Policy
Tasmania needs a change for a brighter future, to build a Tasmania we can all be proud of.
Our Plan for a Brighter Future will:
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Provide strong and stable government to get things done;
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Make Tasmania attractive for economic investment and create jobs, by delivering certainty and cutting red and Green tape;
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Get budget spending under control;
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Build a modern economy supported by our competitive strengths in agriculture and aquaculture, mining and forestry, tourism, and energy; and
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Rebuild our essential health and police services, and invest in education to create a job-ready generation.

The Plan to build a modern economy
- An International Shipping Service for Tasmania
- Securing the future of the iconic Rock Lobster fishery
- Rebuilding the Forest Industry - Cracking down on illegal protestors
- Cultivating Prosperity: A 2050 Vision for Agriculture
- Growing our Tourism Industry
- Tackling Tasmania’s unemployment rate
- Mining for Tasmania’s future
- Youth Employment Partnership
- Growing Tasmania’s hospitality sector
- Building a stronger West Coast
- More tourists on TT-Line
The Plan to make Tasmania attractive for investment
- Backing small business
- Two-year waiver of water and sewerage head works charges for developments
- Establishing the Office of the Coordinator-General in Launceston
- Disaggregate government contracts
- A simpler, cheaper, faster, fairer planning scheme
- Centralise property and facilities management
- Industry Participation Plans
- Supporting Tasmanian retailers
- Infrastructure Tasmania
- Growing our Information and Communication Technology Industry
- Job Creation Package
- First 100 Days
The Plan to rebuild essential services
- Creating a Job Ready Generation
- Additional funding for the Community Sector
- Additional support for people living with a disability
- Fuel reduction burning – protecting our communities
- Minimum mandatory sentences for serious sexual offences against children
- Unveiling the hidden waiting lists
- Rebuilding the Police Service - Reinstating the Public Order Response Team
- Serious and Organised Crime Squad
- Supporting Tasmanian Teacher Assistants
- Restoring the Project U-turn Program
- Rebuilding Health Services
- Leading the nation in education
- Improving Water Safety
- Rebuilding the Police Service
- Abolishing suspended sentences
- 25 new literacy and numeracy specialists
- Improved support for students with a disability
- Suicide Prevention
- Securing the future of Tasmanian Men’s Sheds
- Support for Neighbourhood and Community Houses
- A hand-up for vulnerable Tasmanians
- Multicultural Tasmania
- Supporting Tasmanians in need
- Trail Bike Initiative
- A long-term plan for mental health
- Celebrating Seniors
- Improving Road Safety for all Tasmanians
- Children, Young People and Families
An International Shipping Service for Tasmania
Since 2011, Tasmania has been without an international shipping service, and our exporters are now forced to ship goods via Melbourne before they can be trans-shipped internationally.
It is estimated that the loss of this service is directly costing our exporting industries $20-$40 million per year.
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will take decisive action to ensure the reintroduction of an international shipping service from Tasmania to key Asian ports, by investing up to $11 million per year over three years ($33 million total).
Securing the future of the iconic Rock Lobster fishery
The Southern Rock Lobster fishery is one of Tasmania’s most important and iconic fisheries, both for the commercial sector and the recreational sector.
However, while the fishery is well managed, in waters off the East Coast of Tasmania the spread of long spined sea urchin is having a severe impact on rock lobster numbers.
A majority Liberal government will immediately move to secure the long term future of the commercial and recreational rock lobster industry in Tasmania by providing $100,000 per annum for three years towards a Rock Lobster translocation project.
This project, which is backed by science, will inject $47 million in capitalised value to the Tasmanian economy and secure the jobs of the around 500 Tasmanians who work in the rock lobster industry.
Rebuilding the Forest Industry - Cracking down on illegal protestors
Forestry is one of Tasmania’s key competitive advantages.
For the forest industry to prosper, it is vital that businesses and the jobs of Tasmanian workers are protected from illegal and dangerous protests.
The Liberals will always support the right to free speech and the right to peaceful and lawful protest, but we cannot support the continued invasion of workplaces and ongoing misleading campaigns that damage business and cost Tasmanian jobs.
If elected, a majority Liberal Government will crack down and increase the penalties for illegally entering or impeding access to a workplace and increase penalties for the intentional damaging of premises or equipment.
