‘Nothing left in the tank’: Peter Gutwein resigns as Tasmanian Premier
State and federal politicians, peak business representatives and social justice spokespeople have weighed in following the unexpected resignation of Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein.
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State and federal politicians, peak business representatives and spokespeople on social justice have all reacted to the shock resignation of Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein.
State and federal politicians, peak business representatives and spokespeople on social justice have all reacted to the shock resignation of Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein.
The Member for Bass announced he was pulling the plug on his role as the state’s 46th premier on Monday afternoon in Launceston.
He wished to spend more time with his family, including his 15-year-old son and daughter who is soon to turn 18.
Labor Leader Rebecca White thanked Mr Gutwein for his service.
“Mr Gutwein has governed through some of the most difficult times as Tasmanians faced the scourge of Covid-19,” she said.
“I wish him and his family well for the future.”
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor described Mr Gutwein’s departure as a “shock”.
“While Peter Gutwein and I have had a mixed professional relationship, particularly since the border reopening, I do respect the work ethic he has demonstrated over a 20 year Parliamentary career,” she said.
“I also believe Tasmanians owe Peter Gutwein a debt of gratitude for crossing the floor to fight for child safety soon after he first came in to parliament, and last year, establishing the Commission of Inquiry into child sexual abuse in institutional settings.
“On the negative side of the ledger, he was also too close to vested interests and too ready to do their bidding.
“On pokies, the border reopening and the privatisation of wilderness, he invariably erred on the side of moneyed interests where there was money to be made.”
Ms O’Connor wished “laughter, love and fulfilment” for Mr Gutwein’s future.
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey dubbed Mr Gutwein as “the best treasurer Tasmania has ever had”.
“Peter has been an absolute trailblazer,” he said.
“Our economy is the envy of the nation, there are more people in work than ever before and he got the budget back in black so that when we were hit by Covid, we had the capacity to deal with it.”
Equality Tasmania spokesman Rodney Croome was sad to see the back of the man he described as “an active supporter of inclusion and equality for LGBTIQ+ Tasmanians”.
Mr Croome said Mr Gutwein had backed marriage equality, showed compassion towards conversion therapy survivors and oversaw funding boosts for school inclusion surveys and programs.
“He also opposed (Liberal Senator) Claire Chandler’s Bill excluding transgender women from women’s sport and the override of Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act by the Morrison Government’s Religious Discrimination Bill,” Mr Croome said.
Ms Chandler herself had only kind words to offer in light of Mr Gutwein’s departure.
“When he became treasurer as part of the newly elected Liberal government in 2014, Tasmania was an economic basket-case,” she said.
“Serving as Treasurer continuously for more than eight years, he deserves a huge amount of credit for our state’s incredible economic turnaround.”
‘Nothing left in the tank’: Premier’s shock resignation
Peter Gutwein has resigned as the Tasmanian Premier in a bombshell announcement.
Mr Gutwein made the announcement this afternoon at a press conference in Launceston.
“First and foremost I want to thank my family … no Premier does this job alone and my family’s been outstanding in their support,” Mr Gutwein said.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to serve as Tasmania’s 46th Premier, however the time is now right for me to move on and attend to other things in my life.”
Mr Gutwein said his motivation for resigning was to spend more time with his family.
It comes after he spent a recent seven-day stint in isolation with his family due to a positive Covid case in the household.
He told media it was the longest continuous period he had spent with his family since the pandemic started, and the lengthiest period he had enjoyed in his Launceston home.
The announcement marks the end of his 20-year career in the state parliament.
The outgoing Premier has shepherded the island state through the Covid-19 pandemic during two gruelling years which have left him “completely drained”.
“During this time I’ve rightly focused on everyone else’s family, I now want to spend some time focusing on my own.”
Mr Gutwein said he had held the “best job in the world”, but the responsibility had taken its toll.
“I’ve got nothing left in the tank to give,” he said.
“I’ll be doing as little as possible for as long as possible.
“I’ll be spending time with my family, I’ve got a daughter who will turn 18 tomorrow. I’ve a son who will turn 15.
“I want to support my wife. She has provided unwavering support to me.
“Twenty years ago neither of us thought that this journey would last as long as what it has.”
Mr Gutwein said he was proud he had never been a “silver spooner”, hailing from a humble background.
He thanked Tony Ferrall, Secretary of Treasury, saying “Tasmania is very lucky to have you”.
The outgoing premier also thanked Jenny Gale, his former high school maths teacher who he worked closely with as Premier in her role as head of the State Service.
He thanked all Tasmanian government staff for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The greatest highlight for me as Premier has been the courage and compassion of Tasmanians,” he said.
“There is nowhere like this place in the world and the examples of common humanity and kindness that I’ve witnessed over the last two years will remain with me, stay with me for the rest of my life.
“I will remain as Premier until the party elects a new Premier later this week.
“I will also resign as the Member for Bass later this week. Given that, there will be a need for a recount and a countback.”
Parliament is set to resume after Easter.
Mr Gutwein said he had been pondering making the decision to vacate the role for the past fortnight.
He said precious moments like the recent Christmas and New Year season “completely drained me”, with surprise Covid curveballs cutting short his holidays with family.
Mr Gutwein became the 46th premier of Tasmania when Will Hodgman quit as leader in January 2020.
The 57-year-old premier’s biggest legacy will be his leadership of the state through the Covid pandemic.
On March 19, 2020 he effectively shut the state’s borders, requiring all visitors to undergo 14-days of quarantine.
Mr Gutwein said he left the state in a good place economically.
“I know that the foundations that have been laid, the path that has been laid out, is one that a new leader will be able to make their own and importantly make their own decisions.”
The Member for Bass said he had no new employment role lined up.
He looked forward to spending time in his Launceston home with his wife Mandy, son and daughter.
“Goodbye, and thank you to all Tasmanians.”
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