# Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)

The leader of the opposition in Tasmania is the title of the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the Tasmanian House of Assembly. They act as the public face of the opposition, leads the opposition 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 usually 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 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 Dean Winter of the Labor Party. Winter was elected into the role on 10 April 2024 to replace former Labor leader Rebecca White following the party's defeat at the 2024 state election.

## List of leaders of the opposition in Tasmania

| No. | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Party | Constituency | Elections | Premier |
| 1 | Thomas Gregson | 1 November 1856 | 26 February 1857 | Independent | Richmond | 1856 | William Champ 1856–1857 |
| 2 | William Champ | 26 February 1857 | 25 April 1857 | Independent | Launceston | – | Thomas Gregson 1857 |
| (1) | Thomas Gregson | 25 April 1857 | July 1862 | Independent | Richmond | – | William Weston 1857 |
| (1) | Thomas Gregson | 25 April 1857 | July 1862 | Independent | Richmond | – | Francis Smith 1857–1860 |
| (1) | Thomas Gregson | 25 April 1857 | July 1862 | Independent | Richmond | – | William Weston 1860–1861 |
| (1) | Thomas Gregson | 25 April 1857 | July 1862 | Independent | Richmond | 1861 | Thomas Chapman 1861–1863 |
| 3 | Charles Meredith | July 1862 | 20 January 1863 | Independent | Glamorgan | 1862 | Thomas Chapman 1861–1863 |
| 4 | Thomas Chapman | February 1863 | June 1864 | Independent | Campbell Town | – | James Whyte 1863–1866 |
| 5 | William Dobson | June 1864 | 24 November 1866 | Independent | Campbell Town | 1866 | James Whyte 1863–1866 |
| (3) | Charles Meredith | 24 November 1866 | 4 November 1872 | Independent | Kingborough West Devon | – | Sir Richard Dry 1866–1869 |
| (3) | Charles Meredith | 24 November 1866 | 4 November 1872 | Independent | Kingborough West Devon | 1871 | James Wilson 1869–1872 |
| 6 | William Giblin | 4 November 1872 | 4 August 1873 | Independent | Central Hobart | 1872 | Frederick Innes 1872–1873 |
| 7 | Frederick Innes | 4 August 1873 | March 1875 | Independent | North Launceston | – | Alfred Kennerley 1873–1876 |
| 8 | Thomas Reibey | August 1875 | 20 July 1876 | Independent | Westbury | – | Alfred Kennerley 1873–1876 |
| (6) | William Giblin | 20 July 1876 | June 1877 | Independent | Central Hobart | – | Thomas Reibey 1876–1877 |
| 9 | Philip Fysh | July 1877 | 9 August 1877 | Independent | East Hobart | 1877 | Thomas Reibey 1876–1877 |
| (8) | Thomas Reibey | September 1877 | 20 December 1878 | Independent | Westbury | – | Philip Fysh 1877–1878 |
| (8) | Thomas Reibey | September 1877 | 20 December 1878 | Independent | Westbury | – | William Giblin 1878 |
| (6) | William Giblin | January 1879 | 30 October 1879 | Independent | Wellington | – | William Crowther 1878–1879 |
| 9 | Alfred Dobson | October 1882 | July 1885 | Independent | Glenorchy | 1882 | William Giblin 1879–1884 |
| 9 | Alfred Dobson | October 1882 | July 1885 | Independent | Glenorchy | – | Adye Douglas 1884–1886 |
| (8) | Thomas Reibey | July 1885 | August 1886 | Independent | Westbury | 1886 | Adye Douglas 1884–1886 |
| (8) | Thomas Reibey | July 1885 | August 1886 | Independent | Westbury | – | James Agnew 1886–1887 |
| 10 | Edward Braddon | August 1886 | 29 March 1887 | Independent | West Devon | – | James Agnew 1886–1887 |
| 11 | Nicholas Brown | July 1887 | July 1889 | Independent | Cumberland | – | Philip Fysh 1887–1892 |
| 12 | William Burgess | July 1889 | August 1891 | Independent | West Hobart | 1891 | Philip Fysh 1887–1892 |
| 13 | Henry Dobson | September 1891 | 17 August 1892 | Independent | Brighton | – | Philip Fysh 1887–1892 |
| 14 | Stafford Bird | 17 August 1892 | February 1894 | Independent | Franklin | 1893 | Henry Dobson 1892–1894 |
