More required for the regions

INVESTING more in regional tourism-related infrastructure will narrow the gap in the state’s wealth distribution, Labor’s Treasury spokesman Scott Bacon says.

As part of the Tassie 2022 campaign, experts have told the Mercury that the gap in wealth distribution in the state is growing and addressing it will be a key consideration for voters as the state election looms.

Construction magnate Royce Fairbrother said it was time to stop the myopic concentration on university education being the prime way of landing a well-paying job.

While announcing the Government’s new incentive scheme to get more apprentices into restaurants, tourism ventures, building site and workshops, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff agreed young people needed a range of options.

“These include encouraging people to go on to years 11 and 12, enrolling in UTAS, signing up for TAFE courses or moving into a full-time job,’ Mr Rockliff said.

Premier Will Hodgman said it was employment which gave young Tasmanians the best shot in life and a chance to be part of a stronger economy.

But Mr Bacon said employment creation needed to be focused on the state’s regional areas and the best way to do this was via investments in tourism-related infrastructure.

“There is no doubt that we have seen an economic resurgence in Hobart, we know that hasn’t been seen in other parts of the state,” he said.

“We know that in terms of wage growth but also the casualisation of the work force, less secure jobs.

“What the Labor party wants to see is more secure jobs around the state, but especially in our regional areas. We think that investing in infrastructure in our regional areas will be an important step when it comes to supporting jobs in regional Tasmania.

Mr Bacon said Cradle Mountain and Maria Island were two examples of where investments in additional infrastructure could stimulate regional economies.