Division of Bass (state)
# Division of Bass (state)

The electoral division of Bass is one of the five electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly, it includes north-east Tasmania and Flinders Island. Bass takes its name from the British naval surgeon and explorer of Australia: George Bass. The division shares its name and boundaries with the federal division of Bass.

Bass and the other House of Assembly electoral divisions are each represented by five members elected under the Hare-Clark electoral system.

## History and electoral profile

Bass was created in 1909 and includes the city of Launceston and towns in the states north east including: Scottsdale, Lilydale, St Helens, George Town and others.

## Representation

### Distribution of seats

As 6-member seat: :

* Election
* 1909–1912
* 1912–1913
* 1913–1916
* 1916–1919
* 1919–1922
* 1922–1925
* 1925–1928
* 1928–1931
* 1931–1934
* 1934–1937
* 1937–1941
* 1941–1946
* 1946–1948
* 1948–1950
* 1950–1955
* 1955–1956
* 1956–1959

As 7-member seat: :

* Election
* 1959–1964
* 1964–1969
* 1969–1972
* 1972–1976
* 1976–1979
* 1979–1982
* 1982–1986
* 1986–1989
* 1989–1992
* 1992–1996
* 1996–1998

As 5-member seat: :

* Election
* 1998–2002
* 2002–2006
* 2006–2010
* 2010–2014
* 2014–2018
* 2018–2021
* 2021–2025

Legend: :

* Labor
* Liberal
* Greens
* Nationalist
* Liberal
* Anti-Socialist
* Liberal (Lee)
* Liberal Democrat
* Independent

