EDITORIAL
Labor Leader Dean Winter
As the name suggests, the hospitality sector is the welcoming party to Tasmania. It is what builds our reputation and it makes our state an even better place to live. Anyone wanting to investigate the outlook of the Tasmanian economy can do so by visiting a local coffee shop, restaurant or pub. Just see if many customers are around and have a chat with staff. Hospitality is the perfect gauge for confidence in the economy.
We understand that industries and individual businesses need confidence and stability to thrive, so that the people relying on them for employment also thrive. Since the Liberals have been governing in minority, 5000 Tasmanian jobs have been lost and I fear that tally will keep growing if we don’t start listening to business. This is the reason Labor has decided to support the proposed AFL stadium in Hobart. Even though we are far from convinced the Liberal Government is capable of delivering this project as they are claiming, we are backing it in. We are backing in a stadium because we know what it can do for our state. Saying my party was serious about jobs and opposing a project that is to create thousands of them would be hollow indeed. Labor has supported a Tasmanian AFL team from the beginning and we acknowledge the long-held dream of a team of our own won’t become reality without a stadium. Much of the attention around the stadium at Macquarie Point has been on construction jobs but my focus is on the long-term injection of new activity into our state. For hospitality, the impact of a stadium within walking distance of the city centre will be enormous. The boost won’t be contained to event days, let alone to just Hobart. When people from interstate come here, many visit regional locations as well.
While rising costs are squeezing businesses, they have also left Tasmanians with less money to spend.
Governments can’t do everything to help with the cost of living or cost of doing business – but they should do what they can.
ABOVE: : LABOR LEADER DEAN WINTER, SHADOW TREASURER JOSH WILLIE, AND DR SYNTAX HOTEL OWNER DARREN BROWN TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF RISING POWER PRICES ON BUSINESSES
I’m not sure our Government has been doing everything it can to support our hospitality sector. As Labor leader, my focus is on good, secure local jobs for Tasmanians. That’s what our party has always stood for and always will.
I also believe the AFL team and other stadium events will deliver a different shot of confidence.
Amid the current gloomy outlook, a glimmer of good times in the future is precious.
17 Tasmanian Hospitality Review June/July Edition
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