Lara Giddings

Lara Giddings – Life, Career, and Legacy

Discover the life, career, and legacy of Lara Giddings — Australia’s first female Premier of Tasmania. Learn about her early life, politics, major policies, challenges, famous statements, and the lessons we can draw from her leadership.

Introduction

Lara (Larissa Tahireh) Giddings (born 14 November 1972) is an Australian former politician who made history in Tasmania. She became the 44th Premier of Tasmania in January 2011, and she was the first woman to hold that office in the state.

Her political journey spans nearly two decades in the Tasmanian House of Assembly, multiple ministerial roles, and leadership of the Tasmanian Labor Party. Giddings is known for advocating social reforms, health, and governance, while navigating the complexities of party politics, gender expectations, and Tasmania’s economic challenges.

In this article, we’ll explore her early life, political rise, signature moments, public viewpoints, and what her career teaches us about leadership, perseverance, and governance.

Early Life and Family

Lara Giddings was born on 14 November 1972 in Goroka, Papua New Guinea. Her full name is Larissa Tahireh Giddings.

Her early education started in Papua New Guinea. Later, for secondary schooling, she attended Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC) in Melbourne as a boarder. Toward the end of 1990, she relocated to Tasmania.

In Tasmania, she pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania.

Her early involvement in politics began when she joined the Australian Labor Party (ALP) at age 18.

Though public accounts focus primarily on her professional and political life, she later became a mother via assisted reproductive methods and also has stepchildren via her partner, Ian Magill.

Political Career & Achievements

Entry into Parliament & Early Roles

Giddings first entered the Tasmanian political arena at a young age. In 1996, she was elected as a member for the Lyons electorate in the Tasmanian House of Assembly, making her then one of the youngest women ever elected to an Australian Parliament.

However, she was defeated in the 1998 election. After that, she undertook roles outside direct electoral office—working for the Australian Senate as a clerk, and later working in political staff roles, including in Scotland for a time.

In 2002, she returned to Tasmanian politics and was elected to the seat of Franklin in the House of Assembly, where she would serve until her eventual retirement in 2018.

Soon after, she was promoted to ministerial rank. From 2004, she held portfolios including Minister for Economic Development and Minister for the Arts. After the state election of 2006, she moved into roles such as Minister for Health and Human Services.

Deputy Premier & Ascent to Leadership

In May 2008, after Premier Paul Lennon resigned, David Bartlett became Premier and Giddings was elected Deputy Leader of the Labor Party—thus taking the position of Deputy Premier of Tasmania.

In January 2011, Bartlett stepped down, and Giddings was unanimously elected by her party as leader and sworn in as Premier on 24 January 2011. Her premiership made her the first female Premier of Tasmania.

She also held the role of Treasurer during her premiership.

Challenges & Defeat

Giddings’ time as Premier came during economically difficult conditions. She had to make decisions involving budget constraints, economic diversification, and social service reform under pressure.

In the 2014 state election, Labor under her leadership was defeated. The Liberal Party, under Will Hodgman, secured a majority, and on 31 March 2014, Giddings left the premiership. She remained in parliament afterward, returning to the backbench—which was notable because she was the first defeated Premier in Tasmania to do so since 1982.

In May 2017, Giddings announced that she would retire from politics at the upcoming 2018 state election, formally leaving office on 3 March 2018.

Post-Political Career

After leaving parliament, Giddings became the Chief Executive of the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) in March 2019.

In recognition of her service, on 16 August 2017, she was granted the right to retain the honorific title “The Honourable” for life.

In the 2024 Australia Day Honours, Giddings was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for her “distinguished service to the people and Parliament of Tasmania, and to the community.”

Vision, Policies & Political Stance

Throughout her career, Giddings emphasized social justice, health, institutional reform, and inclusion. Here are key areas and stances associated with her leadership:

• Health & Social Services: As a long-standing Health Minister and Premier, she focused on improving hospital infrastructure and access to care.

• Economic diversification: During her premiership, she sought to guide Tasmania’s economy beyond traditional sectors, promoting business development and external trade, especially with Asia.

• Governance & Reform: Her government navigated budgetary pressures and sought to modernize public sector controls, transparency, and financial stability.

• Voluntary Assisted Dying (Euthanasia): Giddings was a vocal advocate for voluntary assisted dying. She introduced a private member’s bill in 2013 to legalize it, which was narrowly defeated (13–11). She continued attempts in collaboration with Greens to pass related legislation.

• Women’s representation: She was a founding member of Emily’s List Australia, an organization supporting progressive female candidates in the Labor Party.

• Labor Left faction: Within the ALP, Giddings was aligned with its Left wing.

Her leadership often involved balancing idealism with the constraints of public budgets, institutional inertia, and party dynamics.

Legacy and Influence

Lara Giddings leaves a multifaceted legacy:

1. Breaking the glass ceiling in Tasmanian politics: As the first female Premier, she holds a symbolic and historic place in Tasmania’s political narrative.

2. Policy footprints: Her efforts in health, economic reform, and social justice continue to influence debates in Tasmania and beyond.

3. Champion of procedural change: Her push for voluntary assisted dying, while unsuccessful in her time, contributed to ongoing discourse about end-of-life rights.

4. Women in leadership: Through her support of Emily’s List and her own path, she inspired and supported more women to enter public service.

5. Public service beyond politics: Transitioning to the AMA, she has continued serving in health and advocacy fields, maintaining public relevance and impact.

6. Political resilience: Her willingness to step down when defeated, yet remain in public life, models a measured approach to political defeat and service continuity.

Personality, Strengths & Challenges

From interviews and public records, several traits and challenges emerge in her political persona:

• Conviction and vision: Giddings often articulated strong moral goals, such as in health, equity, and individual rights (e.g. assisted dying).

• Courage in tough decisions: Leading a small state during tough economic times required making controversial budget choices.

• Empathy with structural awareness: She combines concern for individuals with attention to institutional capacity, which is evident in her developmental ministerial roles.

• Resilience under scrutiny: Being a female Premier and leader in a male-dominated domain exposed her to higher scrutiny, which she had to manage with steadiness.

• Limitation of political constraints: Many of her ideal initiatives (like assisted dying legislation) were blocked or delayed, reflecting how leadership is tempered by political numbers.

• Balance of ambition and pragmatism: Her tenure suggests a tension between what is ideal and what is implementable in governance.

Notable Quotes & Public Statements

While Lara Giddings is less known for quotable lines than some public figures, some public statements and positions stand out to reflect her convictions:

• On voluntary assisted dying, she said she was “a passionate advocate” and made it a key reason for her entering politics.

• In introducing her 2013 euthanasia bill, she framed it around compassion, dignity, and legislated choice.

• In 2011, she expressed the personal tension between politics and family, stating earlier she might never have children due to career demands.

Because much of her public voice is in speeches, parliamentary debates, and policy discussions, her statements tend to be context-specific rather than standalone aphorisms.

Lessons from Lara Giddings

From her life and political journey, several lessons emerge for leaders, public servants, and anyone interested in civic life:

1. History requires trailblazers: Being “first” (as female Premier) carries both opportunity and responsibility.

2. Persistence despite defeat: She remained in parliament after losing the premiership, showing that service doesn’t end with electoral loss.

3. Marry vision with pragmatism: Ambitious goals must be calibrated with institutional constraints and political realities.

4. Use policy to push conversation: Even where legislation fails, raising issues (e.g., assisted dying) can shift public debate.

5. Transitioning roles is viable: Moving from politics to leadership roles in advocacy or sector bodies (like the AMA) allows continuity of public contribution.

6. Support systems matter: Her connection with mentoring networks (e.g. Emily’s List) highlights how collective support can amplify individual careers.

Conclusion

Lara Giddings is a significant figure in Australia’s political history—not only for her “firsts” but also for her policy ambitions, measured leadership, and post-political contributions. Her journey reflects how idealism and realism must work together in public life, and how legacy is constructed through both success and struggle.