Forum to identify path forward for northern economy

Tasmanian Labor today brought together business and community leaders in Launceston to hear directly about the pressures facing Northern Tasmania’s economy.

The Northern Economic Forum formed part of the Parliamentary Labor Party’s Shadow Cabinet visit to Bass and focused on business confidence, jobs, investment and future growth.

Participants raised workforce shortages, housing pressures, infrastructure constraints, planning delays, rising costs, government approvals, Government Business Enterprises and cuts to essential services including health, education and TasTAFE.

They also discussed the impact of 7West Media’s move to Hobart, Hawthorn’s planned departure from Launceston after 2027, Lion’s closure of the James Boag Brewery, and uncertainty around Liberty Bell Bay and Bell Bay Aluminium.

Northern Tasmania has enormous potential, but today’s discussion made clear local businesses need leadership, certainty, confidence and practical support.

The Rockliff Government is acting as though Northern Tasmania’s challenges appeared overnight. They didn’t. After 13 years of Liberal waste, the North doesn’t need another government shooting from the hip.

It deserves a government prepared to roll-up their sleeves, listen, understand the challenges and back in the right solutions.