About Tasmania First Party
Home Links About Info	Our History & Structure History The Tasmania First Party was formed as part of a massive spontaneous grass roots responce to Liberal prime Minister John Howard's unilateral imposition of unnecessarily restrictive firearm legislation, following the unique tragedy of Martin Bryant's Port Arthur protest. Over eight thousand citizens, from all parts of Tasmania, rallied at the Regatta grounds on the Hobart foreshore, on 23rd June 1996. Following the stone walling of the deluge of letters, phone calls and presentations to parliament, including the lodging of a petition containing 16,000 names, the protesters debated whether to join a existing mainland party, or to form a new political party unique to Tasmania. Ted Drane spoke for the Australian Reform party and Graeme Campbell for the Australia First Party. A second rally involving a motorcade to Hobart and a march to Parliament House through the streets of Hobart was called for 20th July 1996. Over fifteen thousand answered the call and marched. By the end of the march, over 800 Tasmanians had chosen to sign up for membership of a new party, the Tasmania First Party. The decision was clear, a new party was the overwhelming choice. The Foundation meeting of the new party was held in Hobart on 21st August 1996 and an interim committee of twenty elected. Three branches formed in September 1996 and the party was formally registered. Four branches were formed in October, three in November and two in December 1996. Eight more branches formed and joined the party before the first AGM in Ulvestone on 29/30 June 1997. Since then three more branches have joined the party and existing branches have added to their numbers. The membership is currently over 1200 members, making Tasmania First the second largest party in Tasmania. The party has quickly developed into a major middle-of-the-road rural centered party covering all aspects of politics. The party contested the Tasmanian state election on 29th August 1998 by standing twenty six candidates and captured 10% of the vote in Lyons. As remarked by many, a very credible result for a new party's first election. The party then stood three Senate and three (Lyons, Braddon and Bass) candidates in the Federal election of 3rd October 1998 and decidedly influenced the re-election of Senator Harradine instead of the Greens candidates. There is a seperate page for viewing our Policy statements.   Structure The Tasmania First Party is based on a hierarchical structure with the branches combining to form one electoral council in each of the five State/Federal electoral divisions in Tasmania. The party has no affiliation or connection with the One Nation Party of Pauline Hanson, the Shooters Party, the Australian Reform Party or the Australia First Party. The State Office is located on the first floor of 141 Elizabeth Street, Hobart on phone (03) 6234 9992 fax (03) 6234 9994 and our postal address is PO Box 608 Glenorchy, Tasmania, 7010 The State President is John Wise, a retired education department public servant. Phone 0419 590 400 The State Secretary is John Presser, a retired Forensic Scientist, who was previously the secretary of the Tasmanian Firearms Owners Association for five years. Phone 0419 553 705 The State Vice-President is David Pickford. Phone 0417 322 713 The State Treasurer is Barbara Woods, who was previously the treasurer of SSAA (Tas). Phone 0419 559 602 The State Endorsement Officer is Gerald Breen at PO Box 16, Claremont, 7011. Phone and fax (03) 6249 2488 The Federal Registration Officer is John Wise at PO Box 496, Sorell, 7172. Phone and fax (03) 6257 5194 The Party Agent is Wayne Habner at PO Box 442, Mowbray 7248. Phone 0419 007 039 The secretary of the Bass Electoral Council is John Green PO Box 442, Mowbray 7248 Phone: 0418 125 201 The secretary of the Braddon Electoral Council is Petita Abblitt PO Box 304, Somerset 7322 Phone: 0419 308 841 The secretary of the Denison Electoral Council is Barbara Woods PO Box 608, Glenorchy 7010 Phone: (03) 6249 2135 The secretary of the Franklin Electoral Council is Wendy Hyde PO Box 58, Franklin, 7113 Phone: (03) 6266 3487 The secretary of the Lyons Electoral Council is Diane Wise PO Box 496 Sorell, 7172 Phone: (03) 6257 5194 BRANCH SECRETARIES DENISON Hobart John Evans 6234 6986 Northern Suburbs Inez McCarthy 6272 4810 Moonah Barbara Woods 6249 2135 FRANKLIN Cambridge Louise Graham 6248 5669 Huon Valley Wendy Hyde 6266 3487 Kingborough Carol Reynolds 6267 9777 BASS North East Bass Justin Clark 6354 8383 Launceston John Green 6344 2434 Lilydale Louise Leslie 6395 2012 BRADDON Burnie Petita Abblitt 6436 3168 Circular Head Vicky Blizzard 6458 3324 Devonport Colleen Gardam 6424 4950 LYONS Bothwell Bonnie Boulton 6259 8170 Derwent Valley Will Frank 6249 4622 East Coast Allan McDougall 6257 7581 Latrobe Chris Acheson 6426 2677 Northern Midlands Marie Barnes 6398 2836 Richmond Jacqui Jenkins 6259 7147 South East Diana Wise 6257 5194 West Coast Kerry Hamer 6471 7210

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