We will also return the right to companies to sue over false and misleading claims regarding their business or business practices by amending the Defamation Act (2005).
Cultivating Prosperity: A 2050 Vision for Agriculture
As part of our Plan for a Brighter Future a majority Hodgman Liberal Government will invest $5.5 million over four years to support our goal to grow the value of the agriculture sector tenfold to $10 billion, by 2050.
By 2050, population growth means world food production will need to increase by 70 percent. Tasmania has a remarkable opportunity to leverage off our competitive strengths in agriculture, to significantly expand our agricultural industries and food manufacturing capacity.
The Liberals will drive productivity in agriculture with an emphasis on investment, innovation, research, skills development, sustainability and long-term post-farm gate value adding.
Growing our Tourism Industry
The Liberal vision is to grow our tourism industry to 1.5 million visitors per year by 2020.
We will do this by investing an additional $16 million into tourism marketing over four years, creating a new results-focused Tourism Tasmania by separating it from the bureaucracy, and saying “yes” to tourism developments.
Tackling Tasmania’s unemployment rate
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will set a target of reducing Tasmania’s unemployment rate to at least the national average, within our first term of Government.
On current numbers, this equates to a 25 per cent reduction in the unemployment rate, in our first term.
Under the Labor-Green minority experiment, unemployment has skyrocketed. Nearly 20,000 Tasmanians are now languishing on the unemployment queue, and the State has the highest unemployment rate in the country, at 7.9 per cent, compared to a national average of 5.8 per cent.
In contrast, creating jobs will be at the heart of a majority Hodgman Liberal Government. Our target of reducing the unemployment rate to at least the national average is backed by our Plan for a Brighter Future and many more policies aimed at creating jobs will be announced before the election day.
Only a majority Liberal Government will provide the certainty and stability Tasmania needs to create jobs.
Backing small business
Creating jobs will be the number one priority of a majority Liberal Government. To show how serious we are about it, we have set a goal of reducing our unemployment rate to at least the national average, within our first term.
Small business is the engine room of the Tasmanian economy, with over 36,000 small businesses operating in Tasmania, employing more than 105,000 people. If we increased employment in the small business sector by just one percent, we would create another 1,000 jobs for Tasmanians, stimulating the economy, the State budget and, in turn, our capacity to properly resource essential services in health, education and community safety.
A key part of our Plan for a Brighter Future is to get behind and back local Tasmanian businesses to create Tasmanian jobs and stimulate the economy to deliver growth. Our policy includes a number of initiatives including a local benefits test for government purchasing, a new market expansion pilot program, a commitment to reduce red and Green tape by 20% and a regulation reduction coordinator.
Two-year waiver of water and sewerage head works charges for developments
The burden of increased operating costs to business under Labor and the Greens, including developer charges, has led to a further loss of investment in the State. The situation is getting out of control, directly impacting not just developers, but also Tasmanians buying land or land and a house, where it can now cost as much as $9,500 per residential block for water and sewerage connections.
A majority Liberal Government will act decisively to deal with the issue of headworks charges stymieing much-needed development and jobs, by immediately implementing a two year headworks holiday. This initiative will mean an immediate stimulus to Tasmania's building and construction sector, bringing forward up to $100 million in investment, and creating up to 500 new jobs.
Establishing the Office of the Coordinator-General in Launceston
A majority Liberal government will, as a priority, create a new high powered Office of the Coordinator-General to act as a single point of contact for businesses interested in investing in Tasmania, and to help facilitate major projects as determined by Cabinet.
The Coordinator-General will be based in Launceston, and have a clear mandate to get things done, slash red and Green tape that is currently crippling Tasmanian businesses, and aggressively chase job creating investments.
Disaggregate government contracts
Government is the biggest purchaser of goods and services in Tasmania. Unfortunately, the Labor-Green Government’s preference towards large, state-wide contracts has resulted in the exclusion of many small businesses from the public sector procurement market.
A majority Liberal Government will disaggregate large government contracts into smaller, more manageable tenders with more commercially reasonable terms and conditions, to further open the market to all Tasmanian businesses.
A simpler, cheaper, faster, fairer planning scheme
A Majority Liberal Government has a plan to fix the Labor-Green planning mess. Our Plan includes a single statewide planning scheme, with streamlined approvals and one set of documents.
We will overhaul major projects approvals, including in-principle approvals and we will utilise Ministerial call-in powers where required.
