The Labor Party is working hard to plan for a better future post
COVID-19 and wants Tasmania to aspire to more than settling for a ‘return to
normal’.
Labor Leader
Rebecca White said we must not sell our state short of reaching
its full potential in the recovery process.
“When people
speak about their desire to “return to normal” I can understand what they might
mean, given how difficult the current circumstances are for so many,” Ms White
said.
“However, “normal”
wasn’t great for far too many Tasmanians before this virus, with one in four
people living in poverty.
“Before this
pandemic, Tasmania already had the highest underemployment rate in the country,
with too many people piecing together casual jobs just to make ends meet.
“It’s a precarious way to earn a living and these are among the people
who’ve been hardest hit by COVID-19 job losses and potentially pushed further
into poverty.
“This pandemic has also reinforced the importance of public services – none
more important than our health system.
“The Labor Party is working
hard in consultation with stakeholders, industry, unions and the broader
community to plan for a better future post COVID-19.
“We want to
rebuild our state with an emphasis on good, secure jobs and connecting our
schools and training providers with industry.
“Our policy of
providing free TAFE training will ensure there is a clear pathway to employment
for Tasmanians in areas where we have growth across the economy.
“We need to
build houses to provide shelter for those in need, creating jobs in the
construction industry and providing apprenticeships in trades.
“A fairness
agenda is a good economic agenda and this has never been more true than right
now.
“From this tragedy, let’s find a way to build hope for the future.”
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
