Peter Gutwein

Gutwein was born in England in 1964, the oldest of six children born to a British mother and a father who had arrived in Britain from "post-war central Europe" in the mid-1950s. The family migrated to Australia in early 1969 as "Ten Pound Poms", traveling to Launceston, via Melbourne and Hobart. The three youngest children were born in Australia. His father worked as a baker, also stacking animal skins and selling firewood to earn extra money.{{cite news|url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6690317/gutwein-from-migrant-to-tas-premier/|title=Peter Gutwein, from migrant to Tasmania's Premier|first=Isabel|last=Cootes|newspaper=The Examiner|date=22 March 2020|access-date=1 August 2020|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407110536/https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6690317/gutwein-from-migrant-to-tas-premier/|url-status=live}}

Gutwein grew up in the village of Nunamara. He became an Australian citizen at the age of 16. His younger brother died at the age of 10 due to a congenital heart defect.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-03/tas-premier-voices-support-for-voluntary-assisted-dying-reform/12947092|title=Tasmania's Premier Peter Gutwein voices support for voluntary assisted dying to become law|work=ABC News|date=3 December 2020|access-date=22 February 2022|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407110750/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-03/tas-premier-voices-support-for-voluntary-assisted-dying-reform/12947092|url-status=live|first1=Emily|last1=Baker|first2=Alexandra|last2=Humphries|quote="As some are aware, I lost a 10-year-old brother when I was a young man, just shy of my 21st birthday. "He died running in a 100m race at a sportsground in Launceston from a heart defect — a floppy heart valve — in front of my parents, who were there to cheer him on."}} He was educated at Myrtle Park Primary School and Queechy High School in Launceston, and Deakin University in Melbourne.{{cite web |title=Peter Gutwein |url=http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/cabinet/peter_gutwein |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922060037/http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/cabinet/peter_gutwein |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 September 2021 |website=Premier of Tasmania |access-date=20 January 2020}}

In a 2022 press conference as premier, Gutwein revealed that he was a victim of child sexual abuse by his teacher at the age of 16.{{Cite news |date=2022-03-11 |title=Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein reveals he is a victim of child sexual abuse |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-11/tas-gutwein-divulges-own-sexual-abuse-encounter/100903018 |access-date=2022-03-11|first1=James |last1=Dunlevie |first2=Daniel |last2=Miller|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407105452/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-11/tas-gutwein-divulges-own-sexual-abuse-encounter/100903018|url-status=live}}

Gutwein played senior Australian rules football for the East Launceston Football Club as a midfielder.{{cite news|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/disrepect-afl-games-to-be-expelled-from-tasmania-unless-the-state-is-given-a-team/news-story/bf54eec52ba1e7dd4f4aa0c49e13acd9|url-access=subscription|title='Disrepect': AFL games to be expelled from Tasmania unless the state is given a team|first=Brett|last=Stubbs|newspaper=The Mercury|date=13 August 2021|access-date=15 August 2021}} He also played a single season for the Swan Districts Football Club, for a single league game,{{WAFL FootyFacts}} in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) in 1986, while studying at the Western Australian Institute of Technology.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/swandistrictsfootballclub/posts/5195388530502349|url-access=registration|title=Peter Gutwein - A premier player for the Swans|publisher=Swan Districts Football Club|via=Facebook|first=Steve|last=Young|date=16 March 2021|access-date=15 August 2021|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240407103625/https://www.facebook.com/swandistrictsfootballclub/posts/5195388530502349|url-status=live}}

Holding financial planning qualifications (Dip Fin Planning, Grad Cert Bus Admin) he worked in the insurance and financial planning sector in Australia and in Europe and managed a country pub in Tasmania{{Cite news |date=2020-10-30 |title=Peter Gutwein's pandemic response won praise, but has the shine gone off? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-31/business-grants-fallout--shine-off-gutwein-pandemic-response/12833044 |access-date=2025-05-24 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} before entering politics initially as an advisor and then standing for office.

