State Conference Speech

Tasmanian State Conference of the Australian Labor Party
7 September 2008
Country Club Resort, Launceston


The people of Tasmania and the Labor Party have given me the privilege of leading this State.

I honour the great Premiers of Tasmania that have passed that privilege to my generation. People like Cosgrove, Reece, Neilson, Field, Bacon and Lennon, who have given everything they had to this job.

People who have held in trust the great inheritance of the Labor Party – to stand up for the working men and women of Tasmania.

People who have spoken for those who have no voice, and held out a hand of support to those battling with the pressures of life.

All I have earned so far is the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of these giants.

My pledge to you, and to the people of Tasmania, is that I too will give all that I have to give.

I believe in Tasmania because it has given me everything that I hold dear.

I received a first-class education at public schools – from Mt Nelson Primary to Taroona High to Hobart College.

Tasmania has given me my wife Larissa – who is my greatest supporter and my most honest counsellor – and sometimes a bit too honest.

It has given me a home in which to raise our two children, friends to reach out to in hard times, and opportunities too plentiful to count.

And now it has given me the opportunity to repay this community by working with them to build for the future.

Education

Delegates, as Labor people, we know instinctively that it is only education that can truly transform our community. That is why I have chosen to be the first Premier in fifty years to retain the Education portfolio.  Not since Robert Cosgrove in 1958 has a Premier put education at the very centre of everything we do.

I have done it deliberately and with intent.

I want every Tasmanian child to arrive at school ready to learn and already with the seed of a lifelong love of learning sewn within them. I want every Tasmanian youth to leave education with the highest qualification that they can achieve. And I want every adult who has missed out, to have a second chance at learning for life. When we have achieved these things we will have truly transformed Tasmania.

To do this we must invest more.  After 11 years of neglect by a Howard Government in Canberra we must restore funding to the public schools system to unprecedented levels. We now have in Canberra a Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister who value our schools. Who value opportunity for students and who are putting education right at the centre of what the Rudd Government is all about.

Over the next ten years I want to lift Tasmania from below national averages of educational outcomes to the best in Australia.

An educated population is a healthier population.

Already, I am pleased that with the first Bartlett Labor Government Budget we have taken education funding in Tasmania to above national averages for the first time in decades.

Education is the base upon which social equality is built.

Every student that walks into a Tasmanian classroom needs to know that they can be whatever they want to be. Whether they come from the richest household in Tasmania – or from the poorest – education is their ticket to the future.
 
That is why, if given the opportunity by the Tasmanian people, I will take per capita spending on education by this new Government to the top of the nation by 2011.

And that funding will provide the best of early years education for all;

…the best in provision of the fundamentals of literacy and numeracy;

…the best in the provision of post year ten opportunities for Tasmanians of all ages; and

…the best in second chance learning for adults who want new opportunities.

Economic Direction

Some were surprised when I retained the education portfolio as Premier, saying that traditionally a Premier holds an economic portfolio. 

My answer to them has been “Don’t ya get it?  Education is THE economic portfolio.”

An educated workforce will have the capacity to come up with the ideas and the innovation that will drive our economy forward over the next decade and beyond. Those new ideas are vital.

The simple reality is that in the 21st Century Global economy – innovation is king. Innovation is the key that unlocks employment growth, productivity growth and greater participation in the workforce.

In Tasmania over the last 100 years, decades of hydro construction and major industry investment have underpinned the prosperity we have enjoyed.

That reality has started to shift.
 
What is clear is that jobs growth over the next decade and beyond will change.

Major industrial players will continue to be an important part of the Tasmanian employment landscape for many years to come. But modern technology means that increased investment by these industries no longer necessarily equates to jobs growth on the scale we have seen before. The recent re-structure announcement by Cadbury’s is a good example of this. They are continuing to invest in Tasmania – but that investment has not brought new jobs at this stage. Sadly, we cannot turn around job losses like that simply by hoping companies won’t change into the future.

Change is inevitable.

Our job as a Labor Government is to make sure that the economy can provide new jobs for workers hit by technological change. We have to keep supporting and encouraging the new ideas that create business growth and jobs growth.

What will enable us to grab the innovation opportunities that come our way – right across the Tasmanian economy - is an appropriately skilled workforce. It is only by up-skilling the Tasmanian workforce, and investing in the skills of the future through our education system, that we can tap into the opportunities of tomorrow.

That is why I am focussed on delivering in the coming year three key planks for Tasmania’s economic future. A comprehensive Tasmanian Skills Strategy, a Ten Year Infrastructure Plan, and a Tasmanian Innovation Strategy. These will be the key plans that will drive our economic vision for the next decade. The sort of plans that – like the Bacon/Lennon/Crean plans of a decade ago – will drive unprecedented jobs growth.

