The question many are focussed on now is which party will lead us after March 20. It’s the wrong question. The real question is how will the members of the new Parliament cooperate to deliver the Tasmania we hope for, the essence of which is becoming increasingly and widely shared by many – and could form the basis of a cooperative power sharing Government.
What is that Tasmania? At its heart is an idea – a simple and yet audacious idea that Tasmania has the potential to be as Truchanus once said, “a bright shining beacon” for the rest of the world.
This idea stands on four pillars.
It stands on a strong, smart and diversified economy built around a Tasmanian brand that we protect above all else as the wellspring of our future prosperity.
The second pillar is the community – educated, inclusive, fair, healthy, culturally vibrant and distinctively Tasmanian.
The third pillar is the place itself – the islands, seas, land, air and water. It is something we cannot take for granted and must nurture and protect.
The final pillar is good governance. This is our greatest challenge.
Words like transparency, honesty and cooperation must underpin the way we approach government.
We stand on the threshold of a time a great challenge and of immense possibility. Perhaps a grand coalition may emerge to take our island and it’s people on the next stage of the journey to being the bright shining beacon we believe we can be. It is something we can hope for from those who seek to represent their fellow Tasmanians.
