Bitter Cadbury chocolate

“Cadbury’s announcement today that it is sacking 80 staff is a terrible blow to the greater Hobart community. This is 20 per cent of the chocolate factory’s staff, many of whom live in the Glenorchy City area which already has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state,” Mr Wilkie said.

“The difficult circumstances in Glenorchy were the reason the Federal Government had decided to provide $16m of economic stimulus to Cadbury. Cadbury’s decision not to invest that money in no way changes the urgent need for such stimulus spending in Glenorchy and the money must still be spent there.

“The Federal and State Governments are making much of the economic difficulties in north and north-west Tasmania. But such circumstances exist across the entire state which makes the recent government spending commitments in the north and north-west look like pre-election pork barrelling to save the three amigos. Indeed the youth unemployment rate in south-east Tasmania is actually higher than that being experienced currently in north-west Tasmania.

“I am also very disappointed with the behaviour of Cadbury which has received wonderful community and political support which it’s not repaying. You’ve just got to look on the supermarket shelves to see the increasing range of Cadbury products now being imported into Australia from Europe and other places.

“Remember this is first and foremost a human story. Every one of the sacked workers is someone with a life to live and bills to pay. Many have families to support.”

• Bryan Green: Cadbury jobs a painful blow

• Jack Lumber, in Comments: An absolute disgrace … BTW, FFS even I am embarrassed by the continuation of funding to the forest industry vis a $3.5M grant for “excellence and innovation ” …. please they know what to do and it will all be frittered in overheads …