Thank you Sam, and thank you all for coming today.
Let me be blunt.
Tasmania needs a new government.
I believe that Tasmania needs a new Liberal Government.
The current Labor one is not doing a good enough job. They are not governing the state properly.
And they have had eleven years; and now they are pleading for another four.
And it is on two fronts that I can make this charge.
Firstly, of course, it is undeniable that Labor has caused, through a combination of sheer incompetence, shoddy decisions, and dodgy deals, a dramatic decline in the integrity of our political system and has eroded trust and confidence in our government.
Tasmanians tend to forget what a catalogue of scandal there has been.
There was the embarrassing national attention on our Government House that concluded in a payout to its one-time occupant and Labor idol Richard Butler who was gifted $650,000 by the Labor Government that he was not entitled to.
Former Deputy Premier Bryan Green was tried twice in the Supreme Court on serious criminal charges stemming from an allegedly illegal deal he made with a former Labor Minister on the eve of the 2006 State Election.
Green’s successor, Deputy Premier Steve Kons was forced to resign after repeatedly misleading the Parliament about why he was shredding documents concerning the botched appointment of a magistrate.
Hardly surprising, any of this, when you consider their role model was one Paul Lennon who acquired his own extraordinary reputation for abusing due process.
There was the cringe worthy demise of former Tourism Minister, Ken Bacon, who was instructed to not answer questions and comically sat mute in our Parliament.
And the Parliament’s current Deputy Speaker, Brenton Best, was also forced to resigned in disgrace after admitting to misusing his government car and misleading Parliament.
There was the Paula Wriedt issue.
And Allison Ritchie handing out government jobs to her family members.
And in more recent times, an incompetent and abusive Minister Graeme Sturges exposing himself with the unfortunate question ‘don’t you know who I am?’, and then threatening with his job the poor victim who obviously either didn’t know, or didn’t care.
And of course, the Premier David Bartlett, currently embroiled in his own scandal concerning the appointment of our State’s police commissioner, which has brought into question his own integrity and capacity to make the right decisions.
These are just some of the more serious illustrations of gross failure during the term of this Labor government.
And as The Australian newspaper aptly reported;
‘The sheer avalanche of sleaze and scandal has disgusted ordinary Tasmanians and damaged the Labor brand’ and ‘Bartlett has finally seen this damage and responded’ (in now characteristic fashion) by again changing his position and agreeing to establish an anti-corruption authority in this State.
That is the sad conclusion of all this; the depressing reality that Tasmania now needs an anti-corruption authority.
But as if the list of scandals and blunders isn’t enough.
Our hospital waiting lists are longer, education standards have fallen, our infrastructure is crumbling, and the cost of living in this state has exploded with rising land tax bills, electricity prices and Labor’s bungled water and sewerage reforms.
The fact is, Labor simply isn’t running the state properly.
And they want another four years governing our State.
How many chances do they get?
In contrast, the Liberals have a clear vision for Tasmania’s future, and we have the team to deliver it.
My vision is for a Tasmania where the government is trusted to make the right decisions, for the right reasons.
A place where we get behind local business to create local jobs.
A place renowned for its strength and unity – that is the envy of the rest of the nation.
And a place where all Tasmanians have the opportunity to achieve their potential.
We will be an efficient and accountable Government that makes decisions in the long-term interests of all Tasmanians, not short-term political interests.
We will drive our economy forward, by duplicating the Midland Highway and cutting land tax.
We will deliver better health results by building a new generation Royal Hobart Hospital, and cutting elective surgery waiting lists by working more effectively with our public and private hospital systems.
We will halt Labor’s disastrous and divisive Tasmania Tomorrow changes, and we will raise education standards by providing better support to all our students, and to those who teach them.
And we will strengthen our community and protect our lifestyle by, among other things, fixing the mess of Labor’s bungled water and sewerage changes which are hitting Tasmanian businesses and our households hard.
