A flatlining economic outlook spells more trouble for Jeremy Rockliff as he struggles to pull Tasmania out of a health, housing and cost-of-living crisis after a decade of Liberal Government.
According the latest Deloitte Access Economic Outlook, Tasmania’s growth for 2022-23 is forecast 0.4 per cent, the lowest of all states and behind only the Northern Territory.
The Tasmanian section of the report opens with the ominous line that ‘Tasmania’s economy will return to familiar challenges in 2023 as the last signs of the pandemic recovery dissipate’.
The report goes on to state that a ‘structurally weaker employment and population outlook puts Tasmania in a less resilient position to face economic headwinds in 2023, relative to other states and territories,’ concluding with a projection of very limited growth for the Tasmanian economy through the calendar year.
The Rockliff Government knew from previous Deloitte reports that Tasmania would face these economic headwinds, yet they have failed to heed the advice and act.
With such poor economic management, how can they expect to fix mounting health, housing and cost of living issues facing Tasmanians?
This Government has been resting on the laurels of its COVID response for too long.
If the Liberals haven’t fixed the health, housing and cost of living crisis in 10 years they never will.
As we look into the abyss of mortgage increases, slow income growth, inflation and unemployment, it is clear that the Liberal Government has done little for Tasmania in its decade at the helm apart from racking up record Budget debt and deficits.
Sensible financial management, health, housing and cost of living are key priorities for Labor and a Tasmanian Labor Government would immediately get to work fixing the mess the Liberal Government has created during its 10 years in office.
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Treasurer
