The ideas gathered here reflect paul mallett’s current thinking on how we make life easier, healthier, and happier for all.
At the centre of this body of work is a simple belief: every society runs on an operating system. It determines what counts, how power moves, and what success looks like. If we want different outcomes, we have to be willing to try, test and redesign all parts of that system.
What follows is a way of thinking and a way of acting. It moves from understanding systems, to applying ideas in the real world, to the kind of leadership required to sustain change over time. Prevention is treated as practical, not idealistic. Power is understood as something we design and share, not something we simply inherit.
This is not about perfection. It is about steady progress. It is about building change that holds, often at scale, while working within the real constraints of policy, budgets, and politics.
Above all, it is an invitation. To see clearly. To choose courageously. To work with others. And to stay grounded in the values that bring us to the work in the first place.
They posts below are not finished answers. They are “could-do” proposals, offered in good faith to spark useful debate, invite critique, and test what works. As conversations continue, these ideas will evolve. Community priorities will surface. The “should-do” agenda will take clearer shape.
What would it take to establish an open air gym – a Palestra – in Launceston?
Po: Could Launceston establish a network of exercise parks around the city and suburbs to promote weight training, movement and social connection?
What would it take to scale efforts to prevent suicidal distress, reduce suicide rates, and improve support systems in Tasmania?
Po: Could we work together to build better systems and supports to significantly reduce suicide rates in Tasmania? Can we aspire to the zero suicide goal in our state?
What would it take to provide “startup incubator-like” support to “sole traders” working in the NDIS and My Aged Care in Tasmania?
Po: Could Tasmania lead the nation in the delivery of a suite of supports to help sole traders run sustainable micro-businesses and address low business literacy, isolation, and burn out.
What would it take to make winter heating more affordable and address a root cause of ‘fuel poverty’ in Tasmania?
Po: Could Tasmania deliver "affordable warmth" to vulnerable groups by retro-fitting poorly insulated and energy inefficient homes?
What would it take to establish a regular Preventative Health Survey in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could a triennial survey monitor the health and wellbeing of the Launceston population, and could the data inform policy and improve programs?
What would it take to use superheated bricks to store renewable energy for heavy industry in Tasmania?
Po: Could Tasmania lead the way with zero-carbon thermal storage of excess renewable power and support the viability of existing and new heavy industries requiring high-temperature heat?
What would it take to scale the industrial hemp sector, diversify product range, and grow jobs in Tasmania?
Po: Could Tasmania become the nation's leader in premium, sustainable industrial hemp? Could we achieve deep vertical integration from paddock to premium product range?
What would it take to expand land return to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community?
Po: Could Tasmania identify Crown Land, national parks or reserves for handback or co-management?
What would it take to establish a Treaty Authority and deliver a treaty in Tasmania?
Po: Could Tasmania deliver a treaty respecting the sovereign rights of Aboriginal people and make real restitution?
What would it take to establish a formal truth-telling body with real powers in Tasmania?
Po: Could Tasmania authentically recognise and tell the real history of Aboriginal dispossession and cultural suppression?
What would it take to deliver on a Tasmanian Care Economy Wage Strategy and be a national leader in valuing care workers?
Po: Could a co-designed strategy lift wages, secure care, value workers and deliver better care in rural and regional Tasmania?
What would it take to close Tasmania’s gender pay gap, boost productivity, retain key workers, and create a fairer economy for all?
Po: Could Tasmania lead the country as a small nimble state by taking practical steps to close the gender pay gap faster?
What would it take to expand access to justice in Tasmania, and give vulnerable individuals and families a fair go?
Po: Could we better support Community Legal Centers and Legal Aid to help those who can't get timely, affordable legal help?
What would it take to create dedicated pool of housing to support Allied Health Professionals in training in Tasmania?
Po: Could Local and State Governments create a pool of housing for allied health students completing prac and address student hardship?
What would it take to improve disclosure rules for Councillors in local government in Tasmania?
Po: Could the City of Launceston ensure disclosure of Councillor's allowances, income source, affiliations, and meeting logs occur in each Meeting Agenda?
What would it take to accelerate progress toward a zero annual road toll in Tasmania?
Po: Could Tasmania lead the nation in the use of "opt in" telematics technology to reduce the road toll? Could we become the safest and cheapest place to drive?
What would it take to better protect the private information of Australians from secret data harvesting by big tech companies?
Po: Could more robust privacy legislation, and greater community awareness, better protect citizens in this age of surveillance capitalism?
What would it take to support everyone in Launceston to feel a sense of connection and belonging?
Po: Could the people of Launceston address social isolation and loneliness together; becoming a city of better-connected people, with deeper bonds, and greater resilience?
What would it take to invest in “best in class” rehabilitation services in the Tasmanian prison system?
Po: Could Tasmania lead the nation in rehabilitation of prisoners, transforming lives, reducing recidivism, and lower the human and economic toll of crime?
What would it take support more community gardens and improve healthy food access across the City of Launceston?
