Tasmania
I did most of my education in Tasmania and, after spending almost 34 years on what Tasmanians call ‘the mainland’, returned to Tasmania in December 2014. Both while I was living away, and since returning, I’ve maintained a keen interest in the progress (or, at times, lack of it) of Australia’s smallest state. The pieces here represent some of my efforts to advocate for policies which, in my opinion, would result in a stronger Tasmanian economy and improved living standards for Tasmanians.
The Tasmanian Economy
Tasmania | 29th February 2024Saul’s presentation to the CEDA (Committee for Economic Development of Australia) Annual Economic & Political Outlook conference, Hobart, 29th February 2024
Tasmania’s senior secondary education reform
Recent Media Interview, Tasmania | 13th February 2024Saul Eslake joined WorkPlace Demographer Lisa Denny and Emeritus Professor Michael Rowan on ABC Radio Hobart’s “Mornings” program hosted by Leon Compton to discuss the findings of the Productivity Commission’s recent Report on Government Services findings with regard to the performance of Tasmania’s education system. and in particular our abysmally low Year 12 retention and attainment rates. All three of them have been long-term advocates for fundamental changes in Tasmania’s senior secondary education system so that Tasmanian students can have access to the same opportunities as their peers in every other state.
Tasmanian Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) Scores
Education, Tasmania, The Stream | 6th December 2023The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), as it’s called, assesses how well 15-year-olds are prepared to use their knowledge and skills in particular areas to meet “real-world challenges and opportunities”. It measures three core domains of reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy. Students completeEvery three years, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development […]
The Tasmanian Economy
Tasmania | 2nd November 2023Presentation to the Annual Tasmanian Economic Forum, 2nd November 2023. Despite out-performing the national economy on most metrics in the years leading up to the Covid pandemic, and during the pandemic itself, Tasmania remains the poorest state in Australia, by a wide margin. And now Tasmania’s economy appears to be under-performing the rest of Australia […]
The 2022-23 Tasmanian State Budget
Tasmania | 26th May 2022An ‘instant analysis’ of the 2022-23 Tasmanian State Budget presented by new Treasurer Michael Ferguson on 26th May 2022
Tasmania Talks 16 May 2022
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania | 16th May 2022Saul talks to Tasmania Talks’ Mike O’Loughlin about Tasmania’s economy and the Morrison Government’s “Super for Housing”
How greed and politics threaten Tasmanian living standards
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, Tasmania | 12th April 2022Article published by the Tasmanian magazine Forty South about the corruption of the long-standing principles under which revenues from the GST (and before the introduction of the GST in 2000, ‘general purpose grants’ from the Federal Government) are shared among Australia’s states and territories How greed and politics threaten Tasmanian living standards
Peter Gutwein’s legacy as Premier and Treasurer of Tasmania
News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania | 5th April 2022Saul talks to Tasmania Talks’ Mike O’Loughlin about Peter Gutwein’s legacy as Premier and Treasurer of Tasmania, and the challenges facing his successor, whoever he or she may be