Elections are funny things. Not just because they often bring out the best, and worst, of the candidates vying for our votes. But because they also bring to light policies and promises that have been sitting under our nose for years - sometimes decades.
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Of course, this is not a coincidence. If a party can bring to the table a pledge that will satisfy the hunger of a particular demographic, then they will do it. When it comes to elections, timing is everything.
But once the counting is over (which, despite the most recent scandal is growing closer by the day) and the dust settles on the campaign confetti, the real job of putting those promises into action begins.
For the Liberals, the party's first 100 day implementation plan lays out an ambitious agenda aimed at further "securing Tasmania's future".
This includes immediate actions on their core policies around health, construction, highway upgrades, the North West Regional Hospital redevelopment, the Mersey Community Hospital and the Tamar River dredging program.
But for the most part, particularly the first 30 days (following return of the writs), it's a plan based around consultation and negotiation. It's a plan that aims to continue much of the groundwork that has already been done - or at least was promised to be done - since they were first elected to government.
For instance, Calvary Healthcare's bid for a private co-located hospital in Launceston was supported by both major parties during the 2018 state election.
However, in the three years that's followed, we have seen minimal new information or progress come to light about the proposal, which remains with the Office of the Coordinator General.
But then, just over a week into the election campaign this time around, the Liberals announced they would fast-track the co-location bid by finalising a memorandum of understanding to remove any "outstanding impediments" to the $120 million proposal.
While welcomed news, we were given no reason as to why this hadn't already happened.
Similarly, a business case endorsed by former Health Minister Michael Ferguson, to establish a research and innovation centre on the Launceston General Hospital's main campus, has been sitting with the government since 2016. But only now, post-election, do we have a commitment to finally act on it.
There's no denying that progress requires patience.
But, as our state enters its next chapter under what's expected to include a re-shuffled cabinet, let's just hope the government really is committed to, as they say - "getting on with the job".
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