Gutwein began his career in politics in 1995, when he was introduced to the former federal MP for Bass, Warwick Smith, who convinced him to join the Liberal Party and manage Smith's successful re-election campaign at the 1996 federal election. Following the election of the Howard government, Gutwein worked for two years as a ministerial adviser to Senator Jocelyn Newman during her time as Minister for Social Security.{{cite web |last1=Gutwein |first1=Peter|title=Inaugural speech: Peter GUTWEIN MP|url=http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/History/tasparl/Inaugural/ISGutweinPeter.htm|archive-date=12 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312221822/http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/History/tasparl/Inaugural/ISGutweinPeter.htm|url-status=dead|website=Hansard|publisher=House of Assembly {{!}} Parliament of Tasmania|access-date=20 January 2020|date=26 September 2002|quote=Mr Speaker, I am humbled by the privilege that the electors of Bass have bestowed upon me by electing me to this place. It was seven years ago that I began my association with the Liberal Party. My good friend, Richard Trethewie, introduced me to Warwick Smith and together they spoke to me about Menzies and the Liberal philosophy about the rights and freedoms of the individual and the need to encourage initiative, responsibility and independence. After the recession of the early 1990s and Australia's growing indebtedness to the rest of the world, they knew that I, like many other Australians, was concerned about this country's future. They suggested that I should play my part in working for a better Australia, rather than being one of the many who complained but offered no real alternatives. That comment struck a chord in me and initially I managed Warwick's campaign to a successful conclusion at the 1996 poll. I then took on the opportunity to work as an adviser to Senator Newman in her capacity as a cabinet minister and Minister for Social Security.}}

In July 2002, Gutwein was elected as a member for Bass at the state election. In August 2002, he joined opposition leader Rene Hidding's shadow cabinet, holding the portfolios of shadow treasurer, employment, and economic development.{{cite web|title=Peter Gutwein MHA |url=https://www.parliament.curriculum.edu.au/parl.php3?ID=670&srch=&list_params=|website=Parliament @ Work|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407003955/https://www.parliament.curriculum.edu.au/parl.php3?ID=670&srch=&list_params=|archive-date=7 April 2023|url-status=dead| date=30 September 2006 |publisher=Department of Education (Tasmania)|access-date=20 January 2020}} In December 2003, Gutwein became the first Tasmanian MP in five years to cross the floor when he voted for a bill proposed by the Tasmanian Greens to establish a commission of inquiry into child abuse, which saw Hidding strip him of his shadow portfolios.{{cite news|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407112932/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-12-04/liberal-mp-pays-the-price-for-crossing-the-floor/100330|url-status=live|title=Liberal MP pays the price for crossing the floor |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-12-04/liberal-mp-pays-the-price-for-crossing-the-floor/100330 |access-date=20 January 2020|work=ABC News|location=Australia|date=4 December 2003|language=en-AU}} In April 2004 he became shadow minister for education, and police and public safety. When Will Hodgman led the Liberals to government at the 2014 state election, Gutwein was appointed as Treasurer of Tasmania, as well as Minister for Planning and Local Government. Until 2019, he held various other ministries including environment, parks and heritage; forestry; and state growth.{{cite web|title=Ministers - House of Assembly - 2014 to date|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407113133/https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/resources/about-parliament/historyindex/members/haministers|url-status=live|at=Hon. Peter Gutwein MP|url=http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/tasparl/haministers.htm|website=The Parliament of Tasmania from 1856|publisher=Tasmanian Parliamentary Library|access-date=20 January 2020}}

Gutwein took an aggressive stance{{Cite web |date=2020-06-08 |title=Tick of approval for Peter Gutwein's footy call from Tim Lane |url=https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/6784650/tick-of-approval-for-peter-gutweins-footy-call-from-tim-lane/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=www.theadvocate.com.au |language=en-au}} with the Australian Football League in relation to the granting of a club licence to a Tasmanian-based team but ultimately agreed to a series of concessions that drew significant criticism from the community and independent observers due to the economic costs.{{Cite web |last=Am |first=Ivan Dean Am and Greg Hall |date=2025-01-22 |title=Gruen Report: Gutwein and Rockliff's AFL stadium controversy |url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/8871920/gruen-report-gutwein-and-rockliffs-afl-stadium-controversy/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=www.examiner.com.au |language=en-au}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-02 |title=More cost, less benefit, site likely wrong: Expert belts Hobart AFL stadium |url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/8858452/hobart-afl-stadium-project-mismanaged-says-economic-expert/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=www.theadvocate.com.au |language=en-au}}{{Cite news |last=Morton |first=Adam |date=2023-06-10 |title=The devils and the detail of the $715m AFL stadium dividing Tasmania |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/11/the-devils-and-the-detail-of-the-715m-afl-stadium-dividing-tasmania |access-date=2025-05-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Bosca |first=Leon Della |date=2025-02-20 |title=Hobart AFL Stadium Renders Released as Criticism Grows |url=https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/macquarie-point-afl-stadium-hobart-tasmania-new-renders |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=theurbandeveloper.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Tasmanian |date=2025-03-27 |title=Shifting Stadium Goalposts As Roof Buckles - Tasmanian Times |url=https://tasmaniantimes.com/2025/03/shifting-stadium-goalposts/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |language=en}}