And we will also crack down on third party appeals.
Creating a Job Ready Generation
A majority Hodgman Liberal government will invest over $53 million to create a job ready generation of young Tasmanians. Our Plan includes extending 21 high schools in rural and regional communities to year 12 in our first four years of office, and employing 105 new teachers to help us achieve this goal.
We will also invest $8.4 million into providing up to 25 new literacy and numeracy specialists, to help achieve our goal to be at or above the national average in every single NAPLAN measurement, and meet national benchmarks in reading, writing, maths and science.
Additional funding for the Community Sector
Every day all around the State, hundreds of community sector organisations are providing vital services and doing extraordinary work to support an increasing number of Tasmanians in need.
As part of our Plan for a Brighter Future, a majority Hodgman Liberal Government will provide additional funding of $9 million over four years to the community sector, to supplement the current level of indexation.
Yet each year since 2011-12, the Labor-Green Government has slashed indexation to the community sector by around 30 percent.
By providing $9 million extra towards indexation, the Liberals are ensuring that these vital community organisations can focus on doing what they do best, supporting Tasmanians in need.
The Liberals will also match the budgeted expenditure for wage increases for Tasmania’s 9000 community sector employees.
Additional support for people living with a disability
As part of our Plan for a Brighter Future, a majority Hodgman Liberal Government will provide additional funding of $2 million over four years to deliver vital support to people living with a disability.
With no significant funding for individual disability support in the last two budgets by the Labor-Green Government, waiting lists are now at historically high levels.
The Liberals’ commitment of an additional $2 million will provide over 12,000 extra and recurrent hours of support to the 83 percent of Tasmanians living with a disability on waiting lists for support, who don’t meet the age criteria for stage one of DisabilityCare.
Individual support is critical for the provision of day to day services for people living with a disability, providing more choice, a better quality of life, and allowing respite for families and carers.
Fuel reduction burning – protecting our communities
A majority Liberal Government will invest an additional $28.5 million in a comprehensive and strategic state-wide fuel reduction program.
We will act where Labor and the Greens have failed, starting with accepting 2011 advice provided by the State Fire Management Council about the need for a major investment in fuel reduction.
Our investment of $28.5 million will allow fuel reduction burning in Tasmania to be increased to 60,000 hectares per year, this is around 5 percent of “treatable” public land, a target recommended by the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission in 2009.
We will replace the current fragmented approach to fuel reduction which is split between Parks, Forestry Tasmania and the Tasmanian Fire Service, with a new centralised and dedicated Fuel Reduction Unit, to be located within Parks.
Our “fuel reduction first” policy will reverse the onus of proof when it comes to environmental impacts, and require it to be proven that a fuel reduction burn will have an adverse environmental impact for a permit to be denied.
Minimum mandatory sentences for serious sexual offences against children
While the Labor-Green Government has failed to act on child sex crimes, a majority Hodgman Liberal Government will protect children by legislating for minimum mandatory sentences for those convicted of serious sexual offences against children.
The minimum mandatory sentence will be in line with community expectations and national standards, and it will be developed in conjunction with the Sentencing Advisory Council and the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute.
A majority Hodgman Liberal government will also make it compulsory for all sex offenders to receive appropriate treatment when they are in jail, support changes to the Criminal Code to ensure there is no defence of mistaken age for sexual offences against children aged 12 or under, and spend up to $200,000 per annum providing a child safety awareness program in Tasmanian primary schools, state-wide, to educate and empower children to speak up about child sexual abuse.
Unveiling the hidden waiting lists
Statewide it is now estimated that there are over 30,000 Tasmanians on all waiting lists – hidden and published.
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will shine a light on hidden waiting lists and bring much needed transparency to our health system by publically releasing data secretly withheld by Labor and the Greens. We will:
- Publish information on each specialist outpatient service, waiting time for patients per category, patients waiting within clinically recommended timeframes and Statewide Endoscopy Waiting Lists;
- Work with our health professionals to ensure relevant Key Performance Indicators in all areas of health performance, and report publically against these; and
- Work closely with hospital staff to improve the operations of outpatients clinics, to reduce cancellations and increase attendance rates.
Rebuilding the Police Service - Reinstating the Public Order Response Team
A majority Liberal government will employ an additional 23 police officers in order to reinstate the Public Order Response Team which fell victim to Labor and the Greens’ budget cuts.
It is clear that cutting the number of personnel in the Public Order Response Team in half and merging what was left of the Traffic Services Unit hasn’t worked.
In the past 12 months to September the total number of offences rose from 2394 to 2573, with public assaults rising by 44 per cent, business burglary offences by 36 per cent and serious crime offences by 15 per cent.
This highly visible and effective unit needs to be re-established as a properly equipped stand-alone unit with dedicated officers across the state.
Serious and Organised Crime Squad
As part of our Plan for a Brighter Future a majority Hodgman Liberal Government will immediately begin the task of rebuilding our police service to ensure that police are available to Tasmanians when they need them.
It is clear that the Labor-Green government’s cuts to police have given the green light to criminals and public safety has been compromised.
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will establish a Serious and Organised Crime Squad consisting of 14 dedicated and specialised personnel to tackle major crime issues in Tasmania.
We will invest an additional $7.2 million over four years to properly resource this unit, which will incorporate a re-established Cold Case Unit which was also axed by the Labor-Green Government.
Supporting Tasmanian Teacher Assistants
As part of our Plan for a Brighter Future a majority Hodgman Liberal government will provide $4.4 million over the next four years to address the current inequity faced by Tasmanian Teacher Assistants and support staff, by making available up to one week of extra paid hours.
This is an important step under our plan to raise educational standards in Tasmania by supporting our education professionals.
The extra hours will be made available during the school term, through negotiation with schools, so teachers and students can benefit from additional and much needed classroom assistance.
Restoring the Project U-turn Program
To prevent crime in Tasmania, it is important to focus on rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.
That is why a majority Hodgman Liberal Government will provide $2 million over four years to re-instate the highly successful U-turn program for youth at risk.
We will also provide $680,000 over four years to support the TOOL program which assists disadvantaged youth with education, training and life skills.
Rebuilding Health Services
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will begin the task of rebuilding essential frontline health services which have been gutted by the Labor-Green Government.
Through our investment of an additional $76 million into elective surgery we will:
- Re-open and fully staff up to 40 hospital beds throughout the State;
- Employ an additional up to 110 full time equivalent frontline health professionals and hospital workers to staff those beds, including 85 FTE nurses;
- Open and fully staff up to an additional two Intensive Care Unit beds at the Royal Hobart Hospital to ensure elective surgery, especially cardiac surgery, can proceed; and
- Ensure that Tasmanians stuck on waiting lists for years can get their operations sooner, with up to 15,000 extra elective surgery procedures.
Leading the nation in education
Tasmania’s current education standards are simply unacceptable.
Underpinning our Plan for a Brighter Future is a determined commitment to prioritise education, invest in our children, and improve student outcomes.
A majority Liberal Government will have, at its heart, a fundamental commitment to raising educational standards in Tasmania and working with and supporting our education professionals to do so.
Our goal is that by the end of the first six years of a majority Liberal Government, Tasmania will be at or above the national standard in every single NAPLAN measurement, and meet national benchmarks in reading, writing, maths and science.
Centralise property and facilities management
The Tasmanian Government is a significant property owner. In addition, the Government spends tens of millions each year leasing both commercial and residential properties from the private sector.
A majority Liberal Government will centralise property and facility management roles across government. This is easily achievable given a Government the size of ours.
It is imperative, particularly in times of budgetary challenges that governments ensure that assets are properly managed, thereby minimising waste and maximising returns to taxpayers.
It is estimated that a shared model for property and facilities management in Tasmania will deliver significant cost savings of $7 million over four years, which will be re-invested into the delivery of essential frontline services for Tasmanians, and getting Tasmania’s economy moving.
Industry Participation Plans
A majority Liberal government will mandate the development of Tasmanian Industry Participation Plans, which will help local businesses secure government work and create Tasmanian jobs.
Tasmanian Industry Participation Plans will apply to major government and government owned business projects or contracts valued at over $5 million or private sector projects valued at $5 million where the state government contributes over half a million dollars.
A Tasmanian Industry Participation Plan means a project proponent will need to detail the capacity and anticipated participation of local suppliers in the project and the benefits to the state that the project will create. So when there’s a major project local suppliers are actively sought out and considered.
Tasmanian Industry Participation Plans are all about creating more jobs for Tasmanians and more opportunities for Tasmanian businesses.
Supporting Tasmanian retailers
A majority Liberal Government will support Tasmanian retailers by restoring confidence lost during the Labor-Green recession, and providing $1 million dollars to assist the retail sector adapt to a changing retail environment.
The Liberals long term Plan for Tasmanian retailers is part of our continued and ongoing support for small business, and includes $240,000 over two years for a Tasmanian Retailer Development Program.
We will also commit $800,000 to enhance the Digital Ready for Retail Program and develop a strategic policy to aggressively target Tasmanian retail businesses that want to better understand how to operate online.
Creating jobs, including in our important retail sector, will be the number one priority of a majority Liberal Government.
Improving Water Safety
Tasmania has the second highest rate of drowning in the nation and a majority Liberal Government will work hard to improve water safety for all Tasmanians through a $750,000 funding boost.
Our Plan includes:
- A $400,000 funding boost for Surf Life Saving Clubs across the state;
- $150,000 for local government to improve water safety in remote locations outside traditional patrol areas;
- $200,000 in additional funding for Volunteer Marine Rescue units; and
- Investigating the inclusion of volunteer surf life savers under State Government insurance, as currently exists for other volunteers such as fire, ambulance, SES and hospital workers.
Rebuilding the Police Service
A majority Liberal Government will restore Tasmania Police to the levels in place before Labor and the Greens cut the frontline in 2011 (1,228 officers), by the end of our first term of Government.
Based on current police numbers of 1120, this will mean an extra 108 police on the beat.
The Liberals will also fully re-establish specialised units cut by Labor and the Greens such as the Public Order Response Team (PORT), the Marine and Rescue Team, the Fraud and e-Crime Unit and the Cold Case Unit, which will be included as part of a new Serious and Organised Crime Unit.
This is an important aspect of our Plan to rebuild essential services.
Abolishing suspended sentences
A majority Liberal Government will ensure our community can once again feel safe and that sentencing reflects the gravity of the crime committed by progressively phasing out the use of suspended sentences.
We will start with serious offences that cause death or serious injury, aggravated and armed robbery, sexual offences, arson and serious drug offences.
Tasmanians have lost faith in our justice system, with many of the view that penalties imposed are too light or don’t appropriately reflect the severity of the crime committed.
As an alternative to suspended sentences, a majority Liberal Government will work with the Sentencing Advisory Council to introduce best practice sentencing options that provide an opportunity for rehabilitation and represent an appropriate response to the gravity of the crime committed.
25 new literacy and numeracy specialists
A majority Liberal Government will have at its heart a commitment to invest in education, to improve educational outcomes, increase productivity, and create more job opportunities for young Tasmanians. As part of that plan, a majority Liberal Government will employ up to 25 new specialist literacy and numeracy teachers.
These new specialists will focus on working with our year 7 to 9 students, who are consistently performing below the national average, and where, according to NAPLAN figures, our students are falling behind the most.
This additional investment means that by the end of our first term in government, every student in years 7 to 9 and their classroom teachers who require the support of these specialist teachers, will have access to it.
Improved support for students with a disability
Our Plan will improve support for students living with disability.
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will establish an independent review of education for students with a disability and we will also invest $1 million over four years into a long-term strategy for improved autism care, including introducing the American-based Rethink Autism program to Tasmania.
Mining for Tasmania’s future
The Liberals are the strongest and most consistent supporters of Tasmania’s vital mining industry. Mining contributes more than $800 million annually to Tasmania’s gross state product, and directly employs around 3,500 people.
As part of our long term Plan to back mining and the jobs it creates, a majority Liberal Government will relocate Mineral Resources Tasmania from Hobart to Burnie.
And we will Provide certainty to the mining industry by guaranteeing that there will be no more lock ups under the Liberals, enough is enough. We will also limit third party appeals against mining investments to those directly impacted upon and crack down on illegal and dangerous protests.
Suicide Prevention
A majority Hodgman Liberal government will invest an additional $3 million into targeted and proactive suicide prevention strategies.
Every life lost to suicide comes at a huge personal cost to families, friends and communities. It is proven that appropriately funded, well-designed and targeted suicide prevention strategies can work in reducing the number of deaths by suicide.
The Liberals recognise that suicide is a complex issue and any effective suicide prevention needs a community-wide response. Therefore, the additional $3 million in funding will be prioritised into evidence based programs targeted at prevention.
