YEAR IN REVIEW: Premier Peter Gutwein hails Team Tasmania’s response to pandemic
Premier Peter Gutwein says Tasmanians should hold their heads high following their world-beating response to the COVID-19 pandemic. SEE THE PREMIER’S EXCLUSIVE YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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PREMIER Peter Gutwein says Tasmanians should be proud of their world-beating response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wrapping up a challenging year as Premier through nine months of pandemic, Mr Gutwein paid tribute to the compassion of the Tasmanian people — and the outstanding response of the state’s public service.
“We did do better than anyone else,” he says. “There was a challenge. We stared it down. We stood up, we got on with it and we delivered the safest place on the planet.”
During his year-end interview with the Mercury, Mr Gutwein said in a year with great challenges, the response of the Tasmanian community has been “a glimpse of sunshine”.
“The thing that has made me most happy during the course of the year … has been the common humanity that I’ve witnessed right across our community where Tasmanians, regardless of race, background, religion, they have held out their hand to other Tasmanians and they’ve helped each other,” Mr Gutwein said.
“I think that they recognised the seriousness of the challenges as a starting point and they’ve worked together to get on top of it.”
The Premier said the community response was reflected by the state sector. While there have been plaudits for his leadership, this been a ‘Team Tasmania’ effort.
“I have been supported by some very, very good people,” he said.
“I’ve said as a joke that I spent more time with [Director of Public Health] Mark Veitch this year than I have with my wife, unfortunately, it’s true.
“But the quality of our public service and has come to the fore and that has been right across the public sector.
“We have got some of the best public servants in the country here in Tasmania.
“The leadership that key agency personnel have shown has been fantastic ... to stand up quarantine facilities at airports within hours was just extraordinary.”
Mr Gutwein reserved high praise for his chief of staff Andrew Finch, who has played a key role in helping the state through the crisis.
“We work between 12 and 20 hour days. He started with me and he finished with me.
“He has been calm, he has been diligent, and he’s just got the job done and he has been fantastic support.”
Mr Gutwein was elevated to the top job when Will Hodgman stepped down in January. Within weeks he was facing a pandemic in full flight.
“Look, 2020 has been on out of the box, at times the most difficult and challenging year that I’ve ever had to face,” her said.
“It was certainly like nothing I’d ever anticipated. After the first five weeks of being the Premier, things changed dramatically.
Mr Gutwein said 2021 would be a year in which Tasmania consolidated its recovery from the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.
He ruled out an early election — saying he intended to go full term and would lead the Liberals in a bid for a third term. An election is due by March 2022.
Having torn up Will Hodgman’s pre-election blueprint for the state, made redundant soon after by COVID-19, Mr Gutwein said next year would give him the time to spell out own policy agenda.
“With a job like this you always turn up with a list. If you don’t, then you’re not the right person for the job,” he says.
“So I have a view on a range of matters and next year there will be a number of opportunities to lay out the direction and policy platform for the government moving forward.
“I expect to make some significant announcements in the State of the State address which will be early next year.
“Obviously, we will need to keep a close eye on what’s occurring with the virus ... and importantly ensure that the vaccination program, when available, is able to be delivered as quickly and as efficiently as possible.”
Having helped restart economy as Treasurer in the Liberal’s first term, Mr Gutwein realises there is a task ahead Looking fit and energetic after a tough year the he says he’s up to it.
“The one thing that I know, right throughout my life, when faced with a challenge, the only thing you can do is just to keep moving forward.”
OUR SAY
Words by Mercury political editor David Killick
PREMIER Peter Gutwein has paid tribute the efforts of all Tasmanians in battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his year-end interview with the Mercury, Mr Gutwein says this state has shown the world what we can do in facing and staring down this virus.
Events in Sydney in recent days show the disruptive effect of this will be with us for some time to come.
But year’s end finds us far removed from the dark days of March and April when the case numbers in this state were on the upside of the curve.
It was then, Mr Gutwein says, that Tasmania stepped up. In obeying the edicts for social distancing and staying home, we passed the peak quickly.
The people of Tasmania cancelled plans, set up home offices and home classrooms and we weathered the worst of the storm together, apart.
Our public service stepped up, from the health system to the police service and biosecurity staff, through a host of agencies whether in substantive roles or seconded into the frontline of the fray.
It was time the strength of our community was on show once again. It was a tough time, but we were at our best.
The government demonstrated an ability to act swiftly and decisively and in line with the best advice of experts. If only it was always thus.
There were setbacks, like the North-West outbreak, and there were lessons learned, as the subsequent inquiry found.
Mr Gutwein’s central point cannot be argued: Tasmania’s grappled a previously unknown threat as well as the best in the world.
Australia has recorded about 29 deaths per million people, about a quarter of the global average.
Tasmania’s 13 deaths reflect a rate even lower than that. Our testing rates have been high and there has been no second wave.
It goes without saying that we cannot afford complacency while the threat remains. The habits of social distancing and handwashing and the testing must remain reflexes.
A vaccine is on the way.
Mr Gutwein is generous with his praise for Tasmanians. But he can claim his share of the credit too. The economist John Kenneth Galbraith said that all great leaders have had one characteristic in common.
It is “the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time”.
Mr Gutwein showed this kind of strength by closing the state’s borders.
The government softened the blow for business with a record-breaking stimulus package.
And it filled the gaps left by the federal government with direct aid for visa-holders, tenants and landlords.
The year to come will present challenges as we seek to recover from the pandemic, but we can stand tall and reflect on what has been achieved.
Whatever 2020 has thrown at us we have shown ourselves equal to the task. Mr Gutwein is right. Tasmanians can pat themselves on the back.
We have shown the world what we can do.
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