Government in Tasmania is delivered by a number of agencies, grouped under areas of portfolio responsibility.
Each portfolio is led by a government minister who is a member of the Parliament of Tasmania, appointed by the Governor as the representative of the Crown.
The agencies are principally grouped as eight departments, each led by a secretary or director-general and comprising a number of portfolios covering specific policy areas across the department and allocated statutory authorities, trading enterprises, boards, councils and other public bodies.
Agencies have varying levels of operational autonomy, and deliver one or more of frontline public services, administrative functions and law enforcement.
The department provides a broad range of services to Cabinet, other members of Parliament, Government agencies and the community.