Today, I want to focus in more detail on one of these areas – our plan to drive our economy forward, and more particularly, through investing properly in the critical infrastructure we need for our State’s future productivity and prosperity.
The sad fact is, in a number of respects, inadequate infrastructure is denying us the opportunity to achieve our full potential.
Last year the Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges – the latest of seven Infrastructure Ministers in 11 years – told Parliament that he had given his Secretary the new job to develop a 10-year infrastructure plan.
We are still waiting to see it.
It is disgraceful that after 11 long years Labor still hasn’t produced an infrastructure plan for our State.
Now in the twilight of this Government’s life, they are still scrambling to come up with something.
What an appalling failure to provide any sort of strategic vision or leadership.
How long do they need?
And after 11 years of Labor government a number of important projects have been badly handled, a number of opportunities have been missed.
Consider this record,
· In 2005 Engineers Australia gave Tasmania’s infrastructure a “D” rating – a failure;
· our rail network being brought to a stand-still and to the brink of extinction;
· Two years ago Graeme Sturges calls the Midland Highway a “goat track” but now refuses to support our plan to fix it;
· In 2008 Infrastructure Australia said that Tasmania’s roads are the “weak link in the state’s export chain” and “infrastructure deficiencies, compounded by a maintenance backlog, mean that many roads require major investment”;
· In this year’s budget, the Rudd Government provides $22 billion for infrastructure projects around the country, and Tasmania is dudded. And hardly surprising when the government even failed to fight for our fair share.
· Now every Tasmanian is now being slugged with higher water and sewerage charges to pay for Labor’s bungled changes;
· And we don’t have the promised competition in our electricity industry, and the natural gas project has been poorly managed.
· And in addition to this, and after 11 long years in Government, Labor still doesn’t have a comprehensive infrastructure plan for this state.
We simply cannot afford any more ineptitude or missed opportunity.
And Labor does not deserve another four years to get it right.
What Tasmania needs is leadership and vision in the coordination and strategic development of our infrastructure.
The State’s future prosperity depends on it.
Developing infrastructure is expensive and requires long-term strategic planning.
As a key first step, we are committed to delivering a 4 lane Midland Highway.
We will duplicate the remaining 120 kilometres of the road which are not already four lanes, over a reasonable period. We won’t bypass Campbell Town or Perth but will deliver the standard of major highway Tasmania needs and deserves.
Our plan is based on common sense, and it’s based on data and evidence.
By 2030, freight movements on this highway are projected to have increased by 70 per cent and passenger vehicles by 40 per cent.
So if you think it’s bad now, imagine driving on the Midland Highway in 2030 with 70 per cent more trucks, and 40 percent more cars, but zero per cent more road.
When we first announced our plan more than 18 months ago, it was greeted with opposition and derision by our opponents.
Now, they are in a confused state of split personality, with the Premier changing his position on a daily basis with an eye on the political winds, and in the process even convincing the Rudd Federal Government that we don’t need an improved road.
What spineless political posturing.
It is only David Bartlett and his Labor colleagues who are arguing against our plan to build a four-lane Midland Highway.
Every local Council along the road, and at both its ends, support our plan.
The RACT supports our plan.
The Federal Coalition supports our plan – and they have pledged $400 million to build it.
Even Labor luminaries support our plan – just recently, Dr Julian Amos, a former State Labor Minister, said he supports it.
But why Bartlett and Co. are happy to accept second best, and think only of the short term remains an astounding mystery.
It is a pathetic failure of leadership by the Premier, and a lack of vision.
Infrastructure Tasmania
But not all our future infrastructure investments are as obvious as the need to build a 4-lane Midland Highway.
Big questions, like the future of Tasmania’s ports, the future of our rail system, how our major roads interact with them and our future energy needs are not so easily answered.
Developing infrastructure is expensive and requires long-term planning.
And infrastructure projects and spending decisions must be based on need and putting the State’s interests first, not politics,
We can, and we will take the politics out of infrastructure development, and replace it with sound, strategic long-term planning and good policy decisions.
