Former Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman scores Gold Coast job

Former Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman has been appointed to a major new role on the Gold Coast.

Former Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman has a new apple of his eye - the Gold Coast - after being appointed to a major new city council role on the Glitter Strip.

In a significant coup, the Gold Coast City Council has snared the ex-premier and Singapore High Commissioner to head a new investment arm to further diversify and polish the $45bn Glitter Strip economy.

Councillors on Tuesday voted to endorse Mr Hodgman, 55, as the inaugural chair of InvestGC. It will be tasked with securing big ticket projects such as a hinterland cableway, cruise ship terminal, boutique stadium and new six-star hotels, as well as luring companies including major tech firms to set up shop on the Coast.

Mr Hodgman, Tasmania’s Liberal premier from 2014 to 2020 before being appointed Australia’s High Commissioner to Singapore in 2021 until last year, will join his former chief of staff turned council CEO Tim Baker on the Coast.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff with former premier Will Hodgman. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

He said he was thrilled to take on the new role which came after Mr Baker and Mayor Tom Tate visited Tasmania “to pick my brain on what we’d done here”.

Mr Hodgman said the Coast economy – historically heavily reliant on tourism and development but which has diversified in recent years into areas including education, film, medical and technology – was “firing on all cylinders” but believed his skills and connections could help “keep the city at the front of the pack”.

“I expressed an interest because I love being part of a place that wants to embrace economic growth and sustainable development,” he said.

“It was a central pillar to what I did as premier, but also to what I did in Singapore, having worked there for a couple of years, and to use the benefits of economic growth and investment to build stronger communities.

“The council’s doing a tremendous job in surging the city’s economy to the point where it is the fastest growing region in the country with enormously strong competitive advantages, but also a very proactive and aggressive business attraction and investment strategy. But I think we can always and need to always look at ways to stay at the front of the pack.

“I think the Gold Coast is now relishing not only strong growth, but also presenting as an opportunity to take up where other cities are struggling, including in areas like affordable living, education, sport and cultural activities. But also in the cutting edge sectors of technology and the digital economy.”

Mr Hodgman said despite serving as High Commissioner to Singapore during the global pandemic, he had helped lift it from Australia’s sixth to fifth largest trading partner with initiatives including a digital economy agreement.

He saw opportunities for the Gold Coast to forge closer business and tourism ties with the Asian powerhouse while also amplifying the Coast’s “brand”, as he had done with Tasmania.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: John Gass

“I know that Mayor Tate has got an interest in further ramping up the Gold Coast brand to continue this economic and social growth,” he said.

He said he had holidayed on the Coast with his family many times and believed it had “enormous opportunity”.

“And look, it has growing pains, there’s no doubt – and I’m very mindful of that,” he said.

“As premier, we took Tasmania’s economy from the worst performing in the country to the best for the first time ever. And that was obviously alongside a more buoyant confident business sector, but also changing the landscape to make it the most attractive business environment in the country as well.”

Cr Tate said Mr Hodgman’s experience and networking capabilities made him an “invaluable” appointment as InvestGC’s first chair.

“The Gold Coast economy has grown by 32 per cent in the past 12 years and major companies, private sector entrepreneurs and corporations are looking at investing in our city,” he said.

“It’s vital that the new InvestGC board has the right membership to properly assess these proposals.”

The council would not disclose Mr Hodgman’s remuneration but Cr Tate said InvestGC would be funded by existing city resources and not burden ratepayers.

Mr Hodgman said he was looking at moving to the Coast to take up the role “so I can throw myself right into the mix and be very present, active and accessible”.

Originally published as Former Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman scores Gold Coast job