Groups unite so everyone can benefit
PEAK community and industry organisations have joined forces to create a shared vision for Tasmania’s future.
As the Mercury today releases its Tassie 2022 action plan, the group is putting the final touches to its joint list of principles and priorities that also calls for political leaders to ensure all Tasmanians share in our growing opportunities.
The shared vision follows co-operation from groups including Tasmanian Council of Social Services, the Local Government Association, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Property Council.
TasCOSS chief executive Kym Goodes said the groups had more concerns that united them than divided them.
“We have all come together to say, predominantly our vision for Tasmania and Tasmanians are aligned,” Ms Goodes said.
The detailed list of priorities will be released when the state election date is announced, but it will be underpinned by social and economic outcomes — covering fundamentals such as health, education and housing.
Ms Goodes said political leaders needed to show the same co-operative approach as the peak organisations.
“We lose a lot of time, energy and money focusing on what divides us. We should be focused on the shared vision we have for the state,” she said.
Ms Goodes said the next government needed to prioritise investment in “our great- est asset: our people”. This would require investment in infrastructure, services and capacity building “to ensure all Tasmanians (can) join in the economic prosperity”.
Local Government Association of Tasmania chief executive Katrena Stephenson said Tasmania needed to work as a team to face its challenges and opportunities.
“I think we can all agree that Tasmania has an abundance of opportunities. Increasingly people not only want to visit here, they want to live here,” Dr Stephenson said.
“The difficulty is in addressing the challenges that remain, while we embrace the opportunities.
“This is not a task for any single body, or even any single level of government. It requires us to work more effectively together and leverage off the advantages and contributions of each partner.”
She said regional development was a key priority, and this relied on collaboration and partnership.
“We must pay attention to how we can best collectively meet regional needs while having a broader focus on how the state will grow effectively socially, economically and culturally,” she said.
Other groups behind the shared vision include the Heart Foundation, Shelter Tasmania, Aged Care Services Tasmania, Council on the Ageing, Property Council of Australia, Housing Industry Association, Master Builders Association and Regional Development Australia (Tas).