### Members for Bass

| Year | Member | Member | Party | Member | Party | Member | Party | Member | Party | Member | Party | Member | Party | Member | Member | Party |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1909 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Thomas Bakhap | Anti-Socialist | James Guy | Labor | Robert Sadler | Liberal Democrat | Charles Howroyd | Labor | Albert Solomon | Anti-Socialist | | Richard McKenzie | Anti-Socialist |
| 1912 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Thomas Bakhap | Liberal | James Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | Charles Howroyd | Labor | Albert Solomon | Liberal | | Richard McKenzie | Liberal |
| 1913 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Robert Sadler | Liberal | Arthur Anderson | Labor | George Becker | Labor | Charles Howroyd | Labor | Albert Solomon | Liberal | | John Hayes | Liberal |
| 1914 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Robert Sadler | Liberal | Arthur Anderson | Labor | George Becker | Labor | Charles Howroyd | Labor | Alexander Marshall | Liberal | | John Hayes | Liberal |
| 1915 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Robert Sadler | Liberal | James McDonald | Labor | George Becker | Labor | Charles Howroyd | Labor | Alexander Marshall | Liberal | | John Hayes | Liberal |
| 1916 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Robert Sadler | Liberal | Allan Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | Charles Howroyd | Labor | Alexander Marshall | Liberal | | John Hayes | Liberal |
| 1917 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Robert Sadler | Nationalist | Allan Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | Charles Howroyd | Nationalist | Alexander Marshall | Nationalist | | John Hayes | Nationalist |
| 1917 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Robert Sadler | Nationalist | Allan Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | James Newton | Nationalist | Alexander Marshall | Nationalist | | John Hayes | Nationalist |
| 1919 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Robert Sadler | Nationalist | Allan Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | James Newton | Nationalist | Alexander Marshall | Nationalist | | John Hayes | Nationalist |
| 1922 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Jens Jensen | Independent Labor | Allan Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | James Newton | Nationalist | Alexander Marshall | Nationalist | | John Hayes | Nationalist |
| 1923 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Jens Jensen | Independent Labor | Allan Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | James Newton | Nationalist | Alexander Marshall | Nationalist | | George Shields | Nationalist |
| 1925 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Jens Jensen | Independent Labor | Allan Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | James Newton | Liberal | Alexander Marshall | Nationalist | | George Shields | Nationalist |
| 1925 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Victor Shaw | Labor | Allan Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | James Newton | Liberal | Claude James | Liberal | | Henry Thomson | Nationalist |
| 1928 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Victor Shaw | Labor | Allan Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | James Newton | Nationalist | Claude James | Nationalist | | Henry Thomson | Nationalist |
| 1928 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Victor Shaw | Labor | Allan Guy | Labor | George Becker | Labor | John Ockerby | Nationalist | Claude James | Nationalist | | Henry Thomson | Nationalist |
| 1929 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Victor Shaw | Labor | Thomas Davies | Labor | George Becker | Labor | John Ockerby | Nationalist | Claude James | Nationalist | | Henry Thomson | Nationalist |
| 1931 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Victor Shaw | Labor | Thomas Davies | Labor | Robert Murphy | Nationalist | John Ockerby | Nationalist | Claude James | Nationalist | | Howard Barber | Nationalist |
| 1933 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Victor Shaw | Labor | Thomas Davies | Labor | Robert Murphy | Nationalist | John Ockerby | Nationalist | Claude James | Nationalist | | Herbert Postle | Nationalist |
| 1934 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Victor Shaw | Labor | Thomas Davies | Labor | John McDonald | Labor | John Ockerby | Nationalist | Claude James | Nationalist | | Allen Hollingsworth | Nationalist |
| 1936 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | Thomas Davies | Labor | John McDonald | Labor | John Ockerby | Nationalist | Claude James | Nationalist | | Allen Hollingsworth | Nationalist |
| 1937 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | Thomas Davies | Labor | John McDonald | Labor | John Ockerby | Nationalist | Eric Howroyd | Labor | | Allen Hollingsworth | Nationalist |
| 1941 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | Thomas Davies | Labor | John McDonald | Labor | John Ockerby | Nationalist | Eric Howroyd | Labor | | Frank Marriott | Nationalist |
| 1942 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | John Quintal | Labor | John McDonald | Labor | John Ockerby | Nationalist | Eric Howroyd | Labor | | Frank Marriott | Nationalist |
| 1945 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | John Quintal | Labor | Alan Welsh | Labor | John Ockerby | Nationalist | Eric Howroyd | Labor | | Frank Marriott | Nationalist |
| 1946 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | John Quintal | Labor | Alan Welsh | Labor | John Ockerby | Liberal | Eric Howroyd | Labor | | Frank Marriott | Independent |
| 1946 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | Reg Turnbull | Labor | Bill Beattie | Liberal | Fred Marriott | Liberal | Eric Howroyd | Labor | | Alexander Atkins | Labor |
| 1948 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | Reg Turnbull | Labor | Bill Beattie | Liberal | Fred Marriott | Liberal | Eric Howroyd | Labor | | John Orchard | Liberal |
| 1950 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | Reg Turnbull | Labor | Claude Barnard | Labor | Fred Marriott | Liberal | John Steer | Liberal | | John Orchard | Liberal |
| 1954 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | Reg Turnbull | Labor | Claude Barnard | Labor | Fred Marriott | Liberal | John Steer | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1955 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | John Madden | Labor | Reg Turnbull | Labor | Claude Barnard | Labor | Fred Marriott | Liberal | John Steer | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1956 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Alexander Atkins | Labor | Reg Turnbull | Labor | Claude Barnard | Labor | Fred Marriott | Liberal | John Steer | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1957 | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | 6 seats (1909–1959) | Alexander Atkins | Labor | Reg Turnbull | Labor | John Madden | Labor | Fred Marriott | Liberal | John Steer | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1959 | | Mac Le Fevre | Labor | Alexander Atkins | Labor | Reg Turnbull | Independent | John Madden | Labor | Fred Marriott | Liberal | John Steer | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1961 | | Mac Le Fevre | Labor | Alexander Atkins | Labor | Wallace Fraser | Labor | John Madden | Labor | James McGowen | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1964 | | Mac Le Fevre | Labor | Alexander Atkins | Labor | Wallace Fraser | Labor | John Madden | Labor | John Steer | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1968 | | Mac Le Fevre | Labor | Alexander Atkins | Labor | Wallace Fraser | Labor | John Madden | Labor | James Henty | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1969 | | Allan Foster | Labor | Alexander Atkins | Labor | Michael Barnard | Labor | Timothy Barrenger | Liberal | James Henty | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1972 | | Allan Foster | Labor | David Farquhar | Labor | Michael Barnard | Labor | Mac Le Fevre | Labor | Neil Pitt | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1974 | | Harry Holgate | Labor | David Farquhar | Labor | Michael Barnard | Labor | Mac Le Fevre | Labor | Neil Pitt | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1976 | | Harry Holgate | Labor | Gill James | Labor | Michael Barnard | Labor | Jim Mooney | Liberal | Neil Robson | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | Bill Beattie | Liberal |
| 1979 | | Harry Holgate | Labor | Gill James | Labor | Michael Barnard | Labor | Mary Willey | Labor | Neil Robson | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | John Beswick | Liberal |
| 1981 | | Harry Holgate | Labor | Gill James | Labor | Michael Barnard | Labor | Mary Willey | Independent | Neil Robson | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | John Beswick | Liberal |
| 1982 | | Harry Holgate | Labor | Gill James | Labor | Michael Barnard | Labor | Brendan Lyons | Liberal | Neil Robson | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | John Beswick | Liberal |
| 1984 | | Harry Holgate | Labor | Gill James | Labor | Peter Patmore | Labor | Brendan Lyons | Liberal | Neil Robson | Liberal | Max Bushby | Liberal | | John Beswick | Liberal |
| 1986 | | Harry Holgate | Labor | Gill James | Labor | Peter Patmore | Labor | Peter Rae | Liberal | Neil Robson | Liberal | Frank Madill | Liberal | | John Beswick | Liberal |
| 1989 | | Harry Holgate | Labor | Jim Cox | Labor | Peter Patmore | Labor | Lance Armstrong | Greens | Neil Robson | Liberal | Frank Madill | Liberal | | John Beswick | Liberal |
| 1992 | | Tony Benneworth | Liberal | Gill James | Labor | Peter Patmore | Labor | Lance Armstrong | Greens | Sue Napier | Liberal | Frank Madill | Liberal | | John Beswick | Liberal |
| 1996 | | Tony Benneworth | Liberal | Gill James | Labor | Peter Patmore | Labor | Jim Cox | Labor | Sue Napier | Liberal | Frank Madill | Liberal | | John Beswick | Liberal |
| 1998 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Gill James | Labor | Peter Patmore | Labor | Jim Cox | Labor | Sue Napier | Liberal | Frank Madill | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |
| 2000 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Gill James | Labor | Peter Patmore | Labor | Jim Cox | Labor | Sue Napier | Liberal | David Fry | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |
| 2002 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Kim Booth | Greens | Kathryn Hay | Labor | Jim Cox | Labor | Sue Napier | Liberal | Peter Gutwein | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |
| 2006 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Kim Booth | Greens | Michelle O'Byrne | Labor | Jim Cox | Labor | Sue Napier | Liberal | Peter Gutwein | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |
| 2010 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Kim Booth | Greens | Michelle O'Byrne | Labor | Brian Wightman | Labor | Michael Ferguson | Liberal | Peter Gutwein | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |
| 2014 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Kim Booth | Greens | Michelle O'Byrne | Labor | Sarah Courtney | Liberal | Michael Ferguson | Liberal | Peter Gutwein | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |
| 2015 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Andrea Dawkins | Greens | Michelle O'Byrne | Labor | Sarah Courtney | Liberal | Michael Ferguson | Liberal | Peter Gutwein | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |
| 2018 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Jennifer Houston | Labor | Michelle O'Byrne | Labor | Sarah Courtney | Liberal | Michael Ferguson | Liberal | Peter Gutwein | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |
| 2021 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Janie Finlay | Labor | Michelle O'Byrne | Labor | Sarah Courtney | Liberal | Michael Ferguson | Liberal | Peter Gutwein | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |
| 2022 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Janie Finlay | Labor | Michelle O'Byrne | Labor | Lara Alexander | Liberal | Michael Ferguson | Liberal | Simon Wood | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |
| 2023 | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | Janie Finlay | Labor | Michelle O'Byrne | Labor | Lara Alexander | Independent | Michael Ferguson | Liberal | Simon Wood | Liberal | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) | 5 seats (1998–present) |

