Media Release

Will Hodgman MP
Leader of the State Opposition
Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Treasurer

Thursday 10th June 2010

Government Admits it has no Plan as Business Confidence Plummets

The Labor-Green Government acknowledged that it doesn't have a clue how to deal with the serious economic conditions that we currently face.

Today's Sensis Business Index confirms that Tasmanian small and medium businesses are in the midst of a crisis in confidence as the new Labor-Green Government creates uncertainty.

We have also recently seen private capital investment collapse to the worst level in six years and unemployment remains a concern.

It is simply unbelievable that the Labor-Green Government has admitted that it has absolutely no plan for the economy. The Global Financial Crisis emerged in late 2008. Yet nearly two years on and the Labor-Green Government is only now thinking about a plan.

What on earth has the Labor Party been doing for the past two years?

It is also incredible that Lara Giddings, the next in line to the Treasurer's job in the current ministry, admitted that next week's Budget was not a plan for the economy.

If the Budget isn't a plan for the future direction of the Tasmanian economy then what exactly is it?

She may have let the cat out of the bag, that far from being the shot in the arm the Budget needs to be, it will be a limp, bland and lifeless Budget with little to nothing in it for the economy.

Surely the Tasmanian economy deserves better?