Liberals left red faced over broken jobs promise

The State Liberal Government has been left red-faced over its pre-election promise to create 16,000 new jobs.

Labor leader Bryan Green accused Premier Will Hodgman of deliberately giving Tasmanian job seekers false hope.

“Breaking promises is like water off a ducks back to the Hodgman Liberal Government.

“Just like Treasurer Peter Gutwein’s plea yesterday for Tasmanians to forget about last year’s horror budget, Mr Hodgman thinks people will forget he promised to create 16,000 jobs.

“Mr Hodgman has failed to explain whether he has halved his promise, or whether the 8000 jobs promised in last week’s budget are in addition to the 16,000.

“Either way, Treasury’s own employment forecasts show unemployment will not improve for the remainder of this Government’s term and in fact the participation rate is expected to worsen.

“No wonder Mr Hodgman refuses point blank to produce any modelling to support his latest jobs target.

“How does Mr Hodgman reconcile his 8000 jobs promise with Treasury’s prediction that the unemployment rate will remain at 6.75 per cent over the forward estimates?

“How can Mr Hodgman possibly expect Tasmanians to believe him when they see the list of jobs he promised before the election and has failed to deliver?”

Jobs promised by the Liberals – Source: Liberal election policies

Small business: 1000
Tourism: 8000
Teachers: 105
Whitelion: 200
Police: 108
Three Capes Track: 334
Specialist Literacy and Numeracy: 25
Beacon: 1500
Regional Revival Fund: 2000
Payroll Tax Rebate: 600
Small Business Jobs Bonus: 2000
Head works Holiday: 500
Nurses: 110
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader