Or of the way the island was used as an experiment by the Soviet Union’s reforming president Mikhael Gorbachev in the early 1990s to test his more radical “perestroika” economic reform ideas and theories.
But perhaps Mr Bartlett should brush up on his historical reading if he is to continue pushing Tasmania as an “island laboratory” for the massive economic and structural changes now engulfing traditional industrialised nations such as Australia.
That certainly was the picture painted by the enthusiastic Mr Bartlett at a Hobart business lunch on Thursday.
In full flight and on top of his subject, the Premier extolled his vision of Tasmania as an experimental crucible for a new world constrained by a shortage of renewable energy and carbon emissions, a lack of food and water and with a desperate need for high-speed digital communications.
He predicted Tasmania, because of its natural and man-made advantages, has a short window of opportunity to become a leading “Living Laboratory” for international companies and governments.
Simply, he pointed out, the state is lucky enough to suddenly have in abundance the three commodities now highly-prized and sought by governments and businesses around the globe. That is, water, renewable energy and ubiquitous high-speed telecommunications, thanks to the $43 billion National Broadband Network rollout beginning first in Tasmania.
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Simply, he believes that the circumstances are right. Tasmania’s political and economic stars are aligning as never before to give the Apple Isle a chance to grab its own moment in the sun on the world stage.
Taking politics out of it, and trying to ignore the undeniable benefits for an impeding March state election, the Premier would certainly appear to have a strong case for his new vision.
Whether it can become a reality, or whether stolid existing industries and pragmatic political thinking will stymie Bartlett’s dreams of yet another New Tasmania, remains to be seen.
What follows is a taste of the Tasmania-of-the-future outlined by the Premier this week; the modern utopia he believes is well within our grasp. The way the Premier sees it, Tasmania with good governance is lucky enough to be sitting in a plum position to take advantage of three global trends and constraints sweeping the world.
With plentiful water for renewable hydroelectric energy as well as a new food bowl focus; abundant other renewable energy sources such as existing and planned wind farms, geothermal reserves and even tidal power; and 85 per cent of the population connected to superfast broadband within four years, Mr Bartlett describes Tasmania as ready to enter a brave new world.
Dave’s toon: Here