Today I announce that upon election, a Hodgman Liberal Government will immediately begin the long overdue task of fixing the State’s critical infrastructure by preparing and releasing a detailed infrastructure plan for Tasmania within nine months of taking office – that is, by the end of 2010.
The plan will cover all major infrastructure, including rail, ports, major roads, energy, and water and sewerage.
And we will create a new independent body, Infrastructure Tasmania, to develop that plan as its priority.
This independent body will be tasked with reporting on the current state of our critical infrastructure, identifying future needs and recommending priorities to government.
The plan will be developed in consultation with relevant government departments and agencies, local government and the business community.
It will bring a business and industry focus to our State’s future infrastructure needs.
There will also be opportunities for individuals and community groups to provide input.
Infrastructure Tasmania will connect with key infrastructure interest groups to ensure it responds to needs in the community, and helps guide the right decisions.
Infrastructure Tasmania will work along similar lines to Infrastructure Australia, and will comprise three people with expertise and experience in the infrastructure, including someone with local government experience.
It will be supported by a small secretariat drawn from appropriate government agencies.
And, in accordance with our commitment to be fiscally responsible, like all our other policies, our plan to fix Tasmania’s infrastructure is fully costed and fully funded and affordable.
Ladies and gentlemen, Tasmania simply cannot afford another four years of Labor ineptitude, bungling and down-right incompetence when it comes to developing infrastructure in this state.
What Tasmania needs is leadership and vision in the coordination and development of its critical infrastructure.
The State’s future prosperity, and our ability to achieve our full potential, depends on it.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In a little over four months, Tasmanians will have a choice.
Another four more years of incompetence and failure from a tired and visionless Labor party.
Or a new Government.
A new, Hodgman Liberal Government.
A Liberal Government with vision and leadership for the future.
That commits to a clear agenda;
· that will deliver honest and accountable government;
· that will get behind Tasmanian business and drive our economy forward;
· that will deliver better health results and raise education standards;
· and that will strengthen our community and protect our lifestyle
· and to plan properly for Tasmania’s future needs, and to deliver Tasmania the infrastructure we need to achieve our potential.
That is what we commit to, and that’s what we will deliver.
Transcript of later doorstop:
Please note this is unproofed.
Will Hodgman:
Labor has had eleven years to deal with infrastructure challenges in this State and also develop some sort of strategic plan for where the State should be heading, but here we are eleven years on, the Government still has not produced a State Infrastructure Plan. That is an absolute disgrace and indictment on a Government that is incapable of good strategic decision-making. They lack leadership, they lack vision, they lack the ability to even produce what they have promised, and that is a long-term infrastructure plan for this State. It’s little wonder that we see our roads crumbling, we see our rail network not operating efficiently, we see our ports not fulfilling their capacity. When we have no plan, how could expect our infrastructure to be working efficiently and effectively let alone to seize opportunities that have been missed in this State. You only need to look at the mess in water and sewerage in this State, presided over by the Labor Government, or indeed the appalling handling of the natural gas project, which still remains unfulfilled to see how opportunities can be missed. Bad decision-making, bad process by a Government that has had eleven years to seize opportunity is not good enough. We believe that there is a capacity for Tasmania to achieve its potential if we have a clear plan set down. In our view what we should see is less politics getting in the way of good decision-making and good strategy. That’s why we propose the establishment of Infrastructure Tasmania a body that’s independent, that can provide advice and guidance to Government about the best ways to capitalise on what we have got, fix up what’s inadequate to seize our opportunities for the future.
Journalist:
Is there Boards like this around Australia that work well?
