Biggest nanny state in Australia is revealed – and it’s not New South Wales
Tasmania has emerged as Australia’s biggest nanny state, with the former opposition leader calling it the ‘most over-governed place in the world’.
An analysis of the number of MPs per capita shows Tasmania will have 11.7 politicians per 100,000 residents if the House of Representatives increases from 25 to 35 members at the March 23 election.
The Weekend Australian collected data from every state and territory and made the shocking discovery that NSW, often labeled a nanny state, was the least governed jurisdiction.
NSW has just 2.3 MPs per 100,000 residents, followed by Queensland with 2.4 and Victoria with 2.6.
Western Australia had the fifth most MPs with 4.1 politicians per 100,000 population, followed by South Australia with 4.9 and the Australia Capital Territory with 6.3.
Tasmania turns out to be Australia’s biggest nanny state, with former opposition leader calling it the ‘most over-governed place in the world’ (photo, Hobart)
NSW has just 2.3 MPs per 100,000 residents, followed by Queensland with 2.4 and Victoria with 2.6 (photo, Sydney)
The Northern Territory was the only jurisdiction to come close to Tasmania’s level of politicians at 11.4 per 100,000 residents.
The increase in the number of parliamentary seats in Tasmania from 25 to 35 was the work of Liberal State Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
He argued that 35 seats, the number available before 1998, would help parliamentary committees, widen the talent pool of ministers and increase government diversity.
However, former Liberal leader Bob Cheek – who was outspoken in reducing House of Representatives seats to 25 – believes Rockliff’s plan will see the number of politicians, including city council, reach almost one per 15,000 residents .
“I think we’ll soon have one for every household – it’s complete madness,” he said.
Mr Cheek added that the return to 35 seats would see more ratbags elected as the percentage of voters needed for elections would fall from 16.7 per cent to 12.5 per cent.
“Putting another 10 people in parliament won’t necessarily increase talent. More is not necessarily better; you can get ten more,” he said.
Mr Cheek was Prime Minister of Tasmania from 2001 to 2002 and is no longer part of the Liberal Party.
The high ratio is the work of Liberal State Premier Jeremy Rockliff (pictured), who introduced ten additional seats to Tasmania’s House of Representatives.
It is understood several current members of the Liberal Party share Cheek’s concerns. The reduced percentage could lead to more independent and Greens MPs being elected, meaning the party could lose its majority government.
However, Mr Rockliff claims his plan, which was backed by Labor and the Greens, will “ensure greater functioning of Parliament and broader representation”.
Tasmania’s Department of Finance estimates the additional 10 MPs will cost taxpayers an additional $7.9 million in the first year, and an additional $7.2 million each year thereafter.
In addition, the Tasmanian Electoral Commission estimates it will cost an additional $100,000 each election.
Mr Cheek called on Mr Rockliff to look within the existing government for the additional manpower he claims he needs.
“Committees were usually looking for something to do, and while the prime minister and ministers are working hard, the others are not,” he said.
“People were just twiddling their thumbs.”
He added the increased seats were an “ego trip” for Tasmania’s current politicians and expressed frustration that his work to reduce the number of seats to 25 has “simply been wasted”.