In April 2017, Gutwein was referred to the Legislative Council for contempt of parliament, following his refusal to provide an unredacted version of a report, The Sale of the Tamar Valley Power Station, to the Public Accounts Committee.{{cite news |last1=Aird|first1=Harriet|title=Tasmania energy saga: Upper House set to decide on Gutwein 'contempt'|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-11/upper-house-set-to-decide-on-treasurer-peter-gutwein-contempt/8432370|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407114915/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-11/upper-house-set-to-decide-on-treasurer-peter-gutwein-contempt/8432370|url-status=live|access-date=20 January 2020|work=ABC News|location=Australia|date=11 April 2017|language=en-AU}} According to the Tasmanian Parliamentary Library, as of 2017 Gutwein had been suspended from parliament more than any other member, with 16 suspensions.{{cite web|title=Tasmanian Parliamentary History {{ndash}} FAQ|url=https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/resources/about-parliament/parlhistfaq|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121193229/http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/tpl/InfoSheets/ParlHistFAQ.htm|url-status=deviated|archive-date=21 November 2017|work=Tasmanian Parliamentary Library|access-date=8 February 2018}}

Gutwein has been described as a moderate Liberal.{{cite news |quote=Mr Gutwein is a moderate Liberal and Mr Ferguson a conservative. Both have been in politics for more than 15 years and both are from the north. |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-18/analysis-tas-premier-michael-ferguson-and-peter-gutwein/11877604 |title=Who are Tasmanian premiership candidates Peter Gutwein and Michael Ferguson? |work=ABC News |date=18 January 2020 |access-date=28 March 2021 |last=Baker |first=Emily |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407102947/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-18/analysis-tas-premier-michael-ferguson-and-peter-gutwein/11877604 |archive-date=7 April 2024 |url-status=live}}

On 14 January 2020, Hodgman announced his intention to resign as Liberal leader and premier. Along with Michael Ferguson, Gutwein was considered a front-runner for the leadership contest, but was elected unopposed on 20 January, when Ferguson withdrew from the ballot. Gutwein was sworn in as the 46th Premier of Tasmania later that afternoon.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Gutwein announced on 19 March 2020 that all "non-essential" travellers to the state, including returning residents, would be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-19/coronavirus-tasmanian-premier-announces-border-restrictions/12069764|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407112358/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-19/coronavirus-tasmanian-premier-announces-border-restrictions/12069764|url-status=live|title=Tasmania to enforce 'toughest border measures in the country' amid coronavirus pandemic|work=ABC News|date=19 March 2020|access-date=19 March 2020}}

In December 2020, Gutwein announced that he would vote in favour of legalising euthanasia in Tasmania, although he had previously voted against similar legislation on three occasions. He stated that "I believe in freedom of choice and that's why I support this bill", also citing the deaths of his father and sister to aggressive forms of cancer.

In March 2021, Gutwein informed Speaker Sue Hickey that she would not be re-endorsed as a Liberal candidate. She subsequently resigned from the party, leaving the Liberals in a minority government.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-22/tas-speaker-sue-hickey-to-be-disendorsed-by-liberals/100020314|first=Loretta|last=Lohberger|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407111703/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-22/tas-speaker-sue-hickey-to-be-disendorsed-by-liberals/100020314|url-status=live|title=Speaker Sue Hickey 'sacked' from Tasmanian Liberal Party|work=ABC News|date=22 March 2021}} Three days later, Gutwein called an early election for May 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-26/tasmania-state-election-announcement/100022084|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407111824/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-26/tasmania-state-election-announcement/100022084|url-status=live|title=Peter Gutwein calls Tasmanian state election for May 1|work=ABC News|date=26 March 2021|quote=The next day [20 March 2021] Mr Gutwein said he'd call an election when Tasmania needed one, fuelling speculation of an early election, and then followed up that weekend by informing Speaker Sue Hickey she would not be preselected for the seat of Clark. Ms Hickey promptly quit the party after being notified of the decision, plunging the Liberal Party into minority government and providing it with a fitting excuse for an early ballot.|first=Adam |last=Langenberg}} He led the Liberals to a third straight majority in the House of Assembly, the first time in the party's history. Ultimately the Liberals finished with 13 seats out of 25, unchanged from the 2018 election, with 50.3 percent of the vote.{{Cite news|date=2021-05-12|title=Tasmanian Liberals have won majority government, ABC's Antony Green says|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-12/tasmanian-liberals-have-won-majority-government/100132058|first=Alexandra|last=Humphries|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-12|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512090350/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-12/tasmanian-liberals-have-won-majority-government/100132058 |archive-date=12 May 2021 }}

