Many recent conversations suggest I am not the only person who feels the COVID restrictions have served as a timely reminder of just how fortunate we are to live where we do. The sheer diversity, immediacy and beauty of our landscapes remind us that we truly have it all. The Coastal Pathway is a regional project that recognises and seeks to frame and leverage our amazing natural beauty and [...]

Imagine a place where there was enough funding for all essential services. Where increasing funding to one essential area, such as health, did not require reducing spending elsewhere, such as education. Where helping individuals and businesses recover from major setbacks did not require taking on even more debt. Where each year, as the budget has to stretch a little further, we did not all have to make do with [...]

Recently I was chatting with a mate, trying to convince him that I thought there might be a decline in ‘nation states’ and ‘globalisation’ and a consequent rise in distinctive regional economies like our Cradle Coast region.  But my mate was sceptical and said, well ‘what does our region have that gives us a competitive advantage?’  And so I began to think (and COVID-19 seems to focus the mind), [...]

Imagine a time when our region is a world leader in helping individuals, big businesses, and perhaps entire sectors to offset their carbon footprint. Where more jobs are created, trees are planted, wildlife habitats are restored, traditional Aboriginal land management practices are adopted and the highest standard of climate change projects are delivered, creating a sustainable future for all. Our part of Tasmania has a chance to be a [...]

Imagine, just imagine, how it would be if when the final COVID 19 restrictions are lifted, everything returns to the way it was before. There is no doubt, that many of us yearn for that old normal, the way things were, but there are others who know that things were not perfect, with declining retail sales, slowing tourism and …, so perhaps this disruption, as dreadful as it has [...]

In addition to the way we pulled together as a community, strong leadership and a strong economy have so far allowed us to weather COVID-19 without the same degree of devastation witnessed in places like Italy. Nonetheless, it is precisely these things which must change in order for Tasmania to build back better. Leadership needs to become less politicised, more impactful and more about people. Throughout the crisis we [...]