‘I’ve Got Nothing Left in the Tank’: Tasmanian Premier Resigns Politics

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein provides a media update in Hobart, Thursday, April 30, 2020. (AAP Image/Rob Blakers)

The Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has announced his sudden resignation from his position as premier and as a member for Bass on April 4.

“I’ve got nothing left in the tank,” Gutwein said to the reporters at the press conference.

“Unless you can give 110 percent to the role of premier, you shouldn’t be doing this job, and I can no longer give more than 110 percent.”

The premier thanked his family for their “outstanding” support, especially his wife, Amanda, for raising his son and daughter primarily in his absence and expressed that he wants to “focus on family” after over 20 years in politics.

Reflecting on his time as premier, Gutwein thanked his cabinet and colleagues, expressing that he was immensely proud of his state’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and believed that Tasmania’s response was the “best in the country by any measure.”

“We were the first state that took the step to ban cruise ships when it was needed. We were the first state to close our borders, which was quickly followed by other states,” Gutwein said.

“Tasmania has been able to emerge from a worldwide pandemic, with a nation leading economy. Jobs are at a record high, and the unemployment rate is at a record low.”

Gutwein said that he leaves with the comfort of knowing that “Tasmania is in far better shape than when we first came to government in 2014.”

However, he said that the greatest highlight for him working as the premier “has been the courage and compassion of Tasmanians.”

“There is no way like this place in the world, and the examples of common humanity and kindness that I have witnessed over the last two years will remain with me stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Gutwein has advised the state cabinet and prime minister of his decision on April 4 and will remain as premier until the Tasmanian Liberal Party elects a new leader on the week ending April 10.

“I will also resign as the member for Bass later this week [ending April 10],” he said, announcing that the state parliament will be in a prorogue until returning from Easter.

When asked when he started thinking of resignation, Gutwein said that he had been contemplating for a couple of weeks. He said that the reopening of Tasmanian borders over the Christmas season “completely drained” him and also contributed to his decision.

Gutwein previously announced he was reducing his workload in September 2021 after being admitted to the hospital from a health scare, which was later diagnosed as fatigue from working.

He announced a transfer of his climate change and tourism portfolios to Environment Minister Roger Jaensch and former Education Minister Sarah Courtney, respectively, after returning to work on Sep. 7.

Courtney resigned from her position as Minister of Education on Feb. 10, after catching COVID-19 in France on leave, expressing she wanted to spend more time with her family.

The resigning premier said he currently has no job lined up and plans to spend time with his family and do as little as possible to “refill” his tank.

Gutwein was first elected to the Tasmanian Parliament in the seat of Bass in 2002 and has since continued to be re-elected for all the following elections.

In January 2020, he was elected Leader of the Tasmanian Liberal Party and the 46th Premier of Tasmania following the resignation of the previous premier, Will Hodgman, on Jan. 14, 2020.

The sudden news comes during election season, with the federal elections expected to be held in mid-May.