Fair enough, but what happens to certain mainland States when Asia stops buying coal and iron ore? Does Tasmania get some monetary acknowledgement for all the pollution absorbed by its trees? I also suspect that when the Murray-Darling dries up (this could be late 2014) that Tasmania could prove to be Australia's food bowl. Consumers will understand if there is no longer a Bass Strait freight subsidy.

Tasmania is a victim of policy based primarily on ideology. Garbage in- Garbage out.

It is little different to the victimhood created around Ford, SPC, Holden and Qantas. The common element is that until recently there was nobody prepared to yank back on the reins.

If Tasmania cannot make the State work, then move over and make way for someone that can.

Taswegian, “could”, would”, “maybe” and the last word was ? Yes, Subsidy.

"It also has a long history of anti-development policies. Indeed, rather than offering a low tax and less regulatory environment to attract investment and generate jobs, it has repeatedly done the opposite. Among many examples, utility charges since 1998 have increased on average 6.1% per annum, electricity 6.4% and property rates and charges 5.5% compared to the CPI in Hobart of 2.7%."

Given the Greens' anti-development policies and their dysfunctional hand in government, this is not surprising . It remains to be seen whether the voters will take this into account when casting their votes in the coming State election.

" Third, subsidies for shipping to and from Tasmania should be abolished ...The solution is cheaper shipping, such as by abolishing industrial relations laws introduced specifically for the shipping industry."

Thanks to the Rudd-Gillard governments' dysfunctional coastal shipping policy changes, commercial freight rates to/from Tasmania have increased by some 50% in recent years. It remains to be seen whether the Abbott government will act swiftly to redress the dysfunctional industrial relations laws, and whether the good Senator-elect will support the redress.

The writer is a Senator Elect.

Scarey !

Quite the opposite. It is a pleasure to read something from a politician that is concise, economically rational and actually puts down a 4 point plan for turning round the state.

I now have my dream media event Sarah Hanson-Young vs David Leyonhjelm.

EQ:"I now have my dream media event Sarah Hanson-Young vs David Leyonhjelm."

TWO MENPERSONS ENTER! ONE MANPERSON LEAVES!