Tasmania (and many Tasmanians) suffer from romanticism.

While anecdotal evidence that suggests that Tasmania is, and will be, a haven for climate 'refugees', there is little empirical evidence to support this notion. Migration is complex. More people move to other states than arrive here (except for NSW and NT) #politas www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

This is incredibly short-sighted given serious mismatch in housing demand and supply. Older people are unable to downsize due to lack of appropriate housing (wider doorways, accessible bathrooms etc) preventing young people/families getting into housing #politas www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmani...

What population data is most meaningful? A Tasmanian perspective on the ABS National, State and Territory population data released yesterday #politas lisadenny.substack.com/p/what-popul...

Today, when I was giving a webinar my screen went black. Afterwards, I found out why.

Course: Decision-making and demographic change using a systems thinking framework - 20/21 Nov Designed to expand your knowledge + understanding of the interdependent nature of the systems we work in and how decisions we make influence socio-demographic change Info: www.lisadenny.com.au #politas

No surprises here. Population change is largely predictable. Data reflects decisions made by people - where they live, if they have children and how many. Better understanding the drivers of decisions enables better prediction, planning/shaping change, informing investment and services etc #politas

Perhaps now that mainstream media has finally connected poor literacy - particularly for boys - to low productivity, we may seem some action with purpose? (thanks James Campbell) #auspol #politas🧵1/5

Great to see the Opposition Leader take on the crucial portfolios of education and economic development - the full pipeline of the education system 👏👏 #politas

More examples of not thinking through the potential consequences (particularly unintended ones) at the time of decision-making. Whatever upcoming ‘decisions’ are made re the 3Ps need to give serious consideration to potential longer term implications #systemsthinking www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

The economic reforms of the late 20thC did not use a systems thinking approach nor consider the unintended consequences - we now have greater inequity and intergenerational unfairness. Any reforms today must consider/predict any -ve consequences and redesign. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

At what point will we see leadership with a sense of purpose to reset this trajectory for boys in school in Tasmania? #politas

The theme of the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) conference this week was Shaping our future together. In my Keynote Address I challenged the fatalistic suggestion that Demography is Destiny, and implored that it doesn't have to be. 🧵 #politas www.lisadenny.com.au/uploads/1/5/...

Must read from Angela Jackson from the PC “Perhaps the most powerful lever for productivity is prevention and early intervention. Stopping problems before they start, or before they escalate, can improve lives and reduce long-term costs across government.” theconversation.com/from-childca...

Important read from @rlhortle.bsky.social on that other platform. “This is your regular #politas reminder that "Democracy is rule by the people and for the people. The majority is not the people. We cannot say this too often: rule by the majority is not rule by the people."” x.com/rlhortle/sta...

FWIW - I think the Premier having no other portfolios is a very good thing. Will enable greater oversight and leadership and hopefully prevent any further oopsies moments as well as improved collaboration with the cross bench. #politas

There are 3 spots remaining in this course on 12 September - Understanding Population Dynamics through four lens’ - economic, demographic, spatial and human (there’s a fifth one, too, which you will find out about in the course!). Get in quick! #rethinkingdemographicchange #politas

Yesterday, I was invited to speak at the Tasmanian Economic Roundtable hosted by the Tasmanian Federal members of the Labor Party - I told the story of Tasmania’s current reality - our demographics, work, education and productivity #politas open.substack.com/pub/lisadenn...

The stars say there is reason for hope… justice and diplomacy is on the way 🤞😊

It was my dad’s 80th birthday yesterday, and he even made mention of the newly elected Tasmanian parliament and the need to work collaboratively together in his speech. #politas #iammyfathersdaughter

Not this demographer. Just no. This just demonstrates how little leaders/politicians know and understand fertility decision-making. Why not focus on the WHY people are not having children or as many children.

Everyday I am thankful for a little @grantdraws.bsky.social insight to get me through the day ☀️

When I read the last sentence of this last week, I was quietly hopeful that a new era of politics in Tasmania was emerging… silly me. Seems ‘continuous improvement’ is the word du jour these days, but yet to see the action. #politas

"Sadly, we don't have the same level of demand from the public to lift school education as we do in virtually any other area of public policy." Ageing populations = ageing workforces. If we don’t improve school outcomes for all, we won’t have a future workforce. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...

