Premier Will Hodgman says island state will embrace sharing economy

THE State Government is set to throw open Tasmania’s doors to the sharing economy.

iPhone picture inside an Uber taxi in Sydney

THE State Government is set to throw open Tasmania’s doors to the sharing economy.

Premier Will Hodgman has told State Parliament that sharing economy businesses — such as ride-sharing service Uber, which is planning to enter the state — are good for consumers and provide opportunities for jobs and growth.

“We are prepared to take a lead on the national stage to be the first state to embrace the sharing economy,” Mr Hodgman said.

“We believe it is consumers that should decide what’s best for them, not the government.”

Mr Hodgman is due to address the Committee of Economic Development of Australia’s state of the state event in Hobart tomorrow, where he will outline more detail around the Liberals’ new sharing economy policy.

Measures will include legislation to be tabled next year to allow sharing services to operate legally in Tasmania.

The Liberals have been mulling over the sharing economy for some time and indicated at the party’s recent State Council that they would not get in the way of Uber or other sharing economy services.