Long-term Plan rolling out across Tasmania

While Parliament has been in recess over winter the Liberal Government has continued to work hard to deliver our long-term Plan for Tasmania.

Our Plan has at its heart economic growth and job creation policies.

Since Parliament last sat, the unemployment rate has declined further, and now stands at 6.7 per cent, with 4,500 jobs created since the election.

Tasmania no longer has the highest unemployment rate in the country, and the gap between the state and national unemployment rate is just 0.6 per cent, down from 1.6 per cent at the election.

We are working with the business community to maintain the positive growth.

We’ve ensured the long-term future of Nyrstar in Hobart, securing 500 direct jobs and 3,500 indirect jobs.

We’ve announced a Plan to support the North West Coast through the difficult times following the Caterpillar announcement earlier this year.

We’ve supported new jobs in the tourism industry, with the launch of the refurbished Spirits of Tasmania, and we’ve launched the beer tourism and Great Eastern Drive marketing campaigns, along with a new events funding model.

We’ve also reached a new five year agreement with the Hawthorn Football Club, supporting jobs and the economy in the north.

We’ve moved to put the racing industry on a sustainable footing, taking the tough but necessary decision that $30 million per year for that important sector is enough.

And of course, we’ve made significant strides in putting the budget back onto a sustainable footing. In our first year in Government, we delivered the best budget bottom line in four years, cutting the projected Labor-Green deficit by a massive $240 million.

The product of strong, disciplined, financial management and it is because of this disciplined financial management that we’ve been able to invest in areas of essential services.

This includes an unprecedented investment our new $26 million Family Violence Action Plan.

It also includes new hepatology nurses, a new Women on Boards strategy, additional funding for the fire service, the merger of the three THOs into the Tasmanian Health Service, and a 10 year road safety strategy.

Tasmanians can be assured this Government will continue to work with the broader community to keep our state heading in the right direction.
Will Hodgman, Premier