Delivering his ''Tasmania speech" that he promised would not be about politics, Mr McKim said our small state had been through tough times before and survived.

"We would rather live here than anywhere in the world," he said. 

"There are howling gusts of change blowing across the world. But we have the Roaring 40s, we're used to that."

He was given a standing ovation by the 250-strong audience that included former Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, Greens supporters and business and community sector representatives.