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| Treasurer of Tasmania | |
|---|---|
| Post | Treasurer of Tasmania |
| Body | Tasmania |
| Incumbent | [Incumbent] |
| Incumbent since | [Date] |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | Governor of Tasmania |
| Inaugural | Thomas Gregson |
| Formation | 1856 |
Treasurer of Tasmania is the senior minister responsible for fiscal policy, public finance and budgetary management in Tasmania. The position is a central portfolio within the Cabinet of Tasmania, interacting with executive institutions such as the Premier of Tasmania, the Parliament of Tasmania and the Governor of Tasmania. Holders have overseen policy responses to events including the Great Depression, the Global Financial Crisis of 2007–2008 and regional projects like the Bell Bay developments.
The Treasurer of Tasmania leads financial administration of the state, preparing annual budgets and managing revenue, expenditure and public assets across agencies such as the Department of Treasury and Finance (Tasmania), the Treasury divisions, and statutory authorities including Hydro Tasmania and TasRail. The Treasurer liaises with federal counterparts like the Treasurer of Australia, engages with intergovernmental forums such as the Council on Federal Financial Relations and negotiates grants under frameworks including the Commonwealth Grants Commission. Responsibilities routinely intersect with ministers for premiership matters, industrial relations with Australian Council of Trade Unions, and infrastructure portfolios linked to entities like the Australian Infrastructure Audit.
Since responsible government in 1856, treasurers have influenced Tasmanian responses to crises including the Australian banking crisis of 1893, the World War I mobilization, the World War II reconstruction, and the economic restructuring of the 1980s tied to national shifts under leaders such as Bob Hawke and Paul Keating. The office evolved from colonial finance officers to modern cabinet ministers who shaped taxation policy, superannuation arrangements related to Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme, and state-owned enterprise reform affecting companies such as Aurora Energy (Tasmania). Notable episodes include budget management under premiers like Jim Bacon, negotiations over federalism during terms influenced by the Commonwealth Grants Commission, and debt management through instruments discussed in settings like the Australian Securities Exchange.
Prominent treasurers have included early figures like Thomas Gregson, reformers such as Sir Robert Cosgrove, and modern ministers like Lara Giddings, Will Hodgman, and Michael Aird. Officeholders have transferred between roles including the Premier of Tasmania and ministries such as Attorney-General of Tasmania, Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for State Growth. Many treasurers maintained relationships with unions such as the Australian Workers' Union and business groups like the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry during budget consultations.
The Treasurer is appointed by the Governor of Tasmania on the advice of the Premier of Tasmania and is typically a member of either chamber of the Parliament of Tasmania—the House of Assembly (Tasmania) or the Legislative Council (Tasmania). Terms coincide with parliamentary terms set by statutes and elections administered by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission, subject to confidence conventions derived from the Constitution Act 1934 (Tasmania). Removal can occur through loss of supply, party leadership changes within parties such as the Australian Labor Party (Tasmanian Branch), the Liberal Party of Australia (Tasmanian Division), or via gubernatorial mechanisms following conventions exemplified in cases like the Dismissal of the Whitlam Government at the federal level as precedent for reserve powers.
Statutory and prerogative powers include preparing the annual Consolidated Fund estimates, issuing budget papers, supervising borrowing via state treasuries and agencies that issue debt under frameworks comparable to State Borrowing Authorities and liaising with credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service. The Treasurer oversees taxation instruments enacted through the Parliament of Tasmania, administers grants programs, directs asset sales or restructures state-owned enterprises like Hydro Tasmania and Metro Tasmania, and authorises financial regulations in coordination with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Reserve Bank of Australia on macroeconomic matters.
As a senior minister in the Cabinet of Tasmania, the Treasurer coordinates with ministers for Health, Education and Transport to align fiscal priorities with policy delivery. In Parliament, the Treasurer presents budgets, answers estimates committee inquiries such as those conducted by the Legislative Council or the Public Accounts Committee, and defends fiscal strategy during question time. The role requires engagement with external stakeholders including the Commonwealth Grants Commission, the Productivity Commission, unions like the Australian Education Union and industry groups such as the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania.
Remuneration is set by determinations from statutory bodies such as the Tasmanian Remuneration Tribunal and reflects base parliamentary salary plus ministerial allowances, entitlements for staff, motor vehicle provision and office resources provided under instruments like the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Benefits) Act. Salary adjustments have paralleled decisions affecting other offices including the Premier of Tasmania and have been subject to public scrutiny during fiscal tightening, comparable to debates seen in other jurisdictions involving the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal.
Category:Government of Tasmania Category:Politics of Tasmania Category:Tasmanian ministries