The latest CommSec State of the States report has dealt another blow to Premier Rockliff and the Liberal minority government’s flatlining economy – Tasmania has slipped down the rankings to 6th place in the nation.
Tasmania also ranked 5th in terms of annual growth rates across the eight economic indicators.
Consistent with other recent commentary, the report identified population growth as a key weakness for the Tasmanian economy – annual population growth is the weakest it’s been in 8 years and that has been driven by the worst net interstate migration levels we’ve seen in decades.
We know that a planeload of Tasmanians are leaving our shores every four days for better opportunities elsewhere. Sadly, the people leaving are working age, tax-paying Tasmanians that we need participating in our economy.
Tasmania also ranked 6th in dwelling starts which makes it truly perplexing that Premier Rockliff and the Liberals are so intent on blocking UTAS from using their vacant campus asset to facilitate the construction of 2,000 new homes.
In the past, the Liberals couldn’t wait to talk about the CommSec State of the States report but now the economy is flatlining, they refuse to accept the same responsibility.
With 5,000 jobs being lost in the economy since Premier Rockliff’s leadership sent his government into minority, a looming budget disaster, sweeping public sector job cuts and an economic situation that only looks to be getting worse, it is clear Tasmanian can’t afford the Liberal Lambie experiment.
Labor’s priority is making sure Tasmanians can find work in well-paid, safe, and secure jobs. Boosting workforce participation, getting people into good jobs, is the key to getting our economy back on track.
Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer
