Anyone who’s followed Tasmanian politics for the past year knows it’s been anything but predictable. This article covers Jeremy Rockliff’s current position as premier, his Liberal Party affiliation, and his family — plus how the resignation of Madeleine Ogilvie in 2026 reshuffled a minority government that now operates with ten ministers instead of eleven.
Full name: Jeremy Rockliff ·
Position: 47th Premier of Tasmania ·
Political party: Liberal ·
Children: 2 daughters ·
Premier since: April 2022
Quick snapshot
- Jeremy Rockliff is the 47th premier of Tasmania (Premier of Tasmania official site)
- He remains premier as of 2025 and continues in the role through 2026 (PS News)
- Net worth not publicly disclosed
- Salary not officially confirmed
- Religious affiliation not publicly known
- Crossbenchers demanded answers by 12 June 2026 (PS News)
- Parliamentary scrutiny expected to intensify (PS News)
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jeremy Rockliff |
| Born | 5 February 1970 |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Premier since | April 2022 |
| Number of children | 2 daughters |
| Spouse | Karen Rockliff |
Is Jeremy Rockliff still premier of Tasmania?
Yes, Jeremy Rockliff is still the premier of Tasmania as of mid-2026. He is the 47th person to hold the office, having taken over from Peter Gutwein in April 2022. He leads the Liberal Party’s government in a minority parliament where his party holds 14 of the 35 seats in the House of Assembly (PS News). Labor holds 10 seats, the Greens hold five, and six independents round out the chamber.
What is Jeremy Rockliff’s political party?
Rockliff is a member of the Liberal Party of Australia, the centre-right political party that currently forms the government in Tasmania. The party’s platform emphasises economic development, infrastructure, and regional investment. The Labor Party serves as the main opposition under its own leader.
How long has he been premier?
Rockliff became premier in April 2022. That means he has held the office for roughly three years. Before that he served as Deputy Premier from 2014 under premiers Will Hodgman and Peter Gutwein (Wikipedia).
The implication: Rockliff’s ability to govern depends on keeping the confidence of independents and the Greens on any given vote. Minority government demands constant negotiation, and every crossbench disagreement becomes a potential crisis.
What happened to Madeleine Ogilvie?
Madeleine Ogilvie was a Labor member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly who resigned from the Labor Party in 2024 to become an independent, then later joined the Liberal Party. Her decision changed the arithmetic of the chamber. Then on 30 May 2026, Ogilvie resigned from the ministry after allegations that she misled Parliament about her involvement in a Supreme Court matter (ABC News analysis).
Who is Madeleine Ogilvie?
Before entering politics, Ogilvie worked as a lawyer. She was first elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 2014. During her Labor career she held various shadow portfolios. After leaving Labor and joining the Liberals, she served in Rockliff’s cabinet until her resignation.
Why did she resign?
The ABC reported that Ogilvie had repeatedly claimed she was not involved in legal action before the issue escalated into resignation (ABC News). The allegation — that she misled Parliament about her role in a Supreme Court matter — forced her departure from cabinet.
Ogilvie’s resignation reduced the Liberal cabinet from 11 to 10 ministers. The government chose not to replace her, instead redistributing her portfolios among existing ministers. Rockliff said the smaller team and staffing changes would save more than $1 million annually (ABC News). But the optics of running a government with fewer ministers while facing crossbench pressure are politically risky.
The pattern: a single resignation can reshape the entire governing arithmetic in a chamber of 35. Every portfolio redistribution carries trade-offs — experience is diluted, and the remaining ministers take on heavier loads.
Is the premier of Tasmania Liberal or Labour?
The premier of Tasmania is Jeremy Rockliff, a member of the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party is centre-right and currently in government. The Labor Party is the main opposition, led by its own parliamentary leader.
What is the Liberal Party’s stance in Tasmania?
Tasmania’s Liberal Party focuses on economic growth, regional development, and fiscal conservatism. Under Rockliff, the government has pushed infrastructure projects, health system reform, and education investment. The party generally supports lower taxes and private-sector-led job creation.
Why this matters: party affiliation determines the policy direction on everything from forestry and salmon farming to housing and renewable energy. Voters who care about those issues need to understand which side of the aisle their premier sits on.
How many children does Jeremy Rockliff have?