Will Hodgman:
We have got a pretty good example of a similar authority operating Federally, Infrastructure Australia and we believe that a similar model can be applied here. Let’s use expertise, let’s use the resources that Local Government and other authorities, regional authorities have already done to develop some plans and identify key priorities, let’s pull them together in a coordinated and strategic way, start making the right decisions, not based on politics or political cycle or short term fixes. What we see from David Bartlett is an inability to see beyond the next State election and that’s why he opposes our four lane Midland Highway. He is not worried about the long term interest of the State, he is worried about short term political fixes. We believe that with expert guidance and assistance and some hard grunt being done by independent people with appropriate skills and expertise can set down a long term vision for Tasmania which is sadly lacking and critically has not been developed by a Government that has had eleven years to do the job.
Journalist:
Isn’t it inefficient though to spend another $2.4m I think your plan says, on a body when you actually got Infrastructure Department that should be able to produce this sort of information?
Will Hodgman:
We believe that it is a modest amount in the scheme of things when it’s about seizing the potential for Tasmania and getting our infrastructure up to the standard that Tasmanians deserve. We need to give business and industry the best opportunity to prosper, to build this State economically and socially for the long term, so it is a modest down payment as far as we are concerned. And the record speaks for itself. This Government has had over a decade to get things done, the current system isn’t working, there is lack of leadership from Government, and we believe that with some independent input and expertise that’s divorced from political interests, will actually get us moving in the right direction, right decisions and a plan moving forward.
Journalist:
You are not doubling up then, not having two sets of Infrastructure people and if you are in Government perhaps you could make the Department work more efficiently and actually produce this?
Will Hodgman:
Well our plan is in Government to have a more efficient more effective and greater results driven Government operating and we believe that applies to all departments, but what we lack in Tasmania is a long term plan. The Government has had eleven years to develop one. How long do they need. How many opportunities should they get, and it is a fact that politics does get in the way of good decision making, good strategic decision making. This will divorce that process from political interference, it will give Tasmanians confidence that what we are proposing as a Government is about the best long term interest of the State, not political self-interest.
Journalist:
Do you have an idea in mind of how the Body will be made up, the sort of people you want to attract?
Will Hodgman:
I think it should be experts who drive a long-term infrastructure plan and not politicians, and we have seen seven Infrastructure Ministers in eleven years, it’s little wonder they still haven’t produced an infrastructure plan. So let’s get people with expertise, engineers, local government, business and indeed members of our community to all contribute to what can be a long-term plan for the State.
Journalist:
How long do you think it will before Tasmanians start actually seeing results on the ground?
Will Hodgman:
The fact that we have waited eleven years for an infrastructure plan to even be developed by Labor is an absolute disgrace. That is why we say we will commit to getting it done by the end of 2010. That’s after nine of Government and after the establishment of this Authority. We shouldn’t be rushing things, but there is no doubt a considerable body of work has already been done by a number of authorities, that needs to be pulled together in a coordinated fashion and then we can get on with making the right decisions and applying the right funding priorities to those to get them done sooner rather than later. We haven’t been scared to get out on the front foot and say one obvious thing that needs to be done in Tasmania is to build a four lane Midland Highway. In our view that is a no brainer. The only people who are arguing against it are David Bartlett and his Labor colleagues. But with every month that passes whilst we wait for a Government that prevaricates and dithers under the weak leadership of David Bartlett, isn’t able to even commit to the long-term of Tasmania’s full potential isn’t being achieved.
Journalist:
Would you be confident that an independent body would agree with something like a four lane Midland Highway. What would happen if this independent body came out against that sought of finding?
Will Hodgman:
Well that’s an interesting point of course, but on the basis that it’s everyone but David Bartlett who sees this infrastructure project as being necessary for Tasmania, I am very confident a properly constituted body of experts would also see sense in what we propose. It’s every single local government authority, from North to South that sits on the Midland Highway, says we need it. The RACT says we need it. Federal Coalition says we need it. Most Tasmanians when you ask them do you think we should have a four lane Midland Highway, say yes. It’s only David Bartlett who for political reasons and short-term self interests is opposing our move.
Journalist:
Plenty of Liberal supporters in the room just there, is there a buoyant move given the poll result last week?
