Found this on another thread may have some relevance re...

Found this on another thread may have some relevance re silica

Bartlett hints at project boom
SUE NEALES | January 01, 2011 12.01am





PREMIER David Bartlett has flagged massive investment projects for the state due to be revealed in the first half of 2011.

Mr Bartlett said he could not discuss details of the confidential projects but hinted they were focused on renewable energy, dairy industry processing and mineral resources.

But he said he did not know if construction of the $2.2 billion Gunns pulp mill was imminent.

"One thing I've learnt over the last 2-1/2 years [as Premier] is not to predict that sort of thing," Mr Bartlett laughed.

"I don't have a strong view one way or another."

He said his Government's focus in 2011 would be entirely on ensuring job security and, where possible, reducing cost-of-living pressures on ordinary Tasmanians.

In an interview with the Mercury before going on leave, Mr Bartlett said he accepted many Tasmanians thought too much political time and energy since the March state election had been taken up with "bedding down" the new Labor Government with its two Greens ministers.

He conceded he had not done a good job in selling the practical benefits of his economic vision for the state to ordinary Tasmanians, many of whom think it is all just about fine food and expensive wine.

In 2011 he hoped to move his "vision" for a new Tasmania into a more practical sphere, to explain better how his new economic direction focusing on irrigation, food bowls, renewable energy and high-speed broadband translates to real jobs and greater wealth and prosperity for all.

He does not agree 2011 is looming as a particularly difficult and tough economic year, citing the 2500 local jobs created in the past eight months.

The only thing missing was business confidence in the private sector and individual confidence in the working population that their jobs were safe.

"If you looked at the small business data surveys from a month ago, really interestingly every indicator such as for jobs growth was positive, except for confidence," Mr Bartlett said.

"So there is a danger here of us talking ourselves into a problem."

Mr Bartlett said he was proud to have succeeded in making workable the world-first political model of having members of another political party, the Greens, in a Labor Cabinet without a coalition agreement being in place.