Regional employment figures confirms need for Northern economic stimulus

Regional employment figures released today confirm that unemployment in the North of the State is too high.

Pleasingly, the ABS Regional Labour Markets figures show that the unemployment rate on the North West has dropped from 8.9 per cent when we came to Government to just 5.9 per cent today. The unemployment rate on the North West is now lower than it has been for at least 17 years.

Meanwhile, in the South where a number of significant private and public construction projects are underway, the unemployment rate is steady at 6.2 per cent.

Unfortunately, the unemployment rate in the North of the State is 7.7 per cent.

That’s why the Government is preparing a major, targeted stimulus package for the North.

We will have more to say at the CEDA conference on Monday and at a TCCI function in Launceston on Tuesday, but this will be a significant package which will underpin and bring forward economic activity valued at in excess of $100 million.

This shows that when you get the budget back under control, you can afford to reinvest in Tasmania, in the economy, in jobs and in regions that need our support.
Will Hodgman, Premier