William Edward Felix "Will" Hodgman (born 20 April 1969) is an Australian politician best known for serving as the 45th Premier of Tasmania between 31 March 2014 and 20 January 2020. A member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the Division of Franklin from 2002 until his resignation in 2020, Hodgman led the Tasmanian Liberal Party for more than a decade and became the party's longest-serving state leader in 2018.

Background and early career

Hodgman comes from a family with a strong political background; his father, Michael Hodgman, was also an established Liberal politician in Tasmania. Trained in the law and experienced in the private sector, Will Hodgman entered state politics in the early 2000s and established himself as a prominent voice for his electorate, focusing on local issues and constituency representation before rising to party leadership.

Political rise and premiership

After becoming leader of the Tasmanian Liberals, Hodgman led his party through multiple elections. In 2014 he succeeded in forming government, ending a period of Labor administration in the state and taking office as Premier. He steered the Tasmanian government through economic and fiscal challenges, and won a second term in government at the state election held during his leadership.

Policies and priorities

Hodgman's government emphasized economic management, job creation, and support for key Tasmanian industries such as tourism, agriculture and forestry. His administration pursued measures intended to strengthen the state’s finances, invest in infrastructure and promote regional development. Like many state leaders, his tenure included debates over public sector reform and environmental management.

Legacy and notable facts

  • Served as Premier from March 2014 to January 2020.
  • Member for Franklin in the Tasmanian House of Assembly, 2002–2020.
  • Became the longest-serving leader of the Tasmanian Liberals in March 2018.
  • Stepped down from leadership and the premiership in January 2020, citing personal and family reasons; he was succeeded as Premier by his Liberal colleague.

Hodgman's time in office is regularly assessed in terms of its economic outcomes and its handling of Tasmania's regional priorities. His departure from politics marked the end of a significant chapter for the Tasmanian Liberal Party and for the state's recent political history.