Chris Gatenby has been confirmed as Tasmania’s newest Senator after a joint sitting of state parliament this morning.
Gatenby fills the vacancy left by the resignation of Wendy Askew, whose departure on August 10 triggered the process under the Commonwealth Constitution.
The Tasmanian parliament met at 10am today, with Speaker Jacquie Petrusma presiding over the joint sitting alongside Legislative Council President Craig Farrell.
Governor Caroline Wells wrote to both presiding officers to formally notify them of the vacancy.
The new Liberal Senator, a seventh generation Tasmanian who grew up on a farm at Blackwood Creek, said he was “deeply honoured” by the appointment.
“For a boy from Blackwood Creek, the privilege of representing Tasmanians in Canberra is a responsibility I will never take for granted,” he said.
Gatenby, a former Liberal Party president and senior adviser to Premier Jeremy Rockliff, was chosen as the top candidate on the Liberal Senate ticket on August 8 ahead of three other contenders.
Former state minister Sarah Courtney claimed the second position, with Latrobe councillor Jacki Martin taking third.
Brad Stansfield, a former chief of staff to Will Hodgman and current head of market research firm EMRS, missed out on a spot.
Party president Michael McKenna described it as “a tightly fought contest” and said the party had been “spoilt for choice”.
Gatenby, who ran unsuccessfully in the last state election, outlined his priorities as growing Tasmania’s economy, creating jobs, improving access to health care, backing farmers, supporting small business and expanding trade and investment opportunities.
“I will be a practical, solutions-focused Senator who listens, works hard and gets things done,” he said.
He also pledged to hold the federal Labor government to account over what he described as broken promises on issues including Bell Bay Aluminium and Rushy Lagoon.
Askew, who served as a Liberal senator for seven and a half years, said she was “deeply grateful to the Liberal Party and, most importantly, to the people of Tasmania for the trust and confidence they placed in me throughout my time in public office”.
She said she had “every confidence” Gatenby would be “a strong advocate for Tasmania and a valuable addition to the Liberal team”.
Askew said she valued serving alongside Liberal colleagues Jonno Duniam, Richard Colbeck and Claire Chandler as part of the Tasmanian Senate team.
Courtney is also expected to enter the Senate in coming months after Duniam announced plans to resign from federal parliament.
Courtney quit state politics in 2022 but said she could not sit by and watch the impact of the current federal Labor government.
“We’re seeing backflips on a range of issues that are hurting families and are hurting businesses,” she said.
McKenna said the new candidates are “committed to delivering on lower taxes … cheaper and more reliable power, more houses and putting Australians first”.
