Swearing in of ministry (11 Aug 2025)
Hello everyone
Further to my last update, I can advise that today, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, Governor of Tasmania, has sworn in Premier Jeremy Rockliff and his new cabinet. For your information, I have included the Ministry at the end of this message.
Having considered the current environment and balancing the obligations of responsible government, I have determined that the public service will continue to remain operating in caretaker until further notice.
Under this arrangement, the three main priority areas of our caretaker conventions will remain in place. These are:
- Governments should avoid making and implementing major policy decisions
- Governments should defer making significant appointments; and
- Governments should avoid entering into major contracts or undertakings.
In supporting the incoming government, agencies are expected to work with the new ministers on any operational, administrative and business-as-usual matters of government. This includes:
- providing portfolio and agency incoming government briefings
- preparing Parliamentary/Question Time Briefs for the upcoming Parliamentary sitting on the 19 August
- working with ministerial offices to support official duties such as factual information for events; and
- supporting ministers to discharge legislative requirements and responsibilities related to their portfolios.
If you need further clarification on what this means for your area of work, please contact your manager in the first instance. If you have further queries, please reach out to your Office of the Secretary team.
As Tasmanian State Service employees, we must continue to act in a way that upholds the State Service Principles, as articulated in the State Service Act. This includes being apolitical and performing our functions in an impartial, ethical, and professional manner.
Tasmanian Government Ministerial Portfolios
Jeremy Rockliff MP | Premier |
Guy Barnett MP | Deputy Premier Attorney-General Minister for Justice, Corrections and Rehabilitation Minister for Small Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs |
Eric Abetz MP | Treasurer Leader of Government Business Minister for Macquarie Point Urban Renewal |
Bridget Archer MP | Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister for Ageing Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |
Nick Duigan MLC | Minister for Energy and Renewables Minister for Parks Minister for Sport |
Felix Ellis MP | Minister for Business, Industry and Resources Minister for Skills and Jobs Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management |
Jane Howlett MP | Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events Minister for Racing Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence |
Madeleine Ogilvie MP | Minister for Environment Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Minister for Community and Multicultural Affairs Minister for Arts and Heritage |
Jo Palmer MLC | Minister for Education Minister for Children and Youth Minister for Disability Services |
Gavin Pearce MP | Minister for Primary Industries and Water Minister for Veterans’ Affairs |
Kerry Vincent MLC | Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister for Local Government Minister for Housing and Planning |
Rob Fairs MP | Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Engagement and Sport |
Thank you, once again, for your continued professionalism and understanding during this period.
Kind regards
Kathrine Morgan-Wicks
Head of the State Service
Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet
11 Aug 2025
