A new ‘think tank’ launched today, aiming to reflect centrist views on a range of issues relevant to Tasmania. The Centre’s immediate focus includes addressing Australia’s and Tasmania’s economic recovery post COVID-19.
Named the Centre for Jobs and Regional Economy (CJRE), it is an initiative driven by Elliott Bell and Bernard Goh. Both are staffers of Labor Senator Helen Polley, although they said Polley herself was not involved in the venture.
“The launch today marks an exciting time for the Centre and its contributors because it has taken years to get to this point,” Strategy Director & Editor-at-LargeBell said.
He said the CJRE was established to strengthen policy outcomes in Tasmania, starting with “best practice research, consultation, and a commitment to creating regional economic activity within Tasmania.”
Bell said the organisation was an unincorporated non-profit and independent of the Labor Party. It had come together as the initiative of a group of individuals, he explained, who had funded it themselves and were not currently planning to seek outside funding.
“You don’t have to look very far to see that in the last two years governments do not have all the answers and their decisions are not always informed nor adequately consulted,” Bell said. “Ultimately, we expect – like the community does – that government and the private sector work to advance the public interest. The Centre can help with that.”
CEO and Principal Researcher Goh echoed Bell’s aims, saying he hoped that in time the Centre will inform the community at all levels and influence policy outcomes through their research.
“The Centre’s membership consists of young individuals equipped with vast skill sets who are committed to solving policy issues and exploring unique ways of addressing global but uniquely local problems,” Goh said.
On its new website the CJRE has published three pieces that look at several issues facing Tasmania and regional Australia. The first focuses on employment opportunities in regional areas; the second addresses regional population issues; while the third piece examines the economic challenges faced by young Australians pre- and post-coronavirus.
Bell, who works as a media advisor to Senator Polley, said the approach of the CJRE favoured ‘moderate policy-making’.
“The organisation is moderate because it believes in staying in constant contact with mainstream views,” explained. He said that too often bureaucrats make decisions from their offices and do not understand what is happening on the ground.
“Public policy often fails because of a lack of correct issue identification,” he said.
“If you don’t understand the problem that people are facing you can’t address the problem adequately with good policy.”
The University of Tasmania graduate completed a thesis on the power of interests groups in affecting social regulatory policy.
“Too often government fails to consult with the community before they devise the policy solution. Communication, conciliation and understanding is key.”
Other members of the CJRE Management Team include Kate Boyd, an adviser to the Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources Joel Fitzgibbon; Geordie Wilson, a writer and researcher who contributed to reporting on the Banking Royal Commission; programmer by profession Shouvojit Sarker; and Stephen Cronin, currently completing his final year of a combined degree in law, politics and policy at the University of Tasmania.
Tasmanian Times asked if any of the six people listed as Management Team have political ambitions to stand as political candidates within the next three years (i.e. next cycles of state, federal and local government elections).
“Not that I am aware of,” replied Bell, “but I couldn’t speak for everyone within the organisation in relation to their personal or professional ambitions.”
CENTRE FOR JOBS AND REGIONAL ECONOMY: The ‘Regional Population Plan’ Dilemma.
