Tasmanian Labor says the government must act on the recommendations in the interim report from the Premier's Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council (PESRAC) to achieve the best results for all Tasmanians.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said areas of concern highlighted in the report must be resolved to achieve a genuine and sustained economic and social recovery.
"The report contains a number of positive initiatives to help us on the road to recovery, including several proposals from Labor's COVID-19 Recovery Package, which is designed to build a better and fairer Tasmania," Ms White said.
"The focus on buying local, along with recommendations to provide free TAFE courses in key jobs areas and apprenticeship requirements on government projects, are positive measures that Labor has been arguing for to get Tasmanians back into jobs.
"But it is disappointing that PESRAC has had to push the government to implement some measures that are already supposed to be government policy, such as the Buy Local policy, the apprenticeship quota and affordable housing construction.
"The report also highlights the government's failure to act on issues Labor has been raising for years, including the high proportion of part-time and casual jobs in Tasmania, the state's poor health and education outcomes and the alarmingly high youth unemployment rate.
"It is now up to the government to act on these recommendations to build a better state for all Tasmanians - and it must ensure that recommendations are picked up in the November budget to not only deliver economic outcomes but also social outcomes.
"I look forward to the second phase recommendations from PESRAC, which will guide our state's medium to long-term recovery.
"Labor's recovery package includes numerous projects that can contribute to longer term recovery, including the Hobart Showground Renewal and the Burnie Port Master Plan.
"We need big thinking and bold ideas to achieve long-term economic and social recovery. We need to buy local, build local and employ local so that no one is left behind in recovery."
Rebecca White MP
Tasmanian Labor Leader