Po: Could Launceston lead the state in food justice, eradicate "food deserts" and transform access to healthy food for all?
What would it take to use innovation and “Social Impact Bonds” to address pressing social issues in Tasmania?
Po: Could Tasmania lead the nation in using "pay-for-success" contracts to tackle some of our most intractable social issues?
What would it take to deliver a more flexible education system for those experiencing school attendance difficulties?
Po: Could Tasmania design, fund and deliver a more responsive system that works for all young people, including "school can't"?
What would it take to support every Tasmanian to have the highest standard of care at the end of their life?
Po: Could Tasmania lead the nation in resourcing and delivering "best in class" palliative care and end-of-life supports?
What would it take to pay living wages while care economy workers study in Tasmania?
Po: Could a "Care Associate" living wage training model achieve the growth required in the care economy workforce in Tasmania?
What would it take to establish a nation leading Child Endowment Fund supporting every child in Tasmania?
Po: Could savings accounts seeded by government at birth help young Tasmanians pay for education, housing or life start-up costs?
What would it take to increase youth engagement in shaping the future of the City of Launceston?
Po: Could the use of digital tools and additional forums amplify youth voices and expand youth engagement in local government decision making?
What would it take to strengthen our democracy and lower the voting age to 16 years in Australia?
Po: Could we better reflect young people's stake in the future by granting them the right to vote in all elections?
What would it take to end “dual voting rights” and make Tasmanian local government elections fairer?
Po: Could termination of the General Manager's Roll provision re-establish the fair and just principle of "one vote, one value"?
What would it take to improve public health through reduced consumption of sugary drinks and foods in Australia?
Po: Could a tax on sugary products, reduce consumption, improve diets, reduce obesity and raise funds for health programs?
What would it take to scale investment in fall prevention programs in Tasmania and support all seniors to age safe and well?
Po: Could investment in strength training programs for seniors improve quality of life and avoid the suffering and economic costs of falls?
What would it take to transform residential aged care into more “home-like” communities across Tasmania?
Po: Could Tasmania lead the way by scaling the use of the Green House Model of aged care and foster a higher quality of life for our senior citizens?
What would it take to listen deeply to ratepayers and balance the City of Launceston budget?
Po: Could we make better use of technology to identify community spending priorities and produce a balanced budget with minimal rate increases for residents?
What would it take to increase the rate of all Centrelink payments and reduce poverty and inequality across Australia?
Po: Could we lift around 3.3million Australians, including over 760,000 children, out of poverty for good by increasing income support payments?
What would it take to strengthen consumer protections and prevent financial insolvency in Australia?
Po: Could stronger lending law and regulatory reforms protect more Australians from bankruptcy?
What would it take to ensure every young Tasmanian graduates school with strong financial literacy skills?
Po: Could Tasmania lead the country in the provision of financial literacy education?
What would it take to replace the Tasmanian flag with a contemporary design and more representative symbols?
Po: Could the Tasmanian Government engage the community in a robust debate and design process to refresh the state flag by 2030?
What would it take to ban greyhound racing, re-home dogs, and transition industry workers in Tasmania?
Po: Could the Tasmanian government end the harm to dogs, save public money, and transition affected industry workers by 2029?
What would it take to create a generation of change makers with the skills to design solutions to real-world challenges?
Po: Could the City of Launceston host an annual competition that invites students to design solutions to current local, regional or global challenges?
What would it take to attract more tourists using recreational vehicles (RVs) to the City of Launceston?
Po: Could Launceston take further practical steps to cater for the needs and preferences of RV travelers and boost our economy?
What would it take to rapidly “grow our own” care economy workforce and meet the needs of all Tasmanians requiring support?
Po: Could strategic investment in the training of care economy workers address the challenge of the rapidly growing support needs of Tasmanians?
What would it take to increase participation in community bike riding in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could we accelerate initiatives to make Launceston more bike friendly, and improve health through an increased number of people riding in our region?
What would it take to establish the City of Launceston as the national leader in inclusive work opportunities for all?
Po: Could our community deliver inclusive work opportunities for older people and people with disability and help secure good work for all?
What would it take to establish “cradle to career” support for all vulnerable children and young people in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could we break the cycle of generational poverty by surrounding Launceston's children with a system of supports at every life stage?
What would it take to make school sporting infrastructure available for public use in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could greater public access to sports courts, school ovals, and gyms boost participation in exercise?
What would it take to establish the City of Launceston as one of the most livable regional cities in the world?
Po: Could our city attract and retain more people by being a leading place to live, study, work, raise a family, and age well?
What would it take to decisively address socio-economic disadvantage in Tasmania and pursue a state of seven zeros?
Po: Could we ignite change by more clearly reporting on progress being made to address socio-economic disadvantage in Tasmania?
What would it take to promote innovative thinking and celebrate the sharing of ideas?
Po: Could local "Five Minute Thesis" and "Visualise Your Idea" Competitions promote innovation and position Launceston as the creative capital of Tasmania?
