Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Polley, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) over the past 20 years, Tasmania's gross state product per capita has been on average one-quarter less than Australia's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita,

(ii) Tasmania consistently has one of the highest underemployment rates and the lowest participation rates in the country,

(iii) whilst structural factors do contribute to these circumstances, with Tasmania having the oldest and most rapidly ageing population in Australia, there is slack in the system,

(iv) the loss of manufacturing jobs in Tasmania, and the subsequent rise of employment in tourism and health services has contributed to a trend of workforce polarisation and a skills mismatch,

(v) a shortage of apprenticeships and skills is costing the Tasmanian economy and is one of the largest constraints to growing business and industry, and

(vi) increasing year 12 attainment, vocational education and the number of Tasmanians obtaining university degrees will work towards improving participation rates and re-skilling the workforce, dramatically improving GDP, industry composition and overall wellbeing; and

(b) urges the Federal Government to promote manufacturing in Tasmania and to also direct resources to improving education attainment and improving the skills of Tasmanians by investing in TAFE.

Question agreed to.