Jobs are the Liberal Government’s number one priority and the decision by financial organisation IOOF to expand its business in Hobart is a sign of growing confidence.
The additional office space, opened today, will cater for recent jobs growth and allow for future expansion.
IOFF has employed an additional 20 people in recent months.
IOOF has a bright future in Tasmania and is one of the state’s largest non-government employers with a total of 260 workers.
The Liberal Government has been working hard to restore confidence and create the right environment for job creation since coming to office in March.
Jobs initiatives the Liberal Government has already implemented include:
A jobs-creation package to create 5000 new jobs over our first term;
A two year headworks holiday to bring forward developments;
A Local Benefits Test so that social and community factors such as job creation are taken into account when decisions are made on government tenders;
Disaggregation of large and/or state-wide contracts to open the market to more small businesses that would otherwise not get a look in;
Mandatory Industry Participation Plans for high value procurement and private sector projects that receive government support, in order to ensure local industry participation is maximised; and
We have begun the process to create a new Department of State Growth which will aggressively pursue investment and job creation opportunities for Tasmania.
Last week there were encouraging signs with ABS employment figures showing an increase in the participation rate meaning Tasmanians who had given up looking for work under the previous government have renewed confidence and have re-joined the job search.
The Liberal Government is getting on with delivering our long term plan for Tasmania which is about tackling the jobs crisis, building on our competitive strengths and cutting red and Green tape to help businesses grow and employ more people.
Will Hodgman, Premier