Will Hodgman:
We are encouraged by the poll results. It is in our view of indication that we are on the right track in laying down our policies, getting good candidates out to the field, and doing the hard yards. We are under no illusion about the size of the task ahead of us, but we are encouraged and what we think shows that Tasmanians are starting to realise we can do better, we can have a new government in Tasmania with a clearer vision and a clearer agenda, and that’s what we are setting about putting down.
Journalist:
Can I ask you about Parliament tomorrow? The Premier has repeatedly said he is looking forward to getting into the Parliament in regards to the McCreadie matter, are you hoping that you might be able to get some straight answers from him?
Will Hodgman:
We have got three days left, on the basis that David Bartlett has on every other day done his best to slip and slide around serious questions we remain unconvinced that he will do the right thing and be upfront with Tasmanians. We will ask the questions, we will expect honest answers, don’t expect a lot from David Bartlett he will be keen to get out of there. Three more sitting days, he opposed our move just a couple of weeks ago to have the Parliament sit more often, we have just got three days before the next election in March, it is quite extraordinary. We won’t want to see these sorts of scandals continue with Parliament not sitting it denies us the opportunity to question Mr Bartlett further, but at the end of the day it’s up to him whether or not he is going to be honest.
Journalist:
Can I also ask you about land tax. TasCoss has expressed some concerns but are proposals from yourselves and the Greens to reduce land tax might mean cuts in other services. What guarantees can you give them that funding to other services, health and education, things like that won’t be cut when you reduce this revenue stream?
Will Hodgman:
We remain committed to efficient, effective results driven government that in no way is going to disadvantage those Tasmanians who rely on good services. We appreciate that Tasmanians, particularly those who are most vulnerable have been let down after eleven years of Labor Government. Under a Liberal Government we will actually have this place firing on all cylinders. We believe that the best way to properly fund hospitals, schools and our roads is to have an efficient, effective and prosperous economy. We want to see business operators with the confidence to employ more Tasmanians, we want to see them giving opportunities to other Tasmanians to achieve their potential and in our view, one of the best ways we can better fund hospitals, schools and those most vulnerable in our community is to have a very prosperous robust economy and by reducing impediments to growth through tax, regulation cuts and so on, we are sure that Tasmanians across the board will receive the benefits to that.
Journalist:
In a tight budget, where will you find the money to fund this land tax?
Will Hodgman:
We’ve committed to be fiscally responsible and we continue to do so. All our policies are fully costed, fully funded and at the end of the day Tasmanians will make their own decisions. In our view the best way to fund schools, hospitals and our roads is to have a good strong economy, firing on all cylinders. We want Tasmania to be the most competitive place to do business in, and our commitment is to achieving that, from that we say will flow greater benefits especially to those Tasmanians who are disadvantaged and despite what Michael Aird says about this being boom economic times for Tasmania, there are many thousands of Tasmanians doing it tough.
Journalist:
Have you put a figure on that land tax promise, how much that is likely to cost the budget?
Will Hodgman:
We have as you know, following our budget commitment made a fully costed fully funded account of what it is going to cost Tasmanians, obviously we will through the Shadow Treasurer be making our clear policy statement with respect to Land Tax. Our commitment remains, to reduce the land tax burden in Tasmania, make Tasmania a more competitive place to do business and our commitment to Tasmanians is to say that this is how we will pay for it, this is how it stacks up in the budget, and this is how we will deliver it.
Journalist:
But they will see that just before the election?
Will Hodgman:
They will get all our policies before the election as we are committed to doing, as we are required to do under the Charter of Budget Responsibility, which we have signed up to, but we tell Tasmanians loud and clear what our policies are, all our policies are fully costed, fully funded that’s what Tasmanians expect to see from us, we are not about trying to compete with David Bartlett when it comes to electioneering and pork barrelling, we are about good strong policy. Yes it’s got a pro-business, pro-development focus, but we are also very conscience for the needs of Tasmania’s most vulnerable.
