What the Tasmanian Liberals will do:

Deliver real change by making Tasmania a magnet for young, innovative, skilled and creative people, to grow our population and productivity, and help secure our social, economic and cultural future.

We will set a Tasmania 2025 population target of 570,000 and we will put in place a number of policies which help achieve this target.

Why this policy is needed
The exodus of young people from Tasmania is a major threat to the State’s economic, social and culture future.

It is a fact that Tasmania’s demographic is ageing faster than any other Australian State or Territory.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) predicts that as early as 2023, deaths will start exceeding births in Tasmania.

This trend is being made worse by the exodus of young Tasmanians from the State.

The latest figures show that although Tasmania recorded overall net gains in interstate migration in 2007/08, it has recorded a net loss in the 20-34 age group.

This policy deals with the challenge of bringing back former Tasmanians, with their families, to make an important economic and social contribution to our State.

It will also boost our capacity to drive our economy forward.  The TCCI publishes a quarterly survey of business expectations.  In 23 of the past 24 surveys, businesses have listed the lack of skilled labour as the major constraint on growth for their business.

Tasmanian businesses are crying out for skilled labour to propel their businesses, and therefore the economy, forward.  Yet Labor has not addressed this chronic skills shortage.

Setting the Tasmania 2025 Target – 570,000 by June 2025
A Hodgman Liberal Government will set a clear target to increase our state’s population. This target will help the Government to plan ahead for population growth.

Between June 1998 and June 2009 Tasmania’s population grew by only 6.5% compared to growth of 16.9% for the whole of Australia.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will set a population target of 570,000 by June 2025 – a 13.4% increase on June 2009 levels.

This target exceeds by 22,035 the Tasmanian Demographic Change Advisory Council’s projection of a population of 547,965 by June 2025 based on current fertility, migration and life expectancy trends.

The Tasmania 2025 Bounty
A Hodgman Liberal Government will financially assist young people in eligible occupations and their families to relocate to Tasmania.

Initially, this program will be marketed to those people who have previously lived in Tasmania but who have left to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Eligible individuals will be entitled to receive a cash Tasmania 2025 Bounty of $2,500 to encourage them to relocate to Tasmania.

Couples where both individuals meet the criteria will be entitled to receive a cash Tasmania 2025 Bounty of $5,000 to encourage them to relocate to Tasmania.

The Tasmania 2025 Bounty can be used to help offset the relocation costs of moving to Tasmania.

Funding for the 2025 Bounty will be capped at $2.5 million in 2010-11, which will enable up to 1000 people to return to Tasmania.  The 2025 Bounty will be reviewed at the end of 2010-11, or when the initial funding is fully allocated.  Continuing funding for the 2025 Bounty will be announced as part of the 2011-12 Budget.

To be eligible for the Tasmania 2025 Bounty individuals and couples must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be aged under 45;
• Have qualifications or expertise in an occupation where there is a current or impending skills shortage;
• Have been successful in securing full-time employment in Tasmania in their area of expertise, or in the case of a couple, at least one of them to have full-time employment.
• Have not lived in Tasmania within 4 years of their application.

Half