John Earle (Australian politician)

John Earle (1865 – 5 February 1932) was an Australian politician who served as the 20th Premier of Tasmania on two separate occasions.

Born in Bridgewater, Tasmania, Earle worked as a miner and union official before entering politics. He was first elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the Labor Party in 1903, representing the electorate of Fingal.

Earle served as Premier of Tasmania from April 1914 to April 1916. This was the first Labor government in Tasmania. His first premiership was marked by efforts to address unemployment and improve workers' conditions. He lost office in 1916 due to internal divisions within the Labor Party over conscription during World War I.

In 1917, Earle, along with several other Labor members, left the party and joined the Nationalist Party, supporting the wartime policies of Prime Minister Billy Hughes. He served as Premier again from August 1917 to October 1919, this time as a Nationalist. During this second term, his government focused on consolidating Tasmania's wartime efforts and dealing with post-war reconstruction.

Following his second stint as Premier, Earle served in the Tasmanian Legislative Council from 1921 until his death in 1932. His career reflects the turbulent political landscape of Australia during and after World War I, and the significant ideological shifts that occurred within the Labor movement.