Labor welcomes the establishment of the Premier's Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council, but says it is a missed opportunity to represent all Tasmanians and plan for a fairer future.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said the omission of a representative from Unions Tasmania means workers will not have a voice in crucial planning for Tasmania's recovery and healing from the COVID-19 crisis.
"The Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council has a massive job ahead and I wish them luck," said Ms White.
"But, without a representative from Unions Tasmania, they can't see the full scale of the job ahead and workers miss out on the voice they deserve.
"We have nearly 20,000 Tasmanians who've lost their jobs since the start of this pandemic and many others have had their hours reduced, and that comes on top of the state already having the highest underemployment rate in the country before the pandemic.
"This was an opportunity to support and empower workers in planning for a positive and fairer future as we come out of this emergency and I urge the Premier to consider expanding the scope of the advisory council to give workers a voice.
"This is also the time to be looking at how we support people back into the workforce, and I again urge the Premier to consider Labor's Free TAFE policy, to help people retrain for jobs in new or existing industries that desperately need skilled workers.
"With different industry sectors looking to the government for leadership about when restrictions might ease so they can plan to resume trade, it's disappointing that there was no detail about that in today's statement.
"I would also like to see more detail about planning to help regional areas. People in these areas may not be ready to resume normal operations and will need support to upskill people who have lost work. We need to work together to buy local, build local and employ local.
"It's pleasing to see the government has taken on board our discussions and provided an additional $10 million for both the Small Business Emergency Support Grant program and the Small Businesses Hardship program.
"However, more is needed to support workers through this crisis, and ensure people don't fall through the cracks as we start to emerge from the worst of the pandemic.
"We have the chance to rebuild our state, with an emphasis on good, secure jobs, fairness and a strong, resilient economy and society."
"We must take every opportunity to build a better Tasmania."
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
