Jo Palmer

Joanne Lesley Palmer (née Dick, formerly Cornish; born 10 April 1971) is an Australian politician and former television journalist and newsreader.

Palmer was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and moved to Tasmania as a baby after being adopted by an Australian family.

Palmer is a former Miss Tasmania and in 1993 she was awarded Miss Australia.

Palmer was originally employed by 7 Tasmania (then Southern Cross Television) in Hobart as a journalist, before she later presented the stations flagship Nightly News on 7 Tasmania (now 7NEWS Tasmania) for 18 years, until leaving the station in February 2020.

Palmer was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council for the division of Rosevears at the 2020 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election, representing the Liberal Party.

In April 2022, Palmer was elevated to cabinet and was appointed as Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Minister for Disability Services and Minister for Women.

Palmer was re-elected to Rosevears at the 2026 Legislative Council elections.