BUILDING HOPES

Premier unleashes record spend

PREMIER Peter Gutwein said Tasmania would “build our way” out of the coronavirus-induced economic crisis by announcing the biggest infrastructure spend in the state’s history.

Addressing the Tasmanian public yesterday, Mr Gutwein said there was no way to sugar-coat the economic reality the state was facing.

“By working together we will rebuild what was lost, we will strengthen our community, we will regain our confidence,” he said.

THE State Government’s plan to build its way forward from coronavirus has been welcomed by Tasmania’s peak business and social bodies — But panned by the state opposition party and small business sector.

Premier Peter Gutwein yesterday said the government’s Treasury report painted a bleak picture about Tasmania’s economy and budgetary position.

He said he had tasked Treasury to conduct an immediate review of the state’s $3.7 billion infrastructure program and identify projects that could be brought forward and started swiftly.

Projects like affordable houses, maintenance on schools and government buildings, regional roads, bridges and dams will be at the forefront of the government’s areas of focus.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey said the State Government needed to focus on supporting businesses to reopen and stay open, while also investing in people and infrastructure.

“If the government gets its policy settings right in these three areas, we believe it will give the business community the best chance to recover as quickly as possible,” he said.

Tasmanian Council of Social Service’s Simone Zell welcomed the commitment to prioritise the construction of social and affordable housing.

“The construction of new homes will not only ensure a roof over people’s heads but will provide crucial employment in construction and associated industries,” she said.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the 2008 global financial crisis “told us the best ‘bang for buck’ stimulus spend was on housing”.

Tasmanian Small Business Council president Robert Mallet said the numbers shown in yesterday’s Economic and Fiscal Update Report didn’t paint a clear enough path forward.

“We need to see a two-tofive-year plan showing the steps needed to get through the current times we are in,” Mr Mallett said.

Labor treasury spokesman David O’Byrne said the figures outlined in the report exposed the “poor Budget handling” over the past six years.

He said governments needed to be prepared for “economic shocks”.