A Heart of the Huon Team member, in his letter to the Huon Valley News (September 25, 2014), stated that unemployment in “the region” stood “at 6.4%” for “2014”. Yet Heart of the Huon candidates, in their campaign for seats on the Huon Valley Council, have to date been silent about how they would address this important issue of jobs for valley residents.

The source of my unemployment data, the Australian Department of Employment (Small Area Labour Markets, December 2013) suggests the position is much worse. Its figures show that unemployment in the Huon Valley soared from 3.9% in March 2008 to 9.2% in November 2013. Kingborough, in the same period, rose from 2.2% to 4.1%.

Thus, Kingborough’s unemployment in November 2013 was less than half that of the Huon Valley’s. (I’m interested to know what is the source of Heart of the Huon data, especially given that 2014 is not yet complete. And did the Heart of the Huon member, by using the expression “region”, mean the Huon Valley or a much wider area?)

Because Heart of the Huon Team members insist that they are “independents”, I would like to hear about their individual policies to deal with unemployment. The trend line for unemployment in the Huon Valley is seriously upward, and I am determined to address it if elected to council.

What Huon Valley mums and dads want is a proactive council, especially when it comes to unemployment opportunities for their children. The Youth Employment and Sports Program I am advocating represents a step towards reducing unemployment. My Economic Development and Infrastructure Program, if implemented, would also have a significant impact on employment.

If elected to council, I will be seeking from the Commonwealth and State governments a special funding package that would address the Huon Valley’s infrastructure, employment and training needs.

With this objective in mind, my questions to members of the Heart of the Huon Team and other candidates are:

● Will they support my Commonwealth/State funding initiative?
● Will they support removal of council’s policy of undertaking works on State Government roads so that more jobs can be created in the private sector?
● Will they support my proposal to revitalise the forest industry by requesting a feasibility study into the establishment of an “international forest innovation centre”?
● To revitalise the Huon Valley’s tourism industry, will they support infrastructure development and an opening-up of the southwest to eco-tourism?
● Will they support an independent review of Huon Trail marketing, which has failed so dismally this past decade?

These questions relate to only a few of the policies that, as mayor, I would want Heart of the Huon, Greens and independent councillors to consider.

This election provides the greatest opportunity since the Huon Valley Council was created two decades ago to get it really working for everyone, not just a handful of vested interests.

Come on Heart of the Huon members, and other candidates, let’s roll up our sleeves and get down to the serious business of coming up with real policies and ideas that would get our magnificently, potentially rich, valley going again.
Peter Coad, Deep Bay Cygnet