Time to measure up
A COALITION of peak bodies has called on the next state government to measure up to its promises.
The group of 15 Tasmanian organisations from TasCOSS, COTA Tasmania, ShelterTas and the Tasmanian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance want government policies and spending to be tested for their effectiveness.
They have issued a joint statement of aspirations calling for the government elected in March to be held to account by better tracking the wellbeing of the community, TasCOSS chief Kym Goodes said.
“We’re looking at a government that can demonstrate accountability back to Tasmanians,” she said.
“There are a range of health, wellbeing and economic outcomes that we would like to see measured.
“We tend to spend a lot of time looking at the economic indicators of our state, but actually it is our people who are our greatest asset.
“We want to see true progress indicators, genuine prog- ress indicators around how Tasmanians are faring and how government policy and government spending is helping to improve the wellbeing of the state.”
Local Government Association chief executive Katrena Stephenson said the statement was intended to serve as the basis to measuring whether government was delivering what the community wanted.
“We’ll start issuing our joint progress reports quarterly from the swearing in of the next State Government,” Dr Stephenson said.
“It is time to set our self interest aside and focus on our common interest — the future prosperity, health and resilience of all Tasmanians.
“This means working together to do things differently.
“It also means each of us having an equal opportunity to take part in our current and future economic prosperity.”
The coalition includes Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA), Council on the Ageing (COTA), the Housing Industry Association of Tas (HIA) the Local Government Association Tasmania (LGAT), Master Builders Tasmania (MBT), Regional Development Australia Tasmania, Shelter Tas, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Tasmanian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (TCDPA) and the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS).
The coalition will host a leaders forum on February 23 at the Brighton Civic Centre with Premier Will Hodgman, Opposition Leader Rebecca White and Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O’Connor taking part.