Youth Employment Partnership
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will partner with Whitelion in a new $360,000, three-year program to tackle Tasmania’s high youth unemployment rate.
The partnership will help up to 200 at-risk young people become job-ready, find long-term employment or re-engage in vocational education and training.
In this key partnership, the Liberals will expand on Whitelion’s established networks in the State to target the unacceptably high rate of youth unemployment. The project will target young people disengaged from education and at risk, or young people who have become involved with the youth justice system.
Securing the future of Tasmanian Men’s Sheds
Men’s Sheds are an incredibly valuable asset to the state, contributing to the community - and the economy - in a multitude of ways.
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government recognises the immense value of the 42 Men’s Sheds – and the 4000 active and regular members and users of Shed facilities across the state.
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will provide an additional $555,000 to Tasmanian Men’s Sheds to help Sheds purchase things like tools and heaters, meet growing operating costs like electricity and insurance, and ensure a statewide and coordinated approach to the administration of Sheds across the State.
Infrastructure Tasmania
A majority Hodgman Liberal government will drive our economy and create jobs by investing strategically in productive infrastructure.
We will create a new, independent body called Infrastructure Tasmania to manage and invest in vital infrastructure including rail, major roads, energy, ports, and water and sewerage.
Establishing Infrastructure Tasmania is an important part of our long-term plan for the future of Tasmania.
Growing Tasmania’s hospitality sector
The hospitality industry is Tasmania’s third largest employer and makes a significant contribution to the Tasmanian economy. Tasmanian cafés, restaurants, clubs, hotels, bed and breakfasts, accommodation venues and catering businesses are run by dedicated local operators who work hard to offer a range of hospitality services to locals and visitors alike.
Employing 10.2 per cent of Tasmania’s workforce, the 20,000 Tasmanians employed by the 1,995 businesses that operate in the industry provide $1.437B in sales and service income.
The Liberal Plan for a Brighter Future will build a modern economy supported by our competitive strengths, including the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Support for Neighbourhood and Community Houses
A majority Liberal Government will invest $1.7 million to provide each of Tasmania’s thirty four Neighbourhood and Community Houses with additional funding of $50,000 each over the next two years.
The Liberals have always been strong supporters of Neighbourhood and Community Houses; we understand that they are the heart and soul of many communities providing localised support to those who need it.
Houses will be able to use the additional $50,000 we will provide in government, as they see fit, to best benefit their local community.
Building a stronger West Coast
The West Coast will benefit from a targeted $750,000 investment aimed at creating jobs and building stronger communities under a majority Liberal Government.
Labor has long taken the region for granted, even standing by while their minority government partners, the Greens, have attacked local industries.
In contrast, the Liberals understand the West Coast’s immense untapped potential and are the strongest and most consistent supporters of the critically important mining industry, along with the growth sectors of aquaculture and tourism.
Growing our Information and Communication Technology Industry
The Liberals’ recognise an investment in ICT is an investment in jobs, increasing Tasmania’s economic wealth, improving productivity, innovation and business competitiveness.
IBISWorld predicts that 13 out of Australia’s 19 industry sectors will be either transformed or derive significant benefit from Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by 2050.
A majority Liberal Government will take action to develop a Data Centre Action Strategy, which is a key component of our Information and Communication Technology plan for Tasmania.
Multicultural Tasmania
Tasmania is a rich, culturally diverse community.
However, just 12 per cent of Tasmania’s population, or more than 57,000 people were born overseas, compared to almost a quarter of Australia’s population.
The Liberals recognise there are demonstrated economic and cultural benefits in attracting more migrants to Tasmania, and we have a plan to help foster a rich and culturally diverse community in the State.
A hand-up for vulnerable Tasmanians
With worsening economic problems and unemployment now the highest in the nation, it has become even tougher for those already doing it hard, and demand for support has skyrocketed.
The Liberals will always support those who are vulnerable and need support.
But we believe it’s time for a new way of thinking in Tasmania that works to shift entrenched poverty, helps people to move out of disadvantage by tackling the barriers they face, and prevents people from falling back into poverty by encouraging resilience over reliance.
Supporting Tasmanians in Need
A majority Liberal Government will double the recurrent funding for mobile food vans that provide an essential safety net for vulnerable Tasmanians.
