 In 1880, Tozer was elected was an alderman in Gympie's first town council.On 17 May 1888 he was elected again as the member for Wide Bay, and was colonial secretary in the second Griffith ministry from August 1890 to March 1893, held the same position in the McIlwraith–Nelson ministry until October 1893, and was home secretary in the Nelson ministry until March 1898.In 1895, he brought in a very moderate shops early closing bill which passed the assembly but was rejected by the legislative council.