What would it take to inspire and support generations of change makers in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could Launceston create Tasmania's first vertical school and train citizen scientists for generations to come?
What would it take to improve the sustainability and comfort of all cold, damp and energy inefficient homes in Tasmania?
Po: Could the introduction of Energy Performance Certification for all homes in Tasmania support the development of targeted retro-fitting programs?
What would it take to increase the energy efficiency, sustainability and comfort of new homes in Tasmania?
Po: Could Tasmania transition to the internationally recognised Passivhaus (Passive House) building standard by 2035?
What would it take to celebrate the rich history of Festivale via a return to the original “multi-cultural street party”?
Po: Could a Festivale "Origins" event return the party to the CBD streets and celebrate the multi-cultural history of the City of Launceston?
What would it take to establish an annual multi-faith festival in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could an annual multi-faith festival build increased tolerance and respect for the diversity of religious and non-religious views in our City?
What would it take to strategically increase the number of people working in Tasmania?
Po: Could a combination of targeted immigration and "grow our own" strategies build the workforce we need in Tasmania?
What would it take to phase poker machines out of pubs and clubs in Tasmania?
Po: Could public health in Tasmania be improved if pubs and clubs transitioned from gambling machines to live entertainment?
What would it take to transition to an Australian republic with an Australian Head of State?
Po: Could we change our Constitution, become a Republic and have an Australian as our Head of State by 2035?
What would it take to re-establish festivals to celebrate the children of the City of Launceston?
Po: Could the City of Launceston partner with local groups and charities to host annual Children's Week Festivals?
What would it take to establish a successful ‘park and ride’ scheme in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could the City of Launceston reduce traffic congestion and pressure on parking with a world class 'park and ride' scheme?
What would it take to support healthy living in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could the City of Launceston collectively lose 500,000 kilograms and lead the way toward a healthier Tasmania?
What would it take to increase the use of digital democracy technology in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could we strengthen the use of technology to promote civic engagement, improve transparency, and enhance decision making?
What would it take to introduce the Junior Citizen of the Year Awards across the City of Launceston?
Po: Could we acknowledge the rich contributions of school age children to our community through an annual award?
What would it take to establish an annual Social Justice Lecture in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could an annual lecture focused on human rights and social justice promote stronger and deeper civic engagement?
What would it take to sustainably increase the population of the City of Launceston?
Po: Could the City of Launceston create four new eco-friendly suburbs and increase the population by 15,000 people by 2040?
What would it take to introduce a Charter of Human Rights in Tasmania?
Po: Could we create a fairer Tasmania via a Charter that enshrines rights, identifies responsibilities, and improves democratic freedoms?
What would it take to re-establish the health and usability of the Tamar Estuary at Launceston?
Po: Could the health of the River Tamar be restored to make it ecologically sound and recreationally vibrant by 2040?
What would it take to create a world class outdoor netball centre in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could the Hoblers Bridge centre be transformed into a sustainable all weather netball complex by 2035?
What would it take to build an iconic monument in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could we build a city defining monument that acknowledges the past and commits to a free, fair, and peaceful future for all?
What would it take to transform the City of Launceston into a “city in a garden”?
Po: Could additional investment in our street scapes transform Launceston into the most beautiful "garden city" in the southern hemisphere?
What would it take to enhance public spaces with murals in the City of Launceston?
Po: Could the City of Launceston beautify its public spaces and showcase the creativity of our artists with the installation of 50 murals by 2040?
What would it take to adequately fund addiction and recovery supports in Tasmania?
Po: Could economic and social wellbeing in Tasmania improve through genuine investment in addiction and recovery supports?
What would it take to ensure gambling companies return stolen money to victims?
Po: Could a change to gambling control laws in Tasmania see money that is stolen and lost via gambling returned to victims?
What would it take to attract more international film and TV projects to Tasmania?
Po: Could a production hub at Mac Point and a suitable attraction strategy put Tasmania in front of the world?
What would it take to ensure every child succeeds in Tasmania?
Po: By measuring and investing in what matters to childhood development could Tasmania become the most child friendly state in the nation by 2040?
What would it take to make the fight against high inflation fairer?
Po: Could a temporary increase in the portion of employee wages directed to retirement savings be a fairer way to tame inflation than increasing interest rates?
What would it take to rename the Batman Bridge in Northern Tasmania?
Po: Could the controversially named Batman Bridge be more appropriately titled Kanamaluka Bridge by 2029?
What would it take to increase sporting infrastructure in the City of Launceston’s suburban parks?
Po: Would new basketball and netball courts installed in our suburban parks boost participation in exercise?
What would it take to deliver portable long service leave to all community sector workers?
Po: Portable long service leave has been available in some sectors for decades. Isn't it time to make it available for care economy workers in Tasmania?
What would it take to strengthen local government in Tasmania?
Po: Would six city councils and three regional "doughnut" councils provide strong local government in Tasmania?