This amounts to $180,000 over three years for services such as Loui’s Van in Hobart, Gran’s Van in Devonport and Missionbeat in Launceston, to allow them to continue to deliver emergency relief to thousands of Tasmanians each year.
We will also invest $100,000 to resource 15-20 start up Food cooperatives in local communities, and we will encourage food security partnerships
Trail Bike Initiative
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will act to reduce trail bike hooning in housing estates and outer suburbs, by providing $160,000 to establish a fund to assist with the cost of public liability insurance and licence fees for individuals and groups who want to develop trail bike facilities, or stage events where riders can safely enjoy their sport.
Trail bike riding is becoming an increasingly popular activity, however illegal trail bike riding in bushland adjoining outer suburban and housing estates is becoming a major problem, threatening the safety and amenity of local residents.
A majority Liberal Government will address the needs of local residents, trail bike riders and other land users through a range of policy measures that focus on trail bike education, enforcement and diversion.
A long-term plan for mental health
Rebuilding essential services is a key element of the Liberal plan for Tasmania. A majority Liberal Government will invest an additional $1.95 million into mental health and developing a seamless and integrated mental health system that delivers the right support, in the right place at the right time.
This commitment is in addition to the $3 million we have already committed to suicide prevention.
We understand that for a productive and healthy economy, you need to invest in healthy people. Tasmania’s mental health system has become complex, disjointed and confusing to navigate. It’s time for a new approach to provide a seamless and integrated mental health system that provides end-to-end care and delivers a range of support options, and that is what we will deliver.
Celebrating Seniors
The Liberals are recognising the vital contribution that seniors make to the social and economic wellbeing of Tasmania with 'Celebrating Seniors', a policy that acknowledges the value seniors contribute to the State.
By 2020, older Tasmanians will represent one in five of the population, and by 2030 one in four. This presents both opportunities and challenges for Tasmania, and will require a whole-of-government policy approach that puts seniors front and centre of any Government agenda.
A majority Liberal Government will invest an additional $450,000 in protecting and supporting older Tasmanians.
Improving Road Safety for all Tasmanians
The Liberals have a long term Plan to address road safety issues.
We will rebuild the police frontline resulting in an extra 108 police on patrol. We will also work with Tasmania Police to increase the high-visability presence of patrol vehicles on highways, particularly during the busiest periods.
A majority Liberal government will implement the recommendation of the Tasmanian Legislative Council Select Inquiry into Road Safety that P1 drivers be permitted to drive at 100 kph on roads with a 110 kph speed limit and travel at 90 kph on roads limited to 100 kph, in line with other jurisdictions.
Job Creation Package
The Liberals’ long-term plan is unashamedly all about job creation. We have set a goal of reducing unemployment in Tasmania to the national average within our first term, we have the Job Creation Package to back that up and the team to deliver it.
Under Labor and the Greens, Tasmania has the highest unemployment rate in the country, and 19,000 Tasmanians are languishing on unemployment queues.
Our Job Creation Package will help the private sector create an estimated 5000 new jobs, stimulating our economy and putting Tasmania back on track to achieve our potential.
Children, Young People and Families
The Liberals commit to a major cultural shift in child protection that is largely focused on engaging with families earlier, thereby providing every chance for families to stay together and to keep their children safely at home.
Raising children is one of the most important jobs in the world, and in order to protect children, we must better support families.
Removing children from parents should only be used as a last resort for families who will never rise to the challenge or have the capacity or commitment needed to take responsibility for the children they bring into the world.
More tourists on TT-Line
The Liberals’ Plan for TT Line will deliver more tourists and cheaper fares.
We anticipate our Plan will result in the average fare being reduced by up to 20 percent, and up to an extra 120,000 visitors coming to Tasmania.
A majority Liberal government will act to make travel on the Spirit of Tasmania cheaper and more attractive to tourists by altering the Members’ Letter of Expectation. We will add a clause that requires the TT Line to set prices, fees and charges which: ‘are aimed at increasing the number of visitors to Tasmania carried on the Spirit of Tasmania ferries.’
First 100 Days
This election is the most important election in a generation.
Tasmanians have a clear choice at this election: a choice to change the direction our State is heading in, a choice for a brighter future – or more of the same.
We can’t fix the challenges our State faces overnight, which is why we have released a comprehensive Plan for Tasmania’s future.
Our First 100 Days Implementation Plan outlines how we will set about delivering on our plan.