Tasmania Report needs to jolt do-nothing government into gear

 Tasmania Report delivers compelling message
 Liberals have wasted almost three years doing nothing
 Labor would be much more bold, innovative

Economist Saul Eslake’s ‘Tasmania Report’ makes for important and compelling reading on the challenges and opportunities Tasmania faces for the future.

“I congratulate the TCCI and TasCOSS for once again sparking critical community debate through the release of this report,” Labor Leader Bryan Green said.

“It was disappointing Premier Will Hodgman was not at this morning’s event to hear the report’s message and participate in the debate.

“Labor is in firm agreement that education is critical to tackling disadvantage and unlocking the state’s full potential.

“That is why we have proposed the establishment of an Education Partnership of educators, industry, community groups and parents to lead a bottom up approach to setting long term education policy.

“It is clear from the report that Tasmania faces massive challenges as a result of low workforce participation, underemployment, lower educational attainment and a struggling health system as a result of an aging population

“It is frustrating that we have a government that is more intent on making themselves look good than actually tackling these challenges.

“There is no more stark example of the Liberal Government’s inaction than jobs.

“The Liberals’ hands-off, business as usual approach will not stimulate employment growth or raise the state’s flagging participation rate.

“We need to get hands-on to address why Tasmanians are dropping out of the jobs market. We must properly invest in skills and training to give Tasmanians more confidence in their employment prospects.

“I would like nothing more than to be leading a Labor Government that gets involved in tackling these challenges.

“Labor would be bolder in government, implementing big ideas around renewable energy and electric transport technology.

“We’d spearhead intergenerational infrastructure projects to underpin employment in both the short and medium terms.

“We would tackle traffic congestion in our cities and improve public transport in our regions.

“And we would take pressure off the health system by investing in preventative health.

“Labor is prepared to do the hard work to turn challenges into opportunities.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader