JOBS AND THE ECONOMY

Tasmania is heading in the right direction with over 4000 new jobs created since the Hodgman Liberal Government came into office in March last year. The unemployment rate has fallen, business confidence is the best in the nation, retail trade is at record highs, there is a tourism boom underway and our building and construction sector remains strong.

The task ahead is to build on the momentum created over the past 12 months. In the 2015-16 Budget there are more than $315 million in initiatives to help create more jobs.

We want to ensure economic prosperity and jobs growth right across Tasmania. That is why we have established a $60 million Northern Cities Major Development Initiative to revitalise the North and North-West. This funding will provide capacity for the Government to play its part in revitalising Launceston, Devonport and Burnie.  We will partner with three of our major cities to create new, local jobs and provide a vital boost to the local economies.

We are also injecting an additional $5 million into the Regional Revival Fund in order to support new investments linked to industry and jobs growth in regional areas.

Tasmania has an exciting future. An $8 million Business and Job Attraction Scheme will encourage national and international businesses to invest in Tasmania and create more local jobs.

Our single statewide planning scheme will be delivered ahead of schedule. $2.6 million will support this critical change aimed at taking the handbrake off job creating investments and ensuring consistency across the state.