Tasmanian ministers hit back amid job crisis attack in State Parliament

STATE Government ministers have spent question time listing the Liberals’ actions on jobs, amid sustained pressure to admit there is a “jobs crisis”.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein listens to Premier Will Hodgman's reply to a question about jobs from Opposition Leader Bryan Green. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

STATE Government ministers have spent question time listing the Liberals’ actions on jobs, amid sustained pressure to admit there is a “jobs crisis”.

As revealed by the Mercury, the community sector now considers the employment situation in Tasmania a crisis, with 5200 jobs gone since September last year and the participation rate falling to 59 per cent.

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The Tasmanian Council of Social Service is calling on the Government to take urgent action on employment, including a taskforce to oversee all job-creating programs.

TALKING POINT: THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN

However, the idea was dismissed by the Treasurer as another “talkfest” that would not create jobs.

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In State Parliament today, Opposition Leader Bryan Green called on Premier Will Hodgman to admit the seriousness of the jobs situation.

“If 5200 Tasmanians losing their jobs in the last 10 months is not a jobs crisis, what is it?” Mr Green said.

Mr Hodgman said jobs had been his government’s number on priority from day one.

He said the unemployment rate hit 8.6 per cent under the former Labor-Green Government and had since fallen to 6.4 per cent under the Liberals.

“It’s 2.2 per cent lower than it was under you and you say it’s a crisis … the economy under you was in recession, under us it’s growing at its fastest rate in six years,” he said.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor urged the Liberals’ to adopt TasCOSS’s idea of a jobs taskforce.

“By any measure Premier your government is failing on a core promise to Tasmanians … what is your government’s actual plan to deliver jobs, because clearly whatever you are doing now is not working,” she said.

Ministers outlined the Government’s job-creating initiatives.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the Northern Cities Major Development Initiative, cutting red tape in the building industry, helping first home builders and the University of Tasmania’s expansion plans were all important employment drivers.

“We know if the building and construction industry is busy, jobs are created,” he said.

Resources Minister Guy Barnett spoke about growth in the forestry industry, while Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding listed major roadworks projects including the Midland Highway upgrade.

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Originally published as Tasmanian ministers hit back amid job crisis attack in State Parliament