| (10) | Sir Edward Braddon | February 1894 | 14 April 1894 | Independent | West Devon | – | Henry Dobson 1892–1894 |
| 15 | Elliott Lewis | May 1894 | November 1897 | Independent | Richmond | 1897 | Sir Edward Braddon 1894–1899 |
| 16 | Andrew Clark | November 1897 | May 1898 | Independent | Hobart | – | Sir Edward Braddon 1894–1899 |
| (14) | Stafford Bird | June 1898 | 12 October 1899 | Independent | Franklin | – | Sir Edward Braddon 1894–1899 |
| (10) | Sir Edward Braddon | 12 October 1899 | 29 March 1901 | Free Trade | West Devon | 1900 | Sir Elliott Lewis 1899–1903 |
| (8) | Thomas Reibey | May 1901 | October 1901 | Protectionist | Westbury | – | Sir Elliott Lewis 1899–1903 |
| 17 | William Propsting | October 1901 | 9 April 1903 | Protectionist | North Hobart | 1903 | Sir Elliott Lewis 1899–1903 |
| 18 | Robert Patterson | May 1903 | March 1904 | Anti-Socialist | South Hobart | – | William Propsting 1903–1904 |
| 19 | John Evans | March 1904 | 12 July 1904 | Anti-Socialist | Kingborough | – | William Propsting 1903–1904 |
| (17) | William Propsting | 12 July 1904 | December 1905 | Protectionist | North Hobart | – | John Evans 1904–1909 |
| 20 | Herbert Nicholls | January 1906 | January 1909 | Protectionist | Central Hobart | 1906 | John Evans 1904–1909 |
| 21 | John Earle | April 1909 | 20 October 1909 | Labor | Waratah Franklin | 1909 | John Evans 1904–1909 |
| 21 | John Earle | April 1909 | 20 October 1909 | Labor | Waratah Franklin | – | Sir Elliott Lewis 1909 |
| (15) | Sir Elliott Lewis | 20 October 1909 | 27 October 1909 | Liberal League | Denison | – | John Earle 1909 |
| (21) | John Earle | 27 October 1909 | 6 April 1914 | Labor | Franklin | 1912 | Sir Elliott Lewis 1909–1912 |
| (21) | John Earle | 27 October 1909 | 6 April 1914 | Labor | Franklin | 1913 | Albert Solomon 1912–1914 |
| 22 | Albert Solomon | 6 April 1914 | 5 October 1914 | Liberal League | Bass | – | John Earle 1914–1916 |
| 23 | Norman Ewing | 5 October 1914 | 23 September 1915 | Liberal League | Franklin | – | John Earle 1914–1916 |
| 24 | Sir Walter Lee | 23 September 1915 | 15 April 1916 | Liberal League | Wilmot | 1916 | John Earle 1914–1916 |
| (21) | John Earle | 15 April 1916 | 2 November 1916 | Labor | Franklin | – | Sir Walter Lee 1916–1922 |
| 25 | Joseph Lyons | 2 November 1916 | 25 October 1923 | Labor | Wilmot | 1919 | Sir Walter Lee 1916–1922 |
| 25 | Joseph Lyons | 2 November 1916 | 25 October 1923 | Labor | Wilmot | 1922 | Sir Walter Lee 1916–1922 |
| 25 | Joseph Lyons | 2 November 1916 | 25 October 1923 | Labor | Wilmot | – | John Hayes 1922–1923 |
| 25 | Joseph Lyons | 2 November 1916 | 25 October 1923 | Labor | Wilmot | – | Sir Walter Lee 1923 |
| 26 | Edward Hobbs | 25 October 1923 | November 1923 | Country | Darwin | – | Joseph Lyons 1923–1928 |
| 27 | James Newton | November 1923 | October 1924 | Nationalist | Bass | – | Joseph Lyons 1923–1928 |
| (26) | Edward Hobbs | October 1924 | 29 July 1925 | Country | Darwin | 1925 | Joseph Lyons 1923–1928 |
| 28 | John McPhee | 29 July 1925 | 15 June 1928 | Nationalist | Denison | 1928 | Joseph Lyons 1923–1928 |
| (25) | Joseph Lyons | 15 June 1928 | 13 September 1929 | Labor | Wilmot | – | John McPhee 1928–1934 |
| 29 | Benjamin Watkins | 13 September 1929 | 15 October 1929 | Labor | Franklin | – | John McPhee 1928–1934 |
| 30 | Albert Ogilvie | 15 October 1929 | 22 June 1934 | Labor | Franklin | 1931 | John McPhee 1928–1934 |
| 30 | Albert Ogilvie | 15 October 1929 | 22 June 1934 | Labor | Franklin | 1934 | Sir Walter Lee 1934 |
| (24) | Sir Walter Lee | 22 July 1934 | July 1936 | Nationalist | Wilmot | – | Albert Ogilvie 1934–1939 |
| 31 | Henry Baker | July 1936 | 22 February 1945 | Nationalist | Franklin | 1937 | Albert Ogilvie 1934–1939 |
| 31 | Henry Baker | July 1936 | 22 February 1945 | Nationalist | Franklin | – | Edmund Dwyer-Gray 1939 |
| 31 | Henry Baker | July 1936 | 22 February 1945 | Nationalist | Franklin | 1941 | Robert Cosgrove 1939–1947 |
| 32 | Neil Campbell | 22 February 1945 | 6 February 1950 | Liberal | Wilmot | 1946 | Robert Cosgrove 1939–1947 |
| 32 | Neil Campbell | 22 February 1945 | 6 February 1950 | Liberal | Wilmot | – | Edward Brooker 1947–1948 |
| 32 | Neil Campbell | 22 February 1945 | 6 February 1950 | Liberal | Wilmot | 1948 | Robert Cosgrove 1948–1958 |
| 33 | Reginald Townley | 6 February 1950 | 26 June 1956 | Liberal | Denison | 1950 | Robert Cosgrove 1948–1958 |
| 33 | Reginald Townley | 6 February 1950 | 26 June 1956 | Liberal | Denison | 1955 | Robert Cosgrove 1948–1958 |
| 34 | Tim Jackson | 26 June 1956 | 19 March 1960 | Liberal | Franklin | 1956 | Robert Cosgrove 1948–1958 |
| 34 | Tim Jackson | 26 June 1956 | 19 March 1960 | Liberal | Franklin | 1959 | Eric Reece 1958–1969 |
| 35 | Angus Bethune | 19 March 1960 | 27 May 1969 | Liberal | Wilmot | 1964 | Eric Reece 1958–1969 |
| 35 | Angus Bethune | 19 March 1960 | 27 May 1969 | Liberal | Wilmot | 1969 | Eric Reece 1958–1969 |
| 36 | Eric Reece | 27 May 1969 | 4 May 1972 | Labor | Braddon | 1972 | Angus Bethune 1969–1972 |
| 37 | Max Bingham | 4 May 1972 | 7 August 1979 | Liberal | Denison | – | Eric Reece 1972–1975 |
| 37 | Max Bingham | 4 May 1972 | 7 August 1979 | Liberal | Denison | 1976 | Bill Neilson 1975–1977 |
| 37 | Max Bingham | 4 May 1972 | 7 August 1979 | Liberal | Denison | 1979 | Doug Lowe 1977–1981 |
| 38 | Geoff Pearsall | 7 August 1979 | 11 November 1981 | Liberal | Franklin | – | Doug Lowe 1977–1981 |
| 39 | Robin Gray | 11 November 1981 | 27 May 1982 | Liberal | Wilmot | 1982 | Harry Holgate 1981–1982 |
| 40 | Ken Wriedt | 27 May 1982 | 19 February 1986 | Labor | Franklin | 1986 | Robin Gray 1982–1989 |
| 41 | Neil Batt | 19 February 1986 | 14 December 1988 | Labor | Denison | – | Robin Gray 1982–1989 |
| 42 | Michael Field | 14 December 1988 | 29 June 1989 | Labor | Braddon | 1989 | Robin Gray 1982–1989 |
| (39) | Robin Gray | 29 June 1989 | 17 December 1991 | Liberal | Lyons | – | Michael Field 1989–1992 |
| 43 | Ray Groom | 17 December 1991 | 17 February 1992 | Liberal | Denison | 1992 | Michael Field 1989–1992 |
| (42) | Michael Field | 17 February 1992 | 14 April 1997 | Labor | Braddon | 1996 | Ray Groom 1992–1996 |
| (42) | Michael Field | 17 February 1992 | 14 April 1997 | Labor | Braddon | – | Tony Rundle 1996–1998 |
| 44 | Jim Bacon | 14 April 1997 | 14 September 1998 | Labor | Denison | 1998 | Tony Rundle 1996–1998 |
| 45 | Tony Rundle | 14 September 1998 | 2 July 1999 | Liberal | Braddon | – | Jim Bacon 1998–2004 |
| 46 | Sue Napier | 2 July 1999 | 20 August 2001 | Liberal | Bass | – | Jim Bacon 1998–2004 |
| 47 | Bob Cheek | 20 August 2001 | 6 August 2002 | Liberal | Denison | 2002 | Jim Bacon 1998–2004 |
| 48 | Rene Hidding | 6 August 2002 | 30 March 2006 | Liberal | Lyons | – | Jim Bacon 1998–2004 |
| 48 | Rene Hidding | 6 August 2002 | 30 March 2006 | Liberal | Lyons | 2006 | Paul Lennon 2004–2008 |
| 49 | Will Hodgman | 30 March 2006 | 31 March 2014 | Liberal | Franklin | – | Paul Lennon 2004–2008 |
| 49 | Will Hodgman | 30 March 2006 | 31 March 2014 | Liberal | Franklin | 2010 | David Bartlett 2008–2011 |
| 49 | Will Hodgman | 30 March 2006 | 31 March 2014 | Liberal | Franklin | 2014 | Lara Giddings 2011–2014 |
| 50 | Bryan Green | 31 March 2014 | 17 March 2017 | Labor | Braddon | – | Will Hodgman 2014–2020 |
| 51 | Rebecca White | 17 March 2017 | 17 May 2021 | Labor | Lyons | 2018 | Will Hodgman 2014–2020 |
| 51 | Rebecca White | 17 March 2017 | 17 May 2021 | Labor | Lyons | 2021 | Peter Gutwein 2020–2022 |
| 52 | David O'Byrne | 15 June 2021 | 7 July 2021 | Labor | Franklin | – | Peter Gutwein 2020–2022 |
| (51) | Rebecca White | 7 July 2021 | 10 April 2024 | Labor | Lyons | – | Peter Gutwein 2020–2022 |
| (51) | Rebecca White | 7 July 2021 | 10 April 2024 | Labor | Lyons | 2024 | Jeremy Rockliff 2022– |
| 53 | Dean Winter | 10 April 2024 | Incumbent | Labor | Franklin | – | Jeremy Rockliff 2022– |