On 4 April 2022, Gutwein announced his resignation as premier and as a member of Tasmania's parliament. His deputy Jeremy Rockliff succeeded him on 8 April 2022.{{Cite news |date=2022-04-04 |archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407113930/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-04/peter-gutwein-quits-politics-new-tasmanian-premier-to-be-picked/100965020|url-status=live|title=Peter Gutwein quits politics leaving Tasmanian Liberals to pick new Premier |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-04/tasmanian-premier-peter-gutwein-quits-politics/100965020 |access-date=2022-04-04}}{{Cite news |work=Australian Associated Press |date=2022-04-08 |title=Jeremy Rockliff becomes Tasmania's 47th premier after being elected as state Liberal leader |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/08/jeremy-rockliff-becomes-tasmanias-47th-premier-after-being-elected-as-state-liberal-leader |access-date=2022-04-08 |via=The Guardian|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407113648/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/08/jeremy-rockliff-becomes-tasmanias-47th-premier-after-being-elected-as-state-liberal-leader|quote=Rockliff replaces Peter Gutwein, who on Monday announced his resignation after 20 years in politics and two years in the top job.|url-status=live |language=en}}

After leaving office, Gutwein allowed his Liberal Party membership to lapse.{{cite news |last1=Beavis |first1=Laura |title=Former Tasmanian premier's frank advice to Liberal Party on Voice opposition |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-07/peter-gutwein-frank-advice-to-liberal-party-on-voice-opposition-/102196090 |work=ABC News|date=6 April 2023 |quote=Mr Gutwein also revealed that he's no longer a member of the Liberal party, not having renewed his membership after he left office, although that was unconnected to the Voice to Parliament matters.|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407102310/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-07/peter-gutwein-frank-advice-to-liberal-party-on-voice-opposition-/102196090|url-status=live}}

Gutwein lives in the Tamar Valley with his wife and two children. He is a qualified black belt and assistant to the instructor in the martial art of taekwondo. He has a pair of pet goats, named Alan and Teddy.{{cite web

|url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6784203/premier-kicks-back-with-his-family-at-bridport/ |title=Peter Gutwein also enjoyed being home and catching up on chores |work=The Examiner |date=7 June 2020 |access-date=28 March 2021 |author=Bailey, Sue |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610040745/https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6784203/premier-kicks-back-with-his-family-at-bridport/ |archive-date=10 June 2020 |url-status=live}}

In 2024, Gutwein completed a walk across Tasmania to raise funds for Tasmania's migrant community following a string of racially motivated attacks.

Gutwein was a driving force behind the Scottsdale Football Club’s plans to recruit interstate players to become more viable and competitive in a restructured regional Australian Rules competition.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title=Pies' bold plan: NTFA Premier League finals in three years, premiership in five |url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/8666093/scottsdale-set-for-ntfa-premier-league-footy-with-gutweins-plan/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=www.examiner.com.au |language=en-au}} Whilst Scottsdale entered the new Northern Tasmanian Football Association premier league division, the planned recruitment struggled and Gutwein resigned from the Club to take on the President’s role with the Association.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-04 |title=Magpies search for new Patron |url=https://northeasternadvertiser.com/featured-articles/president-gutwein |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=North Eastern Advertiser |language=en-AU}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Treasurer of Tasmania |years=2014–2022}}

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Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Tasmania

Category:Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly

Category:Treasurers of Tasmania

Category:Premiers of Tasmania

Category:Deakin University alumni

Category:English emigrants to Australia

Category:21st-century Australian politicians

Category:Naturalised citizens of Australia

Category:Australian monarchists

Category:East Launceston Football Club players

Category:Swan Districts Football Club players

Category:Coalition premiers in Australia