We need a comprehensive skills strategy because projections right now show that within two years, more people will be leaving the labour market than are entering it. I want the skills strategy to increase participation in the workforce and in community life. I want there to be a focus not just on improving the skills of students in our education system now, but on the adult literacy skills of the whole Tasmanian community. It is a sad fact that many Tasmanian adults right now do not possess the literacy skills to make the most of all the opportunities that may come their way. That is bad for those people as individuals, and it is bad for our economy as a whole.

Skilled individual workers will be the drivers of innovation.

I also announced this week that the State Government will commission the Australian Innovation Research Centre to create a Tasmanian Innovation Strategy.

We need to be able to focus our economic energies on the areas where new thinking will do the most good. To invest in the industries that can grow jobs for the next generation of Tasmanians.

A Tasmanian Innovation Strategy will help us do just that.

The third plank is a Ten Year Infrastructure Plan.

To combat the realities of climate change, fuel and energy prices, and demographic trends, we need to change the way we look at infrastructure in this State. We need to invest in low emission intelligent transport systems. From cycleways to railways to commuter ferries – we can and will do things differently. Not only will we be lowering the carbon emissions that are contributing to climate change, we will be taking the pressure off our road networks.

The other great impact of climate change of course is that it is changing the way we look at water. The never-ending resource that has been driving hydro power here for generations is a thing of the past. We need to be smarter about how we capture water – and how we move it to our industrial and agricultural users.

Everybody here would be aware that our hydro dams are less than a quarter full. We are acting on irrigation now by investing millions in channeling water to the driest parts of Tasmania to give our farmers drought relief.

But we can and will do more.

Finally, we will need to invest heavily in telecommunications infrastructure over the next decade.

The fast and efficient movement of information – lighting up the optic fibre – will be to 21st Century Tasmania what the dams, poles and wires of the Hydro were to the 20th century. Telecommunications will underpin everything that we do – from the way we do business to the way we shop to the way we learn. 

I am committed and determined to build a competitive telecommunications regime in Tasmania, so that Telstra can no longer price gouge Tasmanian families and Tasmanian businesses.

Delegates, through investment in infrastructure, and innovation, and skills, we will build jobs and economic strength for Tasmanians for the next decade and beyond.

Of course, a strong economy is only a vehicle to an end.

First and foremost it must be there to provide jobs for Tasmanians.

I have said strongly since becoming Premier that I want to make sure we extract every dollar and every job possible from every tree we harvest, from every tonne of minerals we dig up, from every kilo of fish we pull from the ocean, and from every crop we harvest.

Thousands of Tasmanian families rely on those industries for their livelihood – and we must make sure that we provide the jobs that sustain Tasmanian families. The jobs that our timber workers, and miners, and fishers, and farmers need to support themselves and their families.

Making the very most of those resources by value-adding is the best way we can promote job growth. Whether that be through the pulp mill, or other downstream processing opportunities.

I am determined that our timber communities will continue to thrive and grow and build jobs for Tasmanians. I am determined that our fishing, mining and farming communities will equally flourish.

Innovation and maximisation of resources will provide the jobs that will underpin our ability to build a clever, kind and connected Tasmania. It is that economic strength which then allows us to invest in education, health and housing.

Economic strength that enables us to make the strategic investments for Tasmania’s future.

Social Direction

As Labor people we know that we must not just treat the symptoms of disadvantage - we must go to the root causes.

I am fortunate as Premier to lead a Cabinet that has the talent and the determination to do just that. In particular today, I want to pay tribute to the other half of this new leadership team - Deputy Premier Lara Giddings.

As Minister for Health, and now as Deputy Premier, she has shown the courage to be a leader in this community. She has made the hard decisions for the future, and has engaged vigorously with Tasmanians on the big health issues for tomorrow. Her passion is driving reforms of our disability system, and our child protection and family support systems, and implementation of Tasmania’s Health Plan.

The 2008 state budget has invested millions in these reforms because they will and are working.

These reforms, of course, sit within the framework of this Government’s commitment to social inclusion.

We want every Tasmanian to be able to play an active part in this society.

We want to reach out a hand to support those people in our community doing it tough.

Through over $300 million dollars worth of concessions each year, we are doing just that. And as the Treasurer announced this week – it is something we will keep doing in greater and greater measure.

In the state budget we also provided significant funds to drive the development of a rigorous, long term strategy for increasing social inclusion and dealing directly with disadvantage in Tasmania.

Every Tasmanian has the right to be a part of this community – the right to a roof over their head, and food on their table. In the coming months, you will see this Labor Government embark on the progressive reforms of the public and social housing system that will lead to real improvement.

The Labor Party has always been about inclusion.

