Liberals must come clean on impact of job cuts

Labor Deputy Leader Michelle O’Byrne said today half of the jobs to be cut because of the budget could come from across Northern Tasmania.

“The social and economic impacts of the Liberal’s budget will be felt right around the State and will hit regional communities hard,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“The Government says it will cut 700 jobs but the real figure is expected to be more than 1100.

“This will see an estimated $80 million a year in wages alone taken out of circulation in regional economies throughout Tasmania.

“With around half of the public service in the North and North-West of the State, Peter Gutwein must come clean and detail exactly how many jobs will be lost in northern Tasmania.

“Obviously Peter Gutwein has not thought through the consequences of his budget.

“The reality is that tens of millions of dollars in wages will be lost to local communities.

“This comes on top of the three quarters of a billion dollars worth of cuts outlined in the budget.

“It is not fair that Tasmanians are being forced to bear the brunt of these cuts just so the Liberals can pay for their election promises,” Ms O’Byrne said.
Michelle O’Byrne MP Labor Deputy Leader