Tuesday 1 December 2009
Opening Statement
Ladies and gentlemen,
My vision is a Tasmania where the government is trusted to make the right decisions for the right reasons;
Where we back local businesses to create local jobs;
Where we achieve higher education standards – and results.
I want a Tasmania that is not only smarter, but one which is fairer.
Where Tasmanians can get better health care, and sooner.
Where every Tasmanian has the opportunity to achieve their potential;
And where there are more reasons for people to stay here, than to leave.
Now a government I lead will adopt the following principles;
It will live within its means, get value for money, and we will take responsibility for getting results.
We will invest in our people, our schools, our hospitals and our roads – not in highly paid political minders or a top heavy government.
We will give people and communities the power to make decisions about what is best for them.
And we will be honest, accountable and govern with integrity.
Ladies and gentlemen,
By 2014, after four years of a Hodgman Liberal Government…
Tasmania will be a more competitive place to do business.
There will be more jobs in existing and new, industries…
We will have cut land tax…
We will have slashed red tape and planning laws will be simpler…
We will have halted Labor’s disastrous and divisive Tasmania Tomorrow changes…
Our education system will no longer be bottom of the class…
School buses will be free…
And sick Tasmanians will get their operations sooner…
And if they can’t have their operation done on time in a public hospital, they’ll be looked after in a private hospital – at no cost to them.
The first stage of a new generation Royal Hobart Hospital will be underway.
And the State Government’s hands won’t constantly be in your hip pocket – especially those of you who can least afford it.
We will have fixed Labor’s bungled water and sewerage changes
And with more competition, electricity costs should be cheaper
We will have taken the politics out of decision making on major infrastructure projects, and we will have a state infrastructure plan
And by 2014, a four lane Midland Highway will be under construction.
In the first term of a Hodgman Liberal Government we will tackle the issue of the size of our Parliament.
And critically, Tasmanians will have regained trust in government.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am extremely optimistic about the future of our state.
But Tasmania now needs a new government, and I am prepared to show the leadership to make the right decisions for the right reasons, and to deal with the challenges we face.
These are key commitments, with more to be announced over the coming months.
But I will give Tasmanians leadership and vision, and I will deliver results.
But I will need your support to do it.
Will Hodgman MP Leader of the State Opposition
