The Government is committed to growing the economy and creating jobs for Tasmanians.
We are investing nearly $100,000 over three years in events like today’s Stan Siejka Classic criterium and around $4 million a year into AFL football to generate jobs and investment in the northern economy.
The early signs are that our plan is working. Private investment is up more than ten per cent, business confidence is the highest in the country and retail trade is at record highs. Importantly, this is translating into jobs, with 7,000 jobs created since the election and over 4,000 of those in the North and North-West.
Since the election, the unemployment rate in the North has dropped nearly two per cent, from eight per cent in March 2014 to 6.2 per cent in October this year, while the unemployment rate on the North-West has dropped from nine per cent to 7.7 per cent over the same period.
While there is no doubt the economy is heading in the right direction, the Government knows that the North and North-West have not recovered as quickly as hoped and there is a lot more to do. Recent announcements regarding a number of job losses are a reminder that we must not rest on our laurels.
That’s why we are investing in the North and North-West to give the local economy the shot in the arm it needs (*see full list of investments below).
At the heart of our investment is the $60 million Northern Cities major Development initiative, which specifically targets initiatives in Launceston, Devonport and Burnie that will get the ball rolling on a number of major, long-term projects that will deliver hundreds of jobs and stimulate the northern economy for years to come.
The $315 million jobs package announced in the latest budget will also have clear benefits for the North and North-West, especially in the areas of tourism, agriculture and resources, which are major competitive strengths of these regions.
There is much to be optimistic about in the North and North-West. The private sector is already leading the way, with developments already under way or soon to begin, including a number of new tourism opportunities supported through the Government’s EOI process for tourism developments in national parks.
As we’ve always said, there are no silver bullets, but by sticking to our long-term Plan we have seen real results to date and we’ll see more positive results into the future.
Peter Gutwein, Treasurer
