Labor’s Dean Winter and re-elected Franklin MP has confirmed he intends to run for the position of party leader following the resignation of Rebecca White.
White quit the top job just days after failing to secure government in the recent state election.
Winter, who had been tipped to take over, praised White for her years of leadership and work that has “led to the demise of majority Liberal government”.
“I am pleased to have the support of Anita Dow and she has my support to continue as Deputy Leader,” Winter said on Friday.
“I am from Queenstown and grew up in Kingston. I worked in senior roles in business and IT and became the youngest Mayor in Kingborough Council’s history. That experience, as well as almost three years in Parliament, has prepared me to lead the Labor Party.”
Winter said while the Liberal government is a “bad” one, he acknowledged Tasmanians were “not prepared to elect enough Labor members for us to govern”.
“We need to earn Tasmanians’ trust again,” he said.
“I’m so worried about where our state is headed under the latest minority government Jeremy Rockliff is desperately pulling together.”
“Too many times over the past 12 months, I’ve been asked ‘what does Labor stand for?’”
“Labor stands for creating good, well paid, safe and secure jobs that support families. We always have and always will.”