Jeremy Rockliff and his wife Karen have two daughters. The family’s background includes farming in North West Tasmania, which Rockliff often references in his public appearances (Premier of Tasmania official site). On his official bio, he has said: “I’m a proud North West Tasmanian.”
Who is Jeremy Rockliff’s wife?
Rockliff is married to Karen Rockliff. She is not a public figure and appears only occasionally at official events alongside her husband.
Does he have any sons?
No, the couple have two daughters and no sons. Rockliff has not publicly named his daughters, consistent with his preference to keep his children out of the political spotlight.
The trade-off: public figures who share family details often earn more trust with voters, but they also expose their children to scrutiny. Rockliff has chosen a middle path — acknowledging his daughters exist without offering personal details.
What was Madeleine Ogilvie’s career?
Madeleine Ogilvie worked as a lawyer before entering politics. She was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 2014 as a Labor member representing the electorate of Clark. During her time in the Labor Party, she held several shadow portfolios including education and women’s affairs.
What was Madeleine Ogilvie’s profession before politics?
Before her parliamentary career, Ogilvie practised law. Her legal background equipped her for cabinet roles, including the environment portfolio she held at the time of her resignation.
The cabinet now has 10 ministers after Ogilvie’s departure.
| Period | Role |
|---|---|
| Pre-2014 | Lawyer in private practice |
| 2014 – 2024 | Labor member for Clark (Tasmanian House of Assembly) |
| 2024 | Resigned from Labor, became independent |
| 2024 – May 2026 | Joined Liberal Party, served in cabinet |
| 30 May 2026 | Resigned from ministry |
The catch: Ogilvie’s switch from Labor to Liberal gave the government a brief numerical boost, but it also made her a target for opposition attacks. Her resignation demonstrates the fragility of relying on party-switchers for legislative stability.
Timeline: Jeremy Rockliff’s political career
- 1970: Born in Burnie, Tasmania.
- 2002: Elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as Liberal member for Braddon.
- 2014–2022: Served as Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Training, and Primary Industries.
- April 2022: Became 47th Premier of Tasmania.
- 2024: Madeleine Ogilvie resigns from Labor, later joins Liberals.
- 30 May 2026: Ogilvie resigns from ministry over allegations of misleading Parliament.
- June 2026: Crossbenchers demand answers; cabinet reduced to 10 ministers.
What’s confirmed and what’s not
Confirmed facts
- Jeremy Rockliff is the current premier of Tasmania (Premier of Tasmania official site).
- He is a member of the Liberal Party.
- He has two daughters.
- The Liberal Party holds 14 of 35 seats in a minority parliament (PS News).
- Ogilvie resigned on 30 May 2026 over allegations of misleading Parliament (ABC News).
What’s unclear
- Jeremy Rockliff’s net worth is not publicly disclosed.
- His salary is not officially confirmed.
- His religious affiliation is not publicly known.
“I’m a proud North West Tasmanian.”
— Jeremy Rockliff, official bio (Premier of Tasmania)
Jeremy Rockliff is the 47th premier of Tasmania.
— Wikipedia entry (Wikipedia)
Tasmania’s minority government is not a niche curiosity — it is a working reality that affects every piece of legislation the state passes. For voters in Braddon, the question is whether Rockliff’s coalition of Liberal members and independents can hold together long enough to deliver on infrastructure and cost-of-living promises, or whether the next resignation tips the chamber into chaos.
What is Jeremy Rockliff’s net worth?
Jeremy Rockliff’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. No official sources report his personal wealth, and he has not voluntarily released financial statements.
What is Jeremy Rockliff’s salary?
His exact salary is not officially confirmed. Australian state premiers typically earn between $300,000 and $400,000 annually, but Rockliff’s precise remuneration is not published in a verifiable source.
What is Jeremy Rockliff’s religion?
His religious affiliation is not publicly known. He has not discussed his faith in public statements or official biographies.
How to contact Jeremy Rockliff?
Constituents can contact the Premier’s office through the official Tasmanian government website at premier.tas.gov.au or by writing to Parliament House, Hobart.
What is Jeremy Rockliff’s family background?
Rockliff grew up on a farm in North West Tasmania. He is married to Karen Rockliff and they have two daughters. The family still maintains ties to the region.
Jeremy Rockliff remains Tasmania’s premier, but his Liberal government operates on borrowed time in a House where a single independent can swing a vote. For Tasmanians watching their state’s political stability, the next election cannot come soon enough — and the opposition knows it.
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Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Focus Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.