Labor’s Shadow Minister for Small Business has called on Treasurer Gutwein to abandon his public service job cuts so that consumer confidence can be rebuilt during the vital Christmas period.
Madeleine Ogilvie said public servants were dispirited and worried by the Treasurer’s threats to their livelihoods.
“Cuts like this affect the whole community,” Ms Ogilvie said.
Ms Ogilvie described the sackings as both a human tragedy and a major blow to small businesses that relied on consumer confidence to provide a boost to their businesses.
Ms Ogilvie called on the Treasurer to rethink his callous attitude to public servants.
“Our local economy and jobs in the private sector rely on everyone having secure employment.
“Cuts to the public sector are also cuts to the private sector as worried consumers tighten their purse strings.”
Ms Ogilvie challenged the Treasurer to meet with small businesses to explain why he was prepared to sack public servants on the eve of the most important economic and family period of the year.
She said she will be monitoring closely the Christmas period spending to ensure that Tasmanians have confidence in their future.
Madeleine Ogilvie MP Shadow Minister for Small Business