The difference between Jim Bacon and all the other Premiers this century is that he had a clearly articulated vision for Tasmania and took the community on his journey to implement and achieve it. #politas Pick Tassie’s best premier since 2000 www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmani...

Really hate it when my husband says to me, “dreams are free, my love, dreams are free”. Sigh.

Tasmania’s population is currently tracking below the low series of the Tasmanian Department of Treasury and Finance’s population projections. If this pattern continues, it is likely that Tasmania’s population will enter population decline by the end of this decade (by 2030). #politas

The NDIS does not increase “welfare dependency” (as asserted in today's AFR). It increases employment. Under the NDIS, labour force participation of people with disability (PWD) grew from 53% to 61%. For people without disability it barely changed. Unemployment for PWD declined from 10% to 7%.

There’s been much criticism of this ‘stability pact’, yes, maybe it should have been a standard protocol, but it wasn’t. This is a big leap, IMHO, and given we elected a large cross-section of representatives from various colours, it is a good starting point for working together #politas

Well, there you go, an AI bot joining the conversation - if only it was science fiction and fantasy 🤪🤣😊

A very good change of direction from Sunday… good to see… worth reading the draft…. And the pulse report #politas pulsetasmania.com.au/news/jeremy-...

excellent OpEd from Bec Thomas MLC in the Hobart Mercury today - OUR NEW PREMIER SHOULD START OFF BY MAKING HIMSELF THE MINISTER FOR RELATIONSHIPS edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dyn... #politas

My non-expert take when some ppl say the election outcome is that voters want change and then others say, they voted in the same, is that we voted for change last year, it didn’t happen, so we still voted for it this time. The SFF result is the JLN effect from last year. All sitting Ind. ⬆️ #politas

It seems both major’s approach to the crossbench is to tell them where they stand. Hardly collaborative. Perhaps if they do actually want parliament to work, they shld start w/ gaining coherence across the bench, may find more common ground than first thought? #politas www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...

Here's a heat map of Net Interstate Migration by 5-year age group for Tasmania, 1997 to 2024. This explains both our slowing rate of population growth and our increasing rate of population ageing. #politas #rethinkingdemographicchange Check out my courses to understand more www.lisadenny.com.au

I have spent today putting together my keynote address for the Tasmanian Council of Social Service Conference in Launceston on 12-13 August 2025 - check out the program here and get your tickets! #politas tascoss.org.au/events-train...

Excellent OpEd by @ingridh.bsky.social, President of COTA Tasmania. Not only does Tasmania need a Minister for Ageing, but it needs a dedicated body (advisory council) to conduct/commission research and provide policy advice to the Minister in relation to a rapidly changing demographic 1/3 #politas

I haven’t voted yet but I need to do it early as I won’t be here on the 19th…. Waiting for education policies and dare-i-say (wish)- population policy/vision… #politas

Around this time last year, I received an email from someone I didn’t know, “How long are you going to keep doing this?” open.substack.com/pub/lisadenn...

Just realised that I’m the only woman (stand alone) in this #backtothefuture piece in the Mercury from 2013… will we ever get ‘Tassie’ ticking for more that a seasonal cycle? Will this election campaign provide a long term vision for our State and our people? #politas

Feeling pretty much like I did in 2010 when I wrote a little piece every week for the Mercury during the election campaign (under former married name). #politas

In around 2005, employed at the then Dept Economic Development, I led the Financial Assistance to Industry Review, it would appear from this article that the recommendations are still not being adhered to. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...

Prioritise ALL tasmanians #politas www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...

👀 NEW COURSE DATE - Fundamentals in decision-making and demographic change using a systems thinking framework 📆 21 + 22 August, 2025, Hobart Further information: www.lisadenny.com.au Register here: forms.office.com/pages/respon... Evaluation Report here: www.lisadenny.com.au/uploads/1/5/...

During last year's election campaign, Saul Eslake, Michael Rowan and I called for an Independent Inquiry into the Tas. Education System. While the govt undertook a review, a plan for the implementation of the recs has not been released. In this OpEd today, we reiterate our call for reform #politas

👀 NEW COURSE: Understanding Population Dynamics 🧠 Intentional and intensive professional learning 💡 One day 📆 Friday, 12th September, Hobart 💥 Rethinking Demographic Change Professional Learning Series More info and to register: www.lisadenny.com.au