- Jobs hubs crucial in addressing growing unemployment rate
- Action needed now to address unemployment across regional Tasmania
The Liberal Government has again jumped on the empty announcement bandwagon by failing to provide any real detail on how it plans to address Tasmania's appalling unemployment rate.
Acting Labor Leader, Anita Dow, said Sarah Courtney's re-announcement of a Jobs Tasmania Unit proves the Government doesn't have a plan to create jobs across Tasmania.
"Labor welcomes the Government rolling out our jobs hub policy – a key priority in Labor's Plan for Jobs – but we want to see action on this policy now not in three years' time," Ms Dow said.
"Labor went to the election with a plan to create 35 thousand jobs across Tasmania which included the creation of 10 Jobs Hubs to support 1,000 people of all ages into work each year.
"These jobs hubs along with other initiatives in Labor's Plan for Jobs including the $55 million jobs and innovation fund, $18 million plan for small business and our dedicated focus on rebuilding TAFE from the ground up including better regional access to TAFE, would have immediately helped address Tasmania's alarming regional unemployment rate.
"The latest ABS data shows Tasmania has the highest regional unemployment rate in the country and at 7.4 per cent, the North West and West Coast is the highest in Tasmania. The jobs hub in Burnie must be delivered.
"Tasmania's regional communities continue to face significant economic challenges and initiatives designed to link local people with local skills and training and employment opportunities must be the highest priority for this Government.
"We are urging the Government to stop making re-announcements and get on with the job of delivering these vital initiatives to ensure Tasmanians have every opportunity to get a job no matter where they live and that Tasmanian businesses get access to the skilled workforce they are crying out for.
"When will these much needed jobs hubs be up and running in Burnie, Brighton, Huonville and St Helens? Tasmanians can't wait another 3 years for action on job creation by this Liberal Government."
Anita Dow MP
Acting Labor Leader
