More than 1,400 Tasmanian jobs were lost last month and workers continue to struggle to make ends meet as the Gutwein Government's lack of preparation for the fresh wave of COVID continues to bite.
Shadow Treasurer Shane Broad said in addition to the jobs that disappeared in January, Tasmania still had 2,000 fewer jobs today than before the pandemic and thousands of Tasmanian have given up looking for work, with the state's workforce participation rate down to 60 per cent – the same level as at the peak of the lockdowns in 2020 - and well behind the national rate of 66.2 per cent.
"Additionally, the latest ABS data shows the total number of hours worked across Tasmania fell by 5.1 per cent as people continue to lose shifts and struggle to make ends meet," Dr Broad said.
"The fact is Mr Gutwein is too distracted dealing with the chaos and disarray in his Cabinet to focus on the things that matter to Tasmanians - earning a fair wage and putting food on the table.
"Many businesses have been struggling to keep their doors open and provide hours for their employees.
"The government needs to act now and adopt Labor's Supporting Business, Supporting Jobs package which includes fundamental, workable solutions including providing eligible businesses a rebate of fixed network charges for their next power and water bills and a land tax rebate for those landlords who commit to passing this rent relief on to tenants.
"The government should also extend the eligibility for a payroll tax waiver to the current quarter so that qualifying businesses impacted by the border reopening are supported.
"And the government should be allowing those businesses that are eligible for COVID support grants to apply for a Workers Support Grant, to the equivalent of 20 per cent of their payroll for February, up to a maximum of $5,000 a week."
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Treasurer
