Economy
Building a strong, prosperous Tasmania
THE COALITION’S DISCUSSION PAPER: BUILDING A STRONG, PROSPEROUS TASMANIA
The Coalition today released its Discussion Paper: Building a Strong, Prosperous Tasmania.
The Discussion Paper has identified 12 possible policy measures to strengthen the Tasmanian economy that are in addition to those already announced as part of the Coalition’s Real Solutions Plan.
The release of the Coalition’s Discussion Paper: Building a Strong, Prosperous Tasmania comes on top of existing announcements to provide $400 million to get the duplication of the Midland Highway between Hobart and Launceston done; a commitment to protect the Tasmanian GST share from any detrimental changes; and our commitment to scrap the carbon tax.
We believe that Tasmania needs a plan to restore economic growth and kickstart job generation.
Since the election of the Rudd/Gillard government, no new additional jobs have been created in Tasmania. Under the Rudd/Gillard Government, one in ten full time jobs have been lost.
The policies of Federal and State Labor/Green governments have resulted in Tasmania having:
• Australia’s highest unemployment rate, around 2 percentage points above the national average;
• Rapidly contracting retail sales and state final demand over 2012;
• Substantial net out-migration of Tasmanians to other states, in the face of weak growth and poor job prospects; and
• Repeated significant budget deficits.
With the right policies, we can build a stronger economy in Tasmania, creating more jobs, higher wages, greater government revenue, better services and, ultimately, stronger and more cohesive communities.
The Coalition’s Discussion Paper: Building a Strong, Prosperous Tasmania is seeking community comment on proposals that could generate real improvements and growth across the Tasmanian economy. These include:
• Better balancing of environmental outcomes and economic costs of the proposed Inter-Governmental Agreement.
• Scope for changes to State or Federal regulatory arrangements to encourage environmentally responsible development, without compromising natural heritage.
• Review of the competitive structure and functioning of the Tasmania-mainland corridor and the Tasmanian intrastate freight network, to include consideration of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme and the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme.
• Potential mechanisms to promote further private sector investment, job creation and competitiveness in international shipping to and from Tasmania.
• Inclusion of issues of relevance to Tasmania as part of the comprehensive ‘root and branch’ review of national competition laws and competition frameworks.
• Adoption of irrigation proposals outlined by Tasmanian Irrigation, including consideration of projects that deliver the most economic return to Tasmania.
• Increasing Tasmania’s agricultural output, making the most of the state’s potential for high-quality, high value food production.
• Consideration of options for the building of new dams in Tasmania, including potential locations and the impact on local communities, the environment and the broader economy.
• Establishment and funding for a new Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research in Hobart.
• Relocation of Commonwealth agencies and functions to Tasmania where the relocation would be mutually advantageous to Tasmania and the nation as a whole.
• Promotion of further private sector investment, job creation and competitiveness in Defence-related Tasmanian industries.
This is a Discussion Paper that seeks to kickstart growth and confidence in Tasmania.
Labor has no economic plan for Tasmania; it only has a fear campaign.
It does not have to be this way. We can reset the course of Tasmania to one with more jobs, higher wages and better services that benefit all.
The Coalition’s Discussion Paper is the result of extensive consultation with the Tasmanian community by the four Liberal Senators for Tasmania.
The Coalition will release a comprehensive policy to encourage economic growth in Tasmania before the next election. The policy will be fully costed and funded.
Ending the economic decline of Tasmania that has occurred under the Labor/Green government is part of our Plan for a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia.
Download, Building a Strong, Prosperous Tasmania