Elise Archer MP

Guildford Young College Political Forum
12 August 2010
“The new Tasmania: where do we go from here?”

Thank you to the convenors and teachers for the opportunity to speak today.

The topic chosen today “the new Tasmania – where do we go from here?” is quite an appropriate theme for a Gen Y group ... or a group sometimes known as Generation Next ... or Generation What’s Next?!

Yours is a generation that is pretty much swamped by choice and – as some may say, perhaps unfairly – that you also have a desire for instant gratification!

But you are also passionate, flexible, optimistic, confident, and you demand success, not just of yourselves but of others too. 

I think the future is bright – because you have strong morals and a sense of civic duty, and you will not accept the tired old platitudes of some politicians any more than you would accept a dead-end boring job for life.

In fact, I believe the best thing politicians can do for Gen Ys is get out of your way and let you shine!

Or alternatively, create an environment to allow you to do just that.

We have heard a lot in recent months about the new political landscape in Tasmania – what some have even dubbed as “the new Tasmania”.

But I have to say, honestly, that things don’t appear to be that much different from the “old Tasmania” prior to 21st March this year.

And I do think there is a real risk of inertia and indecision in this new political landscape – which is the last thing our State needs, at this time.

I believe that Tasmanians want their politicians to be thinking more about what’s good for Tasmania, than what’s good for them.

Yes, our State does need a new future, or a “new Tasmania” – but we need a Tasmania that is forward-thinking, in the long term, and innovative.

We need to develop a culture within government that it’s not the solution to every problem known to mankind, but it’s an ‘enabler ... a group of people who look for solutions and can make things possible by paving the way.”

We need government to create both the infrastructure and the environment – not just the roads, the cables, the schools and the hospitals - but a regime of less taxes and less regulation, to make it easier for you to be the architect of your own future.

Gen Y’s have the ability to become the new pioneers of this State, to lead by innovation and invention.

And believe me, innovation is greater than just technology.

It might mean applying technology to a problem to do a job smarter, more efficiently. But just as equally, knowledge can be the great innovator.

The “new Tasmania” should be about bringing ideas used across the world and applying it to our State, in our industries and in our businesses.

It should be about creating an environment – in the private sector and in the public sector – for ideas to flourish.

And Governments can have a real role to play as the directors or the conductor.

It also has a crucial role in addressing the historic and emerging challenges to a better future.

One of those challenges is labour productivity. 

You might think the number of people in the job market won’t make a scrap of difference to you now, or even into the future.

But our ageing population represents a ticking time bomb for this State.

It means we’ll have a decreasing number of people of working age and this, in turn, means less money coming in to government to provide services like schools and health services.

The upshot of all this is simple – either those who are in the workforce will have to pay higher taxes, or governments will only be able to deliver less services.

This is why you’ll find governments of all persuasions trying to encourage young people to get a good education, so they can work and get a good job.

It’s not only good for you – it’s good for Tasmania as well!

And that’s also why governments will need to work harder to reverse what is commonly called the “brain drain” – where our youngest and brightest leave the State to live and work in other States or countries. 

We need you to stay in the State or, at the very least, come back and live here.

One of the other major challenges for young people – and old – is the spiralling cost of living.

Many of you may already have part-time jobs.

If you do, you’ll know your money doesn’t stretch far, especially if you have a car and you need to buy credit on a regular basis.

In the next 10 years, if you have to add rent or a mortgage to that, as well as food and electricity bills – all of which are going up and up – it’s very, very difficult to get ahead, let alone with a job.

As politicians, I think we have a real responsibility to look seriously about how we can keep a lid on ever-increasing prices.

We want young people to be able to have their own home – and I would gather your parents want that eventually too. 

But this is going to remain a distant goal if prices keep skyrocketing the way they are. 

Low or competitive taxes and charges can be a means of attracting young people and families back to our State – so it’s both an opportunity and a challenge for us to address - for the sake of Tasmania’s future.

To summarise, I think the new Tasmania is anything you want it to be.

And the role of government is to listen to people, and to facilitate that.

Many of you will have the chance in this Federal election to vote for the first time or, if not, I would of course encourage you to enrol to vote as soon as you are eligible.

Like any decision you’ll make in your life – you’ll need to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of the candidates and the parties.

And then vote Liberal ... just kidding - but it is a real opportunity for you to chart the course of a new Tasmania.

And it might also spark the start of an interest in politics that will see one of you in this room become a future leader of this State.

Thank you.