New president of Tasmanian Liberals elected at annual state council, Rockliff’s preferred candidate prevails

The state Liberal Party has a new president, with Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s preferred candidate emerging victorious from a closely fought contest at the party’s state council on Saturday.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Tasmanian Liberal state conference in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A senior figure in the Catholic Church has been elected as the new president of the Tasmanian Liberal Party, defeating Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley in what was said to be a tight contest at the party’s state council.

Michael McKenna, the director of chancery services and the archdiocesan master of ceremonies for the Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart, will now hold the key leadership position within the party’s administrative wing, after the majority of delegates at the Liberal state council voted for him on Saturday.

It comes after departing president Chris Gatenby opted to stand down from the role.

Stephanie Cameron was re-elected unopposed as vice-president, while Rod Bramich was re-elected as treasurer.

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley Picture: Linda Higginson

Following the elections on Saturday afternoon, Tasmanian Liberals state director Peter Coulson said the party was “strong” and “united” and had a “shared purpose and a commitment to secure Tasmania’s future”.

Mr Blomeley, who has close ties to former senator Eric Abetz and had campaigned for the presidency by vowing to address a “declining and disaffected membership”, said he was unable to comment on the result because it was an “internal party matter”.

The election results for the party’s leadership positions will be seen as a win for Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who is understood to have backed the winning candidates.

Meanwhile, a motion calling on the government to reserve the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus for “educational or government uses” was carried by the majority of delegates at the council.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Tasmanian Liberal state conference in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Moved by the party’s Sandy Bay branch, the motion argued that the University of Tasmania Act 1992 should be amended to enable the government to reserve the site.

“The Sandy Bay branch believes that the potential sale of the campus is likely to be a very important issue at the next state election and, if not resolved, could cost the government a third seat in Clark,” delegate Lorraine Sayers said.

The motion noted that the “overwhelming ‘no’ vote in response to the Hobart City Council’s election survey on the relocation of the campus indicates the community’s support for ongoing education facilities at the Sandy Bay site”.