Media release – Peter Gutwein, Premier, 27 July 2020
Tasmania leads the nation – Rebuilding from a position of strength
The latest CommSec State of the States July 2020 Report confirms Tasmania entered the pandemic from a position of strength as the strongest economy in the nation, according to the most recent statistics.
“For the first time the since October 2009, Tasmania holds the mantle of the best performing economy in its own right and is ranked first outright on the CommSec rankings. Three months ago Tasmania shared top spot with Victoria,” the Report said.
The figures demonstrated Tasmania has the strongest job market, in the most challenging times, demonstrating our responsible glide-path approach to recovery is working.
The Report highlighting that “despite the COVID-19 shock the Tasmanian unemployment rate is only 7.4 per cent above the decade average.”
Tasmania also ranked first on retail trade with spending 14.8 per cent above decade-average levels in the March quarter, with our strong relative population growth and home building key supports for retail spending.
While we lifted from last to first with equipment investment, up 14.2 per cent on the decade average and were also ranked strongest on the relative population measure with our 0.97 per cent annual population growth 65.9 per cent above the decade-average rate.
We have not sugar-coated the impact COVID-19 has had on our state, however, the strong position of our economy and budget prior to the pandemic is a pillar of strength to support our recovery.
The Government is doing everything it can to manage and mitigate the impacts on businesses, jobs, families and the Tasmanian community, and we are focused on the recovery process and getting the economy back on track and back in business.
Since coming to office, we rebuilt our economy to be number one in the country and we can do it again. We will recover and we will rebuild a stronger Tasmania.
Media release – David O’Byrne MP, Shadow Treasurer, 27 July 2020
Liberals have no plan to get Tasmanians back into jobs
Peter Gutwein should take no comfort from the CommSec State of the States Report released today.
Shadow Treasurer David O’Byrne said the report does not present an up-to-date picture of Tasmania’s economy.
“While the Liberal Government has been quick to welcome this report, it will be cold comfort to the thousands of Tasmanians who have lost their jobs during COVID.
“The report is, for the most part, based on data that’s now out of date. And it’s a report that compares change within the state over a 10 year period; it is not a leader board for a genuine comparison of the state’s economic performance.
“What’s going to matter for Tasmania is how the government implements a plan for the state’s economic recovery. We know that tens of thousands of Tasmanians are out of work and small business has never done it tougher.
“With youth unemployment at 15.1%, and the peak impact of COVID-19 not expected to hit until December, Tasmanians are looking for a strong plan to create jobs.
“While Peter Gutwein doesn’t have a plan to create much-needed jobs for Tasmanians, Labor does.
“Labor’s COVID-19 Recovery Package is designed to get people back into jobs, and help those hardest hit by COVID-19.
“The Premier’s own social and economic advisory council has exposed the government’s lack of action and delivery on key issues over the past six years.
The council has adopted key job creating initiatives included in Labor’s Recovery Package, such as Free TAFE and mandated apprentice numbers on government projects.
“PESRAC has pointed to Labor’s solutions The question now is what the government is waiting for?”
You can read the full CommSec report here.
