New Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein is set to be lobbied by a range of stakeholder groups

Who’s happy and who’s not? We find out what stakeholder groups think about Tasmania’s 46th premier.

A RANGE of Tasmanian stakeholders have welcomed Peter Gutwein’s ascension to the Liberal leadership, while others have reacted with caution.

Senior Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said Mr Gutwein’s leadership would ensure continuity and stability for Tasmania.

It’s understood Senator Abetz was lobbying state Liberal MPs to support Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson’s leadership bid before Mr Ferguson pulled out of the race.

“The Liberal Party believes in competition, especially honourable competition. While Michael Ferguson and Elise Archer would’ve also made a good leadership team their decision to withdraw is a fine example of putting state and party ahead of personal ambition. As a result Peter Gutwein and Jeremy Rockliff are the unopposed leadership choice of the State Parliamentary Liberal Party,” Senator Abetz said

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has been a key promoter of Mr Gutwein’s state budgets, praised his management of Tasmania’s finances.

“Mr Gutwein has done an excellent job as Treasurer for the past six years,” said TCCI CEO Michael Bailey.

“I have great confidence that his Government will continue to grow the Tasmanian economy for all Tasmanians.”

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Equality Tasmania spokesman Rodney Croome welcomed the new Premier, saying Mr Gutwein had always voted in favour of LGBTIQ inclusion during conscience votes in State Parliament,

“We hope to meet Mr Gutwein soon to make the case for him taking strong and effective leadership when it comes to greater inclusion and equity for LGBTIQ Tasmanians,” Mr Croome said.

Former Premier Will Hodgman had promised to reset the state’s relationship with Aboriginal people, however Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell said relationship remained “fractured”.

“A new Premier offers a new beginning. We will ask Premier Gutwein to build a relationship with Aboriginal people based on respect and dignity,” Mr Mansell said.

“We will urge his Government to put land returns, protection of Aboriginal heritage and Aboriginal tourism front and centre of the new Premier’s policy”.

Rodney Croome hopes to meet with Mr Gutwein soon. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday said Mr Gutwein had been the architect of multiple attacks on the public sector workforce, including the public sector wage freeze and 1000 job cuts.

“More recently, he teamed up with Will Hodgman to deliver further damaging cuts of

$450 million that an already struggling public sector cannot afford and doesn’t

deserve,” Ms Munday said.

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“Premier Gutwein will have a lot of work to do to convince workers he’s on their side.”

RACT Executive General Manager, Membership and Community, Stacey Pennicott said Mr Gutwein should turn his mind to “urgent road safety and congestion-busting measures”.

“There are still a lot of projects that have been allocated funding that are yet to move ahead,” Ms Pennicott said.

“These include a replacement Bridgewater Bridge, a traffic solution for Hobart’s south-east, measures to address congestion in Greater Hobart and Greater Launceston, and further upgrades of the Bass Highway between Wynyard and Marrawah.”

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