Tasmania’s governing Liberal party will soon decide the island state’s next premier after the shock resignation of Peter Gutwein.
Mr Gutwein, who has held the role since Will Hodgman departed mid-term in January 2020, announced on Monday afternoon he was quitting politics to spend more time with family.
The 57-year-old indicated his “tank was empty” after two years of managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision comes less than a year after he led the Liberals to a record third-straight election victory.
“What I’ve found after the last two years especially is I have nothing left in the tank to give,” Mr Gutwein told reporters in Launceston.
“Unless you can give 110 per cent to the role of premier, you should not be doing this job. I can no longer give 110 per cent.”
Mr Gutwein said he would remain premier until the Liberals elected his successor later this week. A recount will be held to determine his replacement in the electorate of Bass.
Mr Gutwein, a father of two, has been treasurer since the Liberals came to power in 2014. He also holds tourism and climate change portfolios.
The Tasmanian Liberals have been forced into two cabinet shuffles already this year.
Education minister and former health minister Sarah Courtney quit politics in early February after being criticised over the timing of a holiday to France.
Upper house member Jane Howlett left cabinet in late February following the death of her brother.
Jeremy Rockliff, who was appointed health minister last year, has been deputy premier since 2014 but didn’t put his hand up for the top job when the party went to a vote in 2020 after Mr Hodgman quit.
Conservative MP Michael Ferguson was in the mix for the vacant leadership role in 2020 but pulled out of the race, allowing Mr Gutwein to be elected unopposed.
State parliament, which was expected to sit next week, has been prorogued until after Easter.
“The wheels have well and truly fallen off a Liberal government that promised Tasmanians stability at the state election and since has delivered anything but,” opposition Labor MP Dean Winter said.
AAP
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