The Division of Bass is an Australian electoral division in Tasmania.
It includes most of the city of Launceston and its surrounds. It has traditionally been a marginal seat and has had more members than any other federal electorate, at 18 members since 1903, including one who served twice.
Geography Since 1984, federal electoral division boundaries in Australia have been determined at redistributions by a redistribution committee appointed by the Australian Electoral Commission. Redistributions occur for the boundaries of divisions in a particular state, and they occur every seven years, or sooner if a state's representation entitlement changes or when divisions of a state are malapportioned. In addition to Launceston, Bass encompasses the Furneaux Group of islands, George Town, West Tamar, and Dorset.Bass, TAS, 2025 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.
History
The division was one of the five established when the former Division of Tasmania was redistributed on 2 October 1903 and is named for the explorer George Bass. It has always been based on the city of Launceston and surrounding rural areas, and its boundaries have changed very little in the century since its creation and first use in 1909. For most of its history it has been a marginal seat, changing hands between the Australian Labor Party and the conservative parties—since 1949 the Liberal Party. Its most notable member has been Lance Barnard, who was Deputy Prime Minister in the Whitlam government. His resignation in 1975 was followed by Labor's heavy defeat in the Bass by-election, which is seen as the beginning of the end of the Whitlam government.
The Liberals won the seat at the 2019 election, retaining it for two terms before losing it to Jess Teesdale of the Labor Party in the 2025 election.
Bass has had the most different members of any federal electorate at nineteen.
Members Image Member Party Term Notes David Storrer Protectionist 16 December 1903 –26 May 1909 Previously held the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Launceston. Lost seat Independent 26 May 1909 –13 April 1910 Jens Jensen Labor 13 April 1910 –14 November 1916 Previously held the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Wilmot. Served as minister under Fisher and Hughes. Lost seat. Later elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Bass in 1922 National Labor 14 November 1916 –17 February 1917 Nationalist 17 February 1917 –1919 Independent 1919 –13 December 1919 Syd Jackson Nationalist 13 December 1919 –12 October 1929 Lost seat Allan Guy Labor 12 October 1929 –March 1931 Previously held the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Bass. Served as minister under Lyons. Lost seat. Later elected to the Division of Wilmot in 1940 Independent March 1931 –7 May 1931 United Australia 7 May 1931 –15 September 1934 Claude Barnard Labor 15 September 1934 –10 December 1949 Served as minister under Chifley. Lost seat. Later elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Bass in 1950. Son was Lance Barnard Bruce Kekwick Liberal 10 December 1949 –29 May 1954 Lost seat Lance Barnard Labor 29 May 1954 –2 June 1975 Served as minister and Deputy Prime Minister under Whitlam. Resigned to become Australian Ambassador to Sweden, Norway and Finland. Father was Claude Barnard Kevin Newman Liberal 28 June 1975 –26 October 1984 Served as minister under Fraser. Retired Warwick Smith 1 December 1984 –13 March 1993 Lost seat Silvia Smith Labor 13 March 1993 –2 March 1996 Lost seat. Later elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council in 1997 Warwick Smith Liberal 2 March 1996 –3 October 1998 Served as minister under Howard. Lost seat Michelle O'Byrne Labor 3 October 1998 –9 October 2004 Lost seat. Later elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Bass in 2006 Michael Ferguson Liberal 9 October 2004 –24 November 2007 Lost seat. Later elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Bass in 2010 Jodie Campbell Labor 24 November 2007 –19 July 2010 Retired Geoff Lyons 21 August 2010 –7 September 2013 Lost seat Andrew Nikolic Liberal 7 September 2013 –2 July 2016 Lost seat Ross Hart Labor 2 July 2016 –18 May 2019 Lost seat Bridget Archer Liberal 18 May 2019 –3 May 2025 Lost seat. Later elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Bass in 2025 Jess Teesdale Labor 3 May 2025 –present Incumbent
Election results
References
External links Division of Bass - Australian Electoral Commission