Energy, infrastructure, health boost in jobs-focused Tasmanian Budget

Tasmania’s state budget on Thursday will create a new agency to drive investment in renewables and promise to create 28,000 new jobs over four years.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein will promise 28,000 new jobs in the 2021-22 State budget, as well as a new agency to drive investment in renewables.

Tasmania’s state budget on Thursday will create a new agency to drive investment in renew­ables and promise to create 28,000 new jobs over four years.

Premier and Treasurer Peter Gutwein will announce the jobs target in a budget that seeks to leverage new energy projects, invest further in infrastructure and boost spending on health and other services.

Mr Gutwein will say the island state, with its hydro power and surge in wind and green hydrogen proposals, is at “a pivotal moment in history”.

A Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania will be set up by October to “ensure we are better placed to grasp fully these opportunities”.

“We’re one of the only places where we can say we have more renewable electricity than we use, and it comes at a time when companies, investors and talented people from around the world are looking for it,” Mr Gutwein will say. “We are at a pivotal moment in history, which we must be prepared to grasp it as it will define the state for the next 100 years.

“Through expanding our renewable energy capacity, we will show the world how to decarbonise in big and small ways, generating opportunities, prosperity and more Tasmanian jobs.”

Extra funding of $15m will support the new agency, which will take over the responsibilities of Renewables Tasmania and the Climate Change Office, and report to the Premier as well as the Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister.

Mr Gutwein will claim the budget further delivers on state election promises.