Industry calls for Majority Government

Peak bodies representing Tasmania’s major industry sectors have joined together to urge Tasmanians to support a majority government outcome at this Saturday’s State Election.

The twelve peak bodies, the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Hospitality Association, the Property Council, the Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council, the Forest Industry Association of Tasmania, the Master Builders Association, the Australian Retailers Association, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Launceston Chamber of Commerce, the Tasmanian Small Business Council, Apprenticeship Employment Network Tasmania and the Tasmanian Automobile Chamber of Commerce collectively represents the vast majority of businesses across Tasmania.

Industry spokesperson Brian Wightman said history had shown Tasmania’s economy is much stronger under majority governments and more jobs are created.

“We’re not telling Tasmanians who to vote for, but we are urging them to consider carefully the profound risks to the State from another hung Parliament,” Mr Wightman said.

“The fact is we have had three hung Parliaments in Tasmania over the past three decades and each of them have coincided with Tasmania’s economy tanking, investment drying up and jobs being lost.”

Spokesperson for the Tourism sector Luke Martin said Tasmania’s economy was the strongest it had been for decades with visitation and construction driving investment across the State, while agriculture, primary production and the minerals sector are growing and creating more jobs.

“Many of the industries we represent are experiencing their strongest conditions ever with an exciting future ahead of us and more jobs being created. We simply can not put this at risk,” Mr Martin said.

“We know investors and businesses interstate who are investing in Tasmania were the same companies who put a black mark through Tasmania when we had a minority government.”

Mr Martin said all industries needed the certainty that only majority government can provide.
Spokesperson for the Tourism sector Luke Martin