Search for blueprint of future

Little Claire Males is sitting on an investment in her future.

Tasmania Together _ Our Vision Our Future is a social, environmental and economic blueprint for the State for the next 20 years, an investment in the future of children like Claire.

Launched yesterday at Riverside Primary School, Our Vision Our Future was produced by 80 Tasmanians from all walks of life at a Search Conference in June.

It will be the template for extensive community consultations starting in February next year to be coordinated by the 24-member Community Leaders Group.

Our Vision Our Future was launched yesterday by former Australian Rural Woman of the Year and member of the group, Ashgrove cheesemaker Jane Bennett.

Miss Bennett urged all Tasmanians to take part in the community consultation process and play a role in Tasmania's future.

``Tasmania Together offers a choice of continuing on the same way we have for the past 20 years or taking a chance _ all of us as a community _ and doing something about our problems,'' Miss Bennett said.

She presented a copy of Our Vision Our Future to Burnie High School grade 7 student Claire Darvell, who devised the name Tasmania Together.

Riverside Primary School pupils yesterday were the first to make a submission to the process.

After extensive classroom discussions, their vision for Tasmania 2020 included: learning will be a priority for everyone; country towns will have better facilities; there will be less drugs, tobacco and alcohol being sold; there should not be any rich or poor people.

Tasmania's three political leaders, Premier Jim Bacon, Opposition Leader Sue Napier and Greens leader Peg Putt, attended the launch yesterday demonstrating tripartisan political support for the project.

Mr Bacon said that Tasmania Together was democracy in action.

``To get Tasmania moving forward we must ask the people of Tasmania what their hopes and aspirations for the future are,'' Mr Bacon said.

The Government would align the State Budget with the plan's benchmarks, he said.