Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Treasurer

Wednesday 8th June, 2011

Access Economics exposes Giddings

A week after the Treasurer claimed Tasmania’s economy was in recovery, a new report from Access Economics has shown that Tasmania’s vital retail sector is struggling.

Tasmanians expect more than unrealistic fantasy from the Premier and Treasurer, they expect a clear plan outlining how the Green-Labor Government is going to fix what is an obvious problem.

Simply wishing it away isn’t going to work.

The Tasmanian Liberals have a positive plan to turn the economy around, including cutting red tape, putting downward pressure on power prices and fixing the failed planning system.

Access Economics says that:

“Tasmanian retail is performing poorly. Real retail sales in Tasmania have fallen over four of the past five quarters, and the State’s retail growth rate now lags other States by a considerable margin. Of late, Tasmania’s population growth rate has slowed and businesses are finding it hard to generate jobs, with the State’s export sector struggling against the high $A. A modest investment pipeline doesn’t look like providing a circuit breaker either.”

It’s time the Green-Labor Government put aside petty politics and adopted our plan to fix the problem.