Liberal MHA Sarah Courtney’s ascendancy to the House of Assembly was something of a surprise in 2014’s election, as she joined the seat of Bass alongside fellow Liberals Michael Ferguson and Peter Gutwein.
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A Sydney native, Ms Courtney arrived on Tasmania’s political scene in 2012 when she was first pre-selected for the Liberals, having left the NSW finance sector for a lifestyle change to winemaker in Northern Tasmania.
Ms Courtney’s 2014 victory was part of a 57.2 per cent total win for the Bass Liberals: she was elected third after Mr Gutwein and Mr Ferguson’s votes were distributed, with 3046 first-preference votes.
This time around, her seat could be a little more precarious compared to other Liberals in the Bass electorate, with political analyst Dr Kevin Bonham warning Ms Courtney’s seat was the most vulnerable to Labor incursion.
Ms Courtney will be contesting against Mr Ferguson and Mr Gutwein, alongside new Liberal contenders Bridget Archer, also the George Town mayor, and City of Launceston Alderman Simon Wood.
Deputy Labor leader Michelle O’Byrne is the strongest non-Liberal contender, with the Greens’ Andrea Dawkins hoping for a re-election boon after she was introduced to the Parliament following the resignation of Kim Booth in 2015.
Entering the House of Assembly in 2014, she said her motivations for becoming a politician stemmed from a strong reaction to the Labor-Greens government.
“When others may sit on the fence, I intend to have the courage to make tough decisions and be accountable for those decisions,” Ms Courtney said in her inaugural speech to the Tasmanian Parliament.
“There may be decisions I make that some, or even many, will disagree with and there may be times when I am simply wrong.
“I commit to this Parliament and to the people of Tasmania that I will endeavour to always put honesty and integrity first.”
In February 2016, former political journalist Barry Prismall warned Ms Courtney’s profile was being overshadowed by Health Minister Michael Ferguson and Treasurer Peter Gutwein, which could spell trouble for the Liberals in Bass at the 2018 election.
Ms Courtney was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Community and Veterans’ Affairs in 2016, but was overlooked for a Ministry position in the cabinet reshuffle triggered by Matthew Groom stepping down.
In the North, Ms Courtney has been used by the Liberals mostly as the face of community events, grants and projects, with some political commentators believing she should have been given greater responsibility and profile within Bass.
In the lead-up to Saturday’s election, Ms Courtney’s campaign pledges included a $20 million K-6 school for Legana, support for veterans and volunteers, and improving regional community parks and open spaces.
