The Restoration of the House of Assembly

On 25 May 2022 Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff made an announcement signaling the Government’s intention to restore the House of Assembly to 35 Members, reversing the reduction of numbers to 25 undertaken in 1998.

At Budget Estimates hearings on 6 June 2022, Premier Rockliff stated that he had sought advice from the Tasmanian Electoral Commission regarding the restoration of numbers and logistical considerations of progressing with a model that saw 5 electorates with 7 MPs versus 7 electorates with 5 MPs. The Premier undertook to table a copy of Commissioner Hawkey’s advice in Parliament, which was publicly released on 9 August and tabled in Parliament the following week.

The advice received outlined the significant administrative and financial considerations that would be involved in creating an additional two electorates, and upon considering the advice the Government announced their intent to restore the House of Assembly to its previous composition — five electorates of seven members.

On 31 August the Government released the draft Expansion of Parliament Bill 2022 for public consultation, with written submissions on the Bill being accepted until C.O.B on 28 September 2022. For more information on the submission process click here.

Below is a background briefing paper which goes into further detail regarding the initial cut to numbers, a number of inquiries which have been undertaken, and the value in returning to a model of five electorates of seven members.

This PDF can be downloaded by hovering over the bottom of the document and pressing the icon with a downward facing arrow.

See Meg’s media releases on the restoration of the House of Assembly:

August 6 – Lower House Restoration
August 9 – Parliament Restoration