Jeremy Rockliff is firming as the favourite to become Tasmania’s next premier following Peter Gutwein’s shock resignation on Monday.
A new report from the ABC says Mr Rockliff is “hoping” to take on the job and would “likely have the support of the party room”.
He has been the state’s deputy premier since 2014 when a Liberal government was elected under then Premier Will Hodgman.
Mr Rockliff retained the role after Mr Hodgman resigned as premier and party leader in January 2020 when Mr Gutwein ran unopposed in the Liberal’s leadership contest.
He has been the MP for Braddon since July 2002, the same election where Mr Gutwein and Mr Hodgman also joined the Tasmanian House of Assembly.
Mr Rockliff is the Health Minister, Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister, and Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries Minister.
But competition for the role could come in the form of former federal MP for Bass Michael Ferguson, with the ABC saying it is “not clear” whether he will run.
When the position last became available following Mr Hodgman’s resignation, Mr Ferguson ran as a candidate against Mr Gutwein before withdrawing before any vote.
Mr Ferguson is the xjmtzywleader of the House, Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Finance, State Development, Construction and Housing Minister, and Local Government and Planning Minister.
He recently attracted controversy after he was one of the government MPs who groaned when Labor leader Rebecca White asked a question in parliament while quoting child abuse victim-survivor Tiffany Skeggs.
Mr Rockliff has the support of Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O‘Connor, who called him “kind, decent and intelligent”.
In contrast, when speaking about Mr Ferguson, Ms O’Connor said “he‘s brittle, unforgiving, and couldn’t apologise to victim-survivor Tiffany Skeggs for almost three weeks after he behaved appallingly”.
After Mr Gutwein’s resignation, Mr Hodgman’s former chief of staff Brad Stansfield said the role of premier was an honour Mr Rockliff “has so clearly earned and is very well prepared for”.
Mr Stansfield described it as a “generational change” if Mr Ferguson got the job.
Mr Gutwein resigned as premier on Monday afternoon, saying he had “nothing left in the tank to give”.
“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,” he said.
