CommSec’s latest State of the States report is little comfort to the thousands of Tasmanians who have lost their jobs over the past few months.
Shadow Treasurer David O’Byrne said industry economists are warning that the worst is yet to come.
“In a week where Peter Gutwein has completely ignored worsening job numbers, it would be an insult for the government to attempt to boast about this report,” Mr O’Byrne said.
“CommSec’s State of the State report does not directly compare the economic performance of the states, it measures each state against its own long term average.
“Tasmania’s figures are heavily distorted by the GFC and the impact of the high Australian dollar on our export oriented economy.
“Peter Gutwein should spend less time spinning and more time addressing the unemployment crisis unfolding in Tasmania, he needs to focus on the crisis here and now, not the 10 year average.
“What we do know is that ABS jobs data over the past week paints a grim picture of the state’s stalled jobs recovery and the Premier has no plan to turn things around.
“ shows the number of jobs in Tasmania has fallen by 2,200 since August, with our unemployment rate now at 7.4%. That’s up a full percentage point from 6.4% last month.
“Wages in Tasmania have also fallen, down by 2.3% which is bad news for those who continue to hold onto a job. And it raises concerns about the pandemic being used to trigger a race to the bottom for Tasmanian wage earners.
“Peter Gutwein can’t continue to ignore these statistics. He has done nothing to give Tasmanians confidence that he has a plan to get them back into work.
“Labor’s sets out a plan to get Tasmanians back into jobs and help those hardest hit by the pandemic.”
David O’Byrne MP
Shadow Treasurer
