In the mid-19th Century, fake news and trolls were rampant in Tasmania. The troll leader was Lt-Governor Sir William Denison and he had an implacable hatred of Tom Chapman – President of the Anti-Transportation League. Tom had no party for support, but through an extraordinary work ethic he completely dominated Tasmanian politics for 30 years, serving as our first democratically elected Treasurer, then Premier, Colonial Secretary and President of the Legislative Council. He refused a salary as Premier, and was a key part of the creation of the institutions and conventions we take for granted today. He endured a relentless campaign of grotesque vilification from self-interested groups, but persevered in his efforts to put the colony on a sound political and financial footing. He guided us through a 19-year depression at immense personal cost, including bankruptcy. He was, without doubt, the most important politician of our history, and can justly be called the father of modern Tasmania. Every politician today should ask themselves – how do I compare to Tom Chapman?