Former Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein has been appointed chair of the Australian Multicultural Council.
The council provides independent advice to the federal government on issues affecting Australia’s multicultural communities and supports efforts to strengthen social cohesion, inclusion and participation.
Gutwein, who migrated to Tasmania from Germany with his family at the age of four, said he was flattered to be offered the role.
“We are a multicultural country and the lurch to the right in terms of the current national discourse regarding immigration settings, migrants and refugees needs to be addressed,” he said.
“Like the more than 30% of the population who were born overseas, I am also a migrant as well as a very proud Australian.”
Gutwein said the national debate needed to refocus on the contributions migrants make to Australia.
“The grievance politics being played at the moment regarding migrants and immigration needs to be called out and our focus return to the positive contributions our migrants make to the rich tapestry that is our multicultural way of life,” he said.
“I’ve personally been appalled by calls for a return to the White Australia policy or for the country to become some staid pale monoculture.”
Gutwein served as the Liberal member for Bass from 2002 and was state treasurer before becoming premier in January 2020.
He led Tasmania through the COVID-19 pandemic and secured a third term for the Liberals in 2021 before resigning the following year.
Since leaving politics, Gutwein has chaired the Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania and was appointed to the Australian Multicultural Council in 2025.
In 2024, he led the Walk, Better Together initiative, walking more than 330 kilometres to highlight the contributions of migrants and refugees.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly welcomed the appointment.
“I look forward to working with Mr Gutwein as he leads the council in supporting an inclusive Australia where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” Aly said.
