Tasmanian economy 'woeful' as cost of living bites
The Deloitte Business Outlook has called Tasmania's economic results 'woeful', pointing to cost-of-living pressures and lamenting the slowest growth forecast in the nation over the coming five years which signals 'weakness and challenges' ahead.
The report outlined that years of overspending and waste that has propped up the state's economy has contributed to the worst budget deterioration in the country.
Eric Abetz's response has been to impose massive cuts that will further weaken the economy, as Tasmanians pay the price for 13 years of Liberal waste.
The Deloitte report comes alongside the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) detailing that 7,000 jobs have been lost since this Government was formed in August last year.
On these numbers, Tasmania's economy is shrinking and economic conditions are the worst they have been since the Global Financial Crisis.
Unlike the GFC, the rest of the country's economies and job numbers have been increasing over the same period. This is what happens when a government decides to review one of its biggest and most significant industries and shut down another for political purposes.
Participation arguably remains the biggest economic inhibitor to Tasmanian economic growth. Childcare options are limited and the Liberals' gutting of TAFE means it's harder than even to get access to the skills needed to contribute to our economy.
Labor has argued against cuts to TAFE, for government to do more for before and after school care, to support more long day-care options in regional communities and most importantly, for five-day kinder. It's good for kids, good for the cost-of-living and good for Tasmania.
