PARLIAMENT OF TASMANIA
 

ParliamentaryHistory Project

  

On This Day

A Tasmanian Political Almanac


This page - a permanent work in progress - contains information listing principal
Tasmanian political events arranged by the date of their occurrence.
For example, T.D. Chapman became Premier on 2 August 1861.

This listing is selective and does not attempt to be comprehensive.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 
JANUARY


1 (1856) - Formal date for name change from VDL to Tasmania.

1 (1901)
- Tasmania formally becomes a State in Australian Federal system of government

25 (1886)
- First meeting of Federal Council of Australasia held at Parliament House, Hobart

30 (1829) - Enlarged "Nominee" Legislative Council established.
FEBRUARY

4 (1813) - Tasmania to be ruled as a single or whole unit [rather than divided on 42 parallel]

8 (1856) - Final meeting of old Legislative Council

10 (1853) - Transportation ceases (to Tasmania)

13 (1945)
- First Liberal Party [Tasmania Branch] Meeting (Hobart)

14 (1922)
- Women granted the ability to stand for Parliament - see 29 Feb

16 (1980) - Denison by-election (generated by overspending - see 18/12/1979)

19 (1955) - 2 Female MP's elected (Amelia Best  and Mabel Miller, both Liberal Party)

20 (1937) - ALP Government lead by Premier Albert Ogilvie

25 (1948)
- Premier Robert Cosgrove[ALP]  re-elected (after trial for corruption)

26 (1857)
- Thomas George Gregson replaces W. Champ as Premier

29 (1904)
- Women granted franchise for voting in Tasmania - see 14 Feb
MARCH

2 (1827) . - Petition lodged in England for Self Government

14-15 (1972) - K.O. Lyons resigns from Liberal-Centre Party Government causing an electiont 

21 (1972) - N. D. G. Abbott resigns from Liberal Party over lost road saefty measures

23 (1847) - Patriotic Six reinstated to Legislative Council.

23 (1972)
- United Tasmania Group [U.T.G.]  formed - first green party in the world

26 (1982) 
- Holgate Government defeated on it's first day of Parliament, and so an election follows.

31 (1975) - William 'Bill' Neilson elected ALP Leader
APRIL

  7 (1959) - R. J. D. 'Spot' Turnbull dismissed from ALP Government and becomes an Independent

12 (1826). -  Legislative Council meets formally

12 (1974) - M. Everett resigns from ALP Cabinet

22 (1972) - Eric Reece (ALP) returns to Government after breif Liberal-Centre Party Coalition

25 (1854) - Select Committee appointed to draft constitution for Bicameral Parliament - ie two Houses of Parliament (Paper No 63/1854 dated 29/9/1854).

26 (1826) - Legislative Council proceeds to swear in Members

30 (1909) - First use of Hare-Clark system
MAY

1 (1855) - Royal Assent from Queen Victoria  to new Bicameral Parliament.

4 (1972) - Max Bingham elected Liberal Party Leader.

8 (1876) - Truganini dies.

8 (1948) - Margaret Edgeworth McIntyre elected as first ever female to Legislative Council for seat of Cornwall.

10 (1969) - Angus Bethune elected Premier of Liberal Government

15 (1982)
- Robin Gray elected Premier of Liberal Government.

29 (1989)
- ALP and Tasmanian Greens sign "Labor-Green Accord" to enable Michael Field to  form an ALP minority government - see 1 Oct
JUNE

3 (1898) - First Referendum to join Commonwealth: Vote - 81.3% Yes - 18.7% No.

3 (1925) - J.A. Lyons , ALP, election victory

9 (1934)
- A.G. Ogilvie, ALP election victory.

9 ( 1995)
- Boundaries Commission established to redraw Legislative Council boundaries - see 8 December

10(1939) - Premier A.G. Ogilvie ALP dies of heart-attack  whilst in office.

14 (1825) - Order-in-Council separates Van Diemen's Land from colony of NSW

14 (1928) - J.A. Lyons resigns from ALP to stand for Federal Parliament [becomes Tasmanian only Prime Minisiter]

21 (1826) - Legislative Council meets for first proper session
JULY

1 (1969) 
- Legislative Council grants full adult franchise

2 (1973) - Corruption allegations made (by Hugh Dell) - see 28/8/1973

6 (1939) - Dwyer-Gray elected ALP leader

16 (1825) - NSW Governor Darling appointed with separate Royal Instructions for Van Diemen's Land

17 (1825) - Warrants issued for Van Diemen's Land Legislative Council by Governor Darling

19 (1823) - Original 'Crown' Council provided for both NSW and Van Diemen's Land

20 (1948) - Legislative Council rejects Supply Bill.

