Tasmania

How it all started

• The second permanent European settlement in Australia started at Risdon Cove near Hobart in 1803.

• Hobart was founded in 1804 and the first Lieutenant-Governor was Colonel David Collins.

• Until 1856 the colony was known as Van Diemen's Land; named by Abel Tasman in 1642. Van Diemen had been a Governor General of the Dutch East Indies.

• There were two colonies in Van Diemen's Land, the north and south. Both were run from Sydney. The two colonies became one in 1812.

• Van Diemen's Land became a separate colony with its own governing body in 1825. Lieutenant-Governor Colonel George Arthur was advised by the first Legislative Council of six men chosen by the Governor.

• In 1850, the British Parliament passed the Australian Colonies Government Act. This Act gave Tasmania its first representative government. The membership of Tasmania's Legislative Council was increased to 24. Eight of these members were chosen by the Governor, and 16 were elected. The new Legislative Council met for the first time in 1852.

• In 1854 the Legislative Council passed the Tasmanian Constitution Bill, which gave Tasmania Responsible Government and a bicameral parliament. It was given Royal Assent in 1855.

• In 1856 the name of the colony was changed to Tasmania, and elections were held for the new parliament. The first Tasmanian Parliament opened in December, with Mr WTN Champ as the first Premier.

• The new Legislative Council had 15 members. The newly formed House of Assembly had 30 members from 24 electoral districts. Each district had one member except Hobart, which had five, and Launceston, which had two.

• The small population of Tasmania was a concern for Tasmanians during the constitutional conventions of 1898 -99. Tasmania did not want the new federal Constitution to favour the larger, more populated States after federation. Unlike New South Wales and Victoria, the Tasmanian Parliament wanted to give the Senate of the new federation the power to alter money bills. Tasmania also wanted the new Commonwealth Government to take over the debts of the States.

• DID YOU KNOW The number of representatives that each State and Territory is allowed in the Commonwealth House of Representatives is determined by their population. Although Tasmania's population entitles it to four representatives, it has five. This is because section 127 of the Australian Constitution says that each of the six original states should have at least 5 representatives.

About Parliament

• Tasmania's Parliament has two Houses. The Upper House is the Legislative Council. The Lower House is the House of Assembly. There are important differences between the two Houses. The government of the day is formed in the Lower House. The Upper House is often called 'the House of Review'.

• There are currently 15 Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs), each from single member electorates. MLCs stay in office for six years. So that not all MLCs are changed at once, three members are elected each year, and four are elected every sixth year.

• There are 25 Members of the House of Assembly (MHAs). Five are elected from each of five electoral districts. MHAs serve up to four years in office.

• Members of the Legislative Council are elected using a preferential voting system. Members of the House of Assembly are elected using a type of proportional representation known as the Hare-Clark system. To prevent election results from being biased by donkey votes, ballot papers are printed using the Robson Rotation.

• DID YOU KNOW Tasmania is the only State to use the same electorates for both Federal and State Lower House elections.

Who votes?

• Voting in Tasmanian State elections is compulsory for all citizens aged 18 years or over who have lived in Tasmania without a break for at least six months.

• Tasmanians first voted for their own legislature in 1851 when 16 of the 24-member Legislative Council were elected. However, the only people who could vote then were adult men who owned land or paid rent in the colony.

• The first House of Assembly was elected in 1856. It was not until 1900 that all adult men acquired the right to vote for it.

• In 1903 all adult men and women in Tasmania could vote in House of Assembly elections. It was not until 1968 that the same rights were introduced for Legislative Council elections.

State Government

• The Head of State in Tasmania is the Queen who appoints the Governor as her representative. The Governor is appointed on the advice of the Premier. Since the Australia Act was passed by the State and Commonwealth Parliament and the British Parliament in 1986, there are no legal links between the Australian State Governors and the Government of the United Kingdom.

• The functions of the Governor fall mainly into three categories constitutional and statutory duties, formal ceremonial duties, and non-ceremonial social duties. One of the Governor's constitutional and statutory tasks is to give the Royal Assent to Bills which have been passed by both Houses of Parliament. This must be done before a Bill can become law.

• The head of the Tasmanian Government is the Premier. The Premier is the leader of the party or a coalition of parties that has won the most seats in the House of Assembly.

• The Premier is assisted by a group of Ministers who make up the Cabinet. Ministers, who usually belong to the same party or coalition as the Premier, run a number of government departments, called a portfolio. Together with the Premier, the Ministers make up the State's Executive Government.

Local Government

• Tasmania has 14 local or Municipal Councils. Each has 9 to 12 members and is headed by a Mayor. Councillors serve a four-year term. Half the members of each council are elected every two years.

• Tasmania's councils have the power to make laws called by-laws. They make decisions on local, town or city matters, such as street signs and traffic control; drains, footpaths; sports grounds; childcare centres, libraries; rubbish collection; animal control; building permits; and the collection of local taxes known as rates.

• Voting in municipal elections is not compulsory, but all people listed on the House of Assembly electoral roll can vote. Voting is also open to ratepayers and occupiers aged 18 years or over who are not on the House of Assembly electoral roll.

• Councillors are elected by proportional representation. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of each council are elected by the optional preferential method, while the rest of the councillors are elected by the Hare-Clark system.

State symbols

	The Tasmanian Coat of Arms was granted in 1917 by King George V of England. It shows two Tasmanian tigers supporting a shield topped by a lion. The Latin motto "Ubertas et Fidelitas" means Fruitfulness and Faithfulness.
	The Tasmanian flag became official in 1975, but its design is the same as that of the Tasmanian flag of 1875. It has the blue ensign, showing the Southern Cross, with the union flag in the corner, and the State Badge.
	The badge, approved by the Colonial Office in 1875, has a red lion on a white disc. The lion shows Tasmania's historical ties with England.
	The Tasmanian Parliament House is located on the edge of Hobart's city centre. It was built between 1834 and 1840 in the Georgian Colonial style. The building is made of sandstone and was meant to be the Customs House and architect's offices.
	In 1962 the Blue Gum was declared the State Flower of Tasmania.

Fact file

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Tasmania (Self-government from 1856)