[3] After a stint in local government on the Darwin City Council, Tambling was elected to the first Northern Territory Legislative Assembly as the Country Liberal Party member for Fannie Bay.

Despite that, Tambling was defeated at the 1977 election by Labor Party candidate Pam O'Neil, and began a career in business.

He served as the member for the Northern Territory electorate in the House of Representatives from 1980 to 1983, but was again defeated by an ALP rival, John Reeves.

[6] Tambling spent fourteen years as a Senator before being disendorsed by the CLP at the 2001 election for voting in favour of anti-Internet gaming legislation.

Tambling was appointed the Administrator of Norfolk Island, for a term lasting from 1 November 2003 to September 2007.