The battlers, the families working hard to make ends meet, the people who need support to get on their feet – they have always had a friend in the Labor Party.

And they have a friend in me.

That is why I can assure you that in coming months, we will be implementing our social inclusion agenda with real purpose.

Announcement – Child and Family Centres

Delegates, I have two remaining great ambitions in my life.

I want to be the best Premier that I can be.

And I want to be the best father for Hudson and Matilda that I can be.

Today of course is Father’s Day.

It’s a day on which those of us who are lucky enough to be fathers should stop and think about what we want for our kids. The kind of Tasmania we want for children.

I want all Tasmanian mothers and fathers to be the best that they can be.  Because when parents are at their best, children get the best start in life, the best opportunities for education, for health and for happiness.

It’s no secret to people here that I have a personal history to tell about children who grow up away from their natural families.  I was a child adopted by a loving family who provided me with a wonderful start to life.  As an adult, I have reconnected with my biological family, and am now in the privileged position of having an extremely large colourful, sprawling family.

But not all children grow up in a loving, supportive environment such as I had.

It is not fair to them, and it’s not fair to many of their parents who are struggling to balance the pressures of life.

Today I am pleased to announce a major new investment in the welfare of Tasmanian children and those who care for them.

This new Labor Government will build up to 30 Child and Family Centres around Tasmania over the next four years.

The first 8 centres will be funded and commenced by the end of next year.

This will be a groundbreaking investment in the social fabric of this State.

I have already spoken with Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and they have assured me that the Commonwealth will work with Tasmania to make these centres all that they can be.

Child and Family Centres will bring together all of those services that make the most difference in the early years of a child’s life. They will be a one-stop shop for the needs of tomorrow’s Tasmanians. 

This is about helping parents work through issues like early years education, nutrition, and health and wellbeing. The centres will support parents, and provide places for people to meet, receive services and for children to grow.

This will be a connected up government initiative.  I will be asking the Early Years Interdepartmental Committee to immediately start work on the first 8 centres.

We will start in those areas most in need.  And we will be guided by the research work underway by Dr. Sue Jenkins, Chair of the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation. 

We will prepare parents for their jobs ahead.  The most important job on the planet – being Mum and being Dad.

Research undertaken by Dr Jenkins outlines just how broad a role these centres will be able to play in building safe, nurturing and child friendly communities which also support parents through pathways to study, training and employment. These centres will provide parenting programmes, early learning support, child and family health services, early identification of children with special needs, and access to adult education and training.

When I talk of a Tasmania that is clever, kind and connected I know this initiative ticks all of the boxes.

Delegates - our children are the future.

In building these centres, we are building the Tasmanian communities of tomorrow.

Trust In Democracy

If we are to achieve these things for Tasmania and for Tasmanians we must first restore and build trust in our democracy and all its machinery.

I want every Tasmanian to know beyond doubt that this Government is pursuing their best interests.

I want every Tasmanian to know beyond doubt that we will be open and honest about everything that we do.

That is why I have announced a ten point plan to ensure that Tasmanians are able to build that trust in their democracy.

The Ten Point Plan includes a review of the Freedom of Information Act, better protection for whistleblowers, and establishing approved protocols for judicial appointments. I want to see improvements in governance and accountability in Government Business Enterprises, and will establish a register of lobbyists.

I will institute codes of conduct for members of parliament, ministers, and parliamentary and ministerial staff, along with training, advice and induction programmes so that people understand what their obligations under these codes are.

There will be a review of resourcing for the Auditor General, the Ombudsman and the DPP to make sure they have what they need to fully carry out their functions.

We’ll be moving to clarify the relationship between the Commissioner of Police, the Premier and Minister for Police, as well as the ability of ministers to direct, or not direct, the Commissioner in relation to investigations. The Government will also be asking the Joint Select Committee to consider the establishment of a Police Integrity Office.

I plan to implement all of these initiatives within the next twelve months.

I am determined to significantly change the culture of government and of government processes in this State.

We must get this right and we will get this right.

Trust in Labor

I want us as a Government to set an example that the Tasmanian people can embrace.

Then, in March 2010, we will give the Tasmanian community the chance to elect the Labor Party to build the future.

Labor has always been the true people’s party of Tasmanian politics.

The Liberal Party stand for self-interest and claim that as a vision.

They forget that, in fact, it’s all about people.

They forget that it’s about the men and women of Tasmania that are raising families.

The men and women that are working their guts out to give their kids the best start in life.

The men and women who are balancing household budgets while still finding time to help others through hundreds of hours of unpaid volunteer work.

I say to the Tasmanian people, that the Labor Party I lead will never forget that you are the reason we are here.

We are working for you.

And we will never stop working for you.

Thank you delegates.