## Election results

2021 Tasmanian state election: Bass :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 11,226 | | |
| | Liberal | Peter Gutwein (elected 1) | 32,482 | 48.2 | +24.8 |
| | Liberal | Michael Ferguson (elected 3) | 3,806 | 5.7 | −15.3 |
| | Liberal | Sarah Courtney (elected 2) | 2,227 | 3.3 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal | Simon Wood | 707 | 1.0 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal | Greg Kieser | 646 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal | Lara Alexander | 511 | 0.8 | +0.8 |
| | Labor | Michelle O'Byrne (elected 4) | 7,813 | 11.6 | −5.2 |
| | Labor | Janie Finlay (elected 5) | 5,830 | 8.7 | +8.7 |
| | Labor | Adrian Hinds | 1,663 | 2.5 | +2.5 |
| | Labor | Jennifer Houston | 1,512 | 2.2 | −1.2 |
| | Labor | Owen Powell | 706 | 1.0 | −0.6 |
| | Greens | Jack Davenport | 2,952 | 4.4 | +4.4 |
| | Greens | Anne Layton-Bennett | 1,091 | 1.6 | +1.6 |
| | Greens | Tom Hall | 886 | 1.3 | +0.7 |
| | Greens | Cecily Rosol | 691 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
| | Greens | Mitchell Houghton | 561 | 0.8 | +0.8 |
| | Shooters, Fishers, Farmers | Andrew Harvey | 1,649 | 2.4 | +2.4 |
| | Animal Justice | Sue Woodbury | 1,242 | 1.8 | +1.8 |
| | Independent | Roy Ramage | 377 | 0.6 | +0.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 67,352 | 95.0 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,544 | 5.0 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 70,896 | 90.7 | −1.1 |
| Party total votes ||||||
| | Liberal | | 40,379 | 60.0 | +1.1 |
| | Labor | | 17,524 | 26.0 | −0.4 |
| | Greens | | 6,181 | 9.2 | −0.1 |
| | Shooters, Fishers, Farmers | | 1,649 | 2.4 | +2.4 |
| | Animal Justice | | 1,242 | 1.8 | +1.8 |
| | Independent | Roy Ramage | 377 | 0.6 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +24.8 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | –15.3 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | –5.9 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | –5.2 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +8.7 | |