22 (1979) - Premier D.A. Lowe has record ALP victory

27 (1899 - Second Referendum to join Commonwealth:  vote - 94.4% Yes, 5.5% No

28 (1980) - Neil Batt resigns from ALP to work for United Nations

30 (1842) - Act passed in England for "Better Government  of NSW and Van Diemen's Land."

31 (1829) - Warrant for Nominee Council published (and was again on 8 and 15 August 1829)
AUGUST

2 (1861) - T.D. Chapman becomes Premier.

5 (1850 - Australia Constitution Act passed by English Parliament to confirm legislative powers of colonies.

5 (1850) - 'Blended' Council established to be part nominated and part elected.

7 (1979) - Geoff Pearsall elected Liberal Party Leader.

19 (1853) - Select Committee appointed by Legislative Council to draft new constitution for VDL.

21 (1948) - ALP election victory.

25 (1824) - Crown of Legislative Council holds first meeting.

28 (1973) - Motion regarding corruption allegations "defeated." -see 2 July 1973
SEPTEMBER

7 (1966) - KO Lyons resigns from Liberal Party.

8 (1855) - Queen Victoria signs Order-in-Council to  change Van Diemen's Land name to Tasmania.

8 (1856) - First House of Assembly election held for seat of Launceston - other held between 15-22 September.

11 (1803) - European settlement of Van Diemen's Land under  Lt. John Bowen.

11 (1956) - C. Bramich resigns from Labor Party, which precipitates an election.

13 (1949)
- W.A. Wedd (Independent) accepts Speakership

19 (1861)
- House of Assembly passes a motion aiming to form a union of the several colonies

24 (1804) - Tasmania divided into two counties. 
(Cornwall under William Paterson  and Buckingham under David Collins).

28 (1853)
Select Committee of the Legislative Council recommend a  bicameral parliament for Tasmania , ie, with two Houses
OCTOBER

1 (1990)
- Tasmanian Green terminate Accord with ALP - election not required until February 1992

6 (1856) - First elections for new Legislative Council seat of Hobart - others held between 7 and 17 October.

13 (1956) - Election (caused by C. Bramich switching from ALP to Liberal, although ALP win poll)

15 (1966) - Kevin Lyons forms Centre Party

20 (1909) - J. Earle leads first ever ALP Government  (but only for one week).

21 (1851) - First ever polling day for Tasmanian Members of Parliament.

24 (1855) - Royal Assent to Constitution proclaimed in Hobart.  (30 October 1855)

29 (1900) - Royal Warrant creating the Colony of Tasmania a State of Commonwealth of Australia

29 ( 1920)
- Legislative Council franchise expanded from just land holders to include solders, sailors and nurses of W.W.I

31 (1845) - Six MLC's protesting the cost of transportation "Patriotic Six"  depart Legislative Council, leaving it without a quorum - see March 23

31 (1854) - New Constitution passed by Legislative Council.
NOVEMBER

1 (1856) - First Premier of new bicameral Parliament,  W.T.N. Champ appointed.

10 (1981) - R.T. Gray replaces G. Pearsall as Liberal Party Opposition Leader

11 (1981)
- H.N. Holgate replaces D.A. Lowe as ALP Premier

13 (1941)
- Legislative Council grants right to vote to any person having
served in any conflict - including anyone under 21 years of age.

17 (1981) - Mary Willey (ALP) resigns, eventually contributingto the fall of Holgate Government

24 (1866) - Sir Richard Dry assumes Premiership as  (first Tasmanian born holder of the office)

24 (1825) - Governor Darling arrives in Van Diemen's Land - see 3 and 17 December
DECEMBER

1 (1823) - Official warrant issued by Governor Arthur  establishing 'Crown' Legislative Council.

1 (1977) - W.A. Neilson ALP resigns and D.A. Lowe ALP assumes Premiership.

2 (1856) - First session of new Bicameral Parliament

3 (1825) - Darling, whilst in Hobart proclaims Van Diemen's Landas a separate colony from NSW.

4 (1985)
- Tasmania joins with other States and Commonwealth  to confirm "sovereign, independent" Status from England

8 (1993)
- Legislative Council pass bill to provide for boundaries drawn on 'one vote one value principle - see 9 June

9 (1858)
- Famous one-day sitting of Parliament known as the 'Hanging session' as only business was passing a hanging bill.

14 (1968) - Casino Referendum held and approved by majority of voters

17 (1825) - Governor Arthur publishes the separation from NSW Proclamations dated 12 December 1825

18 (1855) - Gazette bears name change from Van Diemen's Land to Tasmania

18 (1979) - Denison election invalidated leading to by-election 16/2/80.

30 (1851) - At noon the first ever meeting of Legislative 
Council with elected Members of Legislative Council


Link to Principal Constitutional events

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Last Update: December 2005