Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s chief of staff, Ned Whitehouse, will leave the role at the end of January.
Rockliff confirmed the departure in a message to colleagues, saying Whitehouse would finish “as planned”.
In the message, the premier said Whitehouse had made an “enormous contribution” to the government, its team and Tasmania “over years of dedicated service”.
He said the support Whitehouse had given him through 2025’s no-confidence motion and subsequent state election would “always mean a great deal” to him.
“The winter of 2025 was difficult and without Ned’s resolve, attitude to get the job done and leadership of our team, I believe we would not be where we are today,” Rockliff said.
The premier described his chief of staff as “a trusted adviser, a steady hand and a source of wise counsel through both opportunities and challenges”.
Whitehouse’s “relentless work ethic” was what had “always stood out most”, according to the message.
“Few chiefs of staff are asked to navigate the complexity of governing without the certainty of numbers and Ned did so with pragmatism and a clear focus on securing outcomes in the best interests of Tasmania,” Rockliff said.
The premier said Whitehouse had supported the government in progressing projects including Marinus Link and Macquarie Point and “getting the Spirits back on track”.
He also credited Whitehouse with helping drive national funding agreements in health and education, as well as scope of practice reforms, free public transport and housing initiatives.
Whitehouse was appointed chief of staff in March 2024, stepping up from principal adviser after Vanessa Field resigned from the role.
The premier’s current senior team also includes deputy chief of staff Lee Anderson, director Jessica Whiteley, principal advisers Sean Hollick and Sandy Wittison and senior advisers Dale Ayres, Charles Headlam and Nic Street.
Rockliff said transition planning was “already well underway to ensure a smooth handover in the months ahead”.
