Tasmania was the first State to establish an independent prosecuting office when the Office of the Crown Advocate was established in 1973. The name was then changed to the Director of Public Prosecutions in 1986. Prior to this all prosecutions in Tasmania were undertaken by professional staff employed in the Solicitor-General’s Department.
| Previous Crown Advocates/Directors | |
|---|---|
| 1973 - 1977 | The Honourable Henry Cosgrove QC |
| 1977 - 1982 | The Honourable William Cox QC |
| 1982 - 1984 | Mr Peter Cranswick QC |
| 1986 - 1999 | Mr Damian Bugg QC |
| 1999 - 2015 | Mr Tim Ellis SC |