999 |
| Sue Napier | Liberal Party of Australia | July 2, 1999 - August 20, 2001 |
| Bob Cheek | Liberal Party of Australia | August 20, 2001 - August 6, 2002 |
| Rene Hidding | Liberal Party of Australia | August 6, 2002 - March 30, 2006 |
| Will Hodgman | Liberal Party of Australia | March 30, 2006 - present |
