Dear Will …

Mark Temby

An Open Letter to Will Hodgman and the Tasmanian Liberal Party

I have been at a loss as to why our local politicians do not lobby ministers and their departments for functions to be transferred to Hobart. Instead we have tax breaks for forestry, Liberal senators roaming the country warning of Armageddon through stem cell research, Labor members running in ever diminishing circles and no effective dialogue. In the meantime, our local young talent continues to leave the state. Ironically, many gain employment in these same federal government departments.

LIBERAL pollsters are apparently pointing at Tasmania as essential to the return of the Howard Government. The Franklin electorate is also in their sights with Jamie Cox and David Boon being touted as a possible candidates. This desire can be good news for the Tasmanian economy and a wake-up call for our navel-gazing local politicians.

When the Howard government was first elected, Max Moore-Wilton conducted a review of the Commonwealth public service and cut thousands of positions. Tens years onward and the Canberra bureaucracy has regrown its tentacles. Information technology, GST, Defence, Industrial Relations and other services have all expanded their workforces.

Scans of any weekend Classifieds over the last ten years have demonstrated the increased numbers of Canberra based positions. However, there have also been state politics and workforce realities to be met. This has quite correctly resulted in large investments in states apart from NSW and Victoria. Brisbane has been the beneficiary of this approach for thirty years. More recently, Perth has benefited from ship-building contracts and specific centralized functions being created within a number of government departments. Adelaide, too, has an expanding workforce with control over many national functions within the public service. Most recently it was reported by the Canberra Times that the Information Technology function of Centrelink was being transferred from Canberra to Adelaide. The Canberra Times was scathing in its criticism.

The reality is most public service functions can be delivered from any site throughout Australia. Telecommunications allows electronic transfer of data and information for policy, public advice, public contact and account management at reduced cost. It is certain Centrelink will recruit and retain IT graduates in Adelaide at an increased rate than Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. The recruits may even cost less in salary and accommodation.

The same holds true for Hobart but the Liberal Federal government never had the previous need to retain or gain seats. The Adelaide and Perth regions both have marginal seats aplenty.

I have been at a loss as to why our local politicians do not lobby ministers and their departments for functions to be transferred to Hobart. Instead we have tax breaks for forestry, Liberal senators roaming the country warning of Armageddon through stem cell research, Labor members running in ever diminishing circles and no effective dialogue. In the meantime, our local young talent continues to leave the state. Ironically, many gain employment in these same federal government departments.

It may even lead to a mini-commercial property construction boom in Hobart. Our educational facilities can tailor supporting courses to deliver better outcomes for these departments.

Finally, before we (Tasmanians) self-destruct along regional arguments, I have deliberately nominated Hobart as it is the capital in the same manner as Perth and Adelaide. Surely, it is better for our youth to continue employment within the state than move away from their families.

Tasmanians should not vote Liberal without a piece of the economic growth pie.