Outgoing Tasmania Premier Will Hodgman admits his children targeted on social media

Tasmania’s outgoing premier, Will Hodgman, reveals social media attacks have taken their toll on his three children.

Outgoing Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman is hugged by his wife Nicky after announcing his resignation yesterday. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Social media’s dark side is a new consideration for politicians with children, says Tasmania’s outgoing premier, Will Hodgman, revealing his own kids had been “roped into” “unpleasant” online political attacks.

The premier of six years, who on Tuesday announced he would quit politics midway through a second term, in part citing the impact on his family, today suggested social media had become an added consideration for people pursuing a political career.

“There’s no doubt that these days, with social media that is pervasive, which our kids are very connected to and involved with, there can be impacts through what I do, how it’s reported,” Mr Hodgman told local radio.

“We’ve always done what we can to ensure our kids are protected and aware and supported. I make no complaint; nor do I suggest that they have been negatively impacted by all of this.

“But it would be wrong to say that it doesn’t also take its toll and I need to balance them (his three children) up in all of this as well.”

Will Hodgman’s family, (from right to left) son Will, wife Nicky and daughter Lily, watch his press conference yesterday as he announces his resignation from parliament. Picture: Zak Simmonds

He confirmed his children — Will, James and Lily — had been impacted by social media attacks on him and also directly targeted themselves.

“There are circumstances where they get roped into stuff on social media — it can be unpleasant and it can be damaging to kids right across our state,” he said.

Mr Hodgman, 50, also grew up in a political household; his late father Michael being a Fraser government minister and later state MP and party leader, his uncle Peter also a state MP during some of his formative years.

While there were pressures then, social media had added a new dimension, he suggested. “I make no complaints at all but the point I was making is that I grew up in an entirely different environment,” he said.

“I think these days all parents, those that care for kids, those in our school communities, are increasingly aware of the risks that come with social media, the higher rate of activity, commentary, and of unpleasant(ness), in social media. It’s something that parents are very aware of, (my wife) Nicky and I included.”

Nicky Hodgman wipes away tears as her husband, Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman, resigns from parliament. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Mr Hodgman, who confirmed he did not discuss his weekend decision to resign with his parliamentary colleagues until shortly before the announcement, refused to publicly endorse a successor.

It is not yet clear which of the frontrunners — Treasurer Peter Gutwein, Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson — wish to contest and have sufficient support.

Mr Hodgman again praised the attributes of Mr Rockliff, whom he on Monday described as “very dependable, very genuine and very likeable”.

Tasmania’s Deputy Premier, Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Richard Jupe

Tasmanian Treasurer Peter Gutwein. Picture: Richard Jupe

However, he insisted this was not an endorsement for the leadership, which will be put to a vote early next week, before Mr Hodgman formally resigns and leaves parliament.

Mr Rockliff, like Mr Hodgman a party moderate, is well liked and respected and comes from the party’s stronghold of Braddon, in the northwest, but also has a young family.

The decision of the 13-member PLP is complicated by the need to balance not only factional considerations but also north-south parochialism.

None of the most likely leadership contenders are from the south, meaning former speaker Elise Archer, from the southern seat of Clark, may come into consideration for deputy, depending on other machinations.