The Government welcomes today’s TCCI Tasmania Report, prepared by Saul Eslake.
Treasurer Peter Gutwein said it shows that under the Hodgman Liberal Government’s long-term Plan, Tasmania is finally heading in the right direction.
“There is a lot of good news in Mr Eslake’s report that shows that Tasmania is now heading in the right direction, with our economy growing at fastest rate since 2008/09, our real per capita GSP rate exceeded the national average for the second year in a row, and our unemployment rate now near the national average,” Mr Gutwein said.
“It confirms that our competitive strengths which we are backing under our Long Term Plan like agriculture, fishing and forestry and tourism are strongly growing; and are driving growth in other areas such as construction, retail, and importantly, business confidence.
“It also shows that exports are starting to rise again, which is a key driver of economic growth and job creation in the State.”
Mr Gutwein also acknowledged that the economic recovery hasn’t been as strong in the North and North-West. He said that’s why in the last budget the Government announced a $315 million jobs package, specifically targeted at the North and North-West and backed that up with a $1.8 billion infrastructure program that is designed to share the benefits of Government investment right around the State.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Training Jeremy Rockliff said that when it comes to education, the Government agreed with Mr Eslake that what has been done in the past wasn’t working.
“We are committed to lifting educational outcomes in Tasmania with initiatives including extending high schools to years 11 and 12, committing to the full six years of Gonski funding and a major review of the Education Act,” Mr Rockliff said.
“We have intentionally sped up the process to extend high schools to years 11 and 12 by inviting schools to put forward different models and this year we have also created the new Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification for years 11 and 12.
Mr Rockliff indicated that more improvements to our education system would be announced in the New Year, and the work of the Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment would continue.
“Importantly, we have already established the Peter Underwood Centre to investigate issues relating to education that are highlighted in this report,” Mr Rockliff said.
“Through the centre, we have joined forces with the University of Tasmania to look at the causes, implications and solutions for the challenges we face in education.
“We understand that these challenges can’t be fixed overnight. There are complex, deeply intergenerational issues and attitudes that will take decades to understand and unravel.
“However, we do not waiver in our commitment to ensuring every young Tasmanian has the very best education and has every opportunity to gain a good job and live a fulfilling life.”