The quiet toilers who, through grit and hard work, allow the stars to shine – think North Melbourne legend Glenn Archer or AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.

Athletes who, while gifted enough to play at the highest level, made their name by being steady and reliable grafters.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein’s third budget does a lot of that spade work for the state.

It is a budget that maps a continued focus on infrastructure spending, building on the economy’s green shoots, investing in health and education and saving for a rainy day.

No surprises. No screaming headlines. No grandiose ideals where ambitions outweigh ability. All to be expected from a government in the middle of its first term.

Will Hodgman’s Liberals steamrolled into power on the back of stagnant growth, high unemployment and a public unhappy with a long-term Labor administration that limped into a power sharing deal with the Greens.

It offered stability and a focus on economic growth and – to be fair – has largely delivered on those claims.

Federally, it has learned from the plights of Tony Abbott’s tenure and the previous Rudd-Gillard-Rudd shemozzle. 

It has avoided the hubris of Queensland’s Campbell Newman government, which won and lost power in one term after saying one thing during a campaign and doing another once elected.

Newman’s decision in his first budget to sack 14,000 public servants, followed closely by unpopular changes to Queensland’s corruption body and controversy surrounding the chief justice’s appointment burned up any new leader goodwill.

In contrast, the first term of Tasmania’s conservative government has been one of rolling out election promises and rebuilding confidence in the economy.

There have been, of course, a few stumbles, most notably in its tough on crime agenda; including criticism of its mandatory sentencing policies from the legal profession, dumping its defamation law changes and High Court challenges to its workplace protest protection laws.

The energy crisis has exposed a crippling need for a long-term energy plan with a focus on other renewable energy. 

And it has also been relatively quiet on social issues with the exception of a planned apology to men who were prosecuted under the state’s old homosexual laws

All that stability is admirable but at some point the government must offer more than a steady as she goes agenda. Otherwise, what is the point of being in power?

Will “steady” be the defining word of this government? If that is the case, it will not be the worst epitaph, but is it the best use of the political capital a stable government that keeps its promises could afford to spend?

This is not a criticism of government, it is a call for debate on what bold reforms are needed to future proof our state.

We are only halfway through the state election cycle but, with a view to really turbocharging Tasmania, it is time to ask what are the big issues that need addressing?

Council amalgamations, much needed investment in water and sewerage infrastructure and the potential sale of assets come to mind.

What are the things you think we should focus on?

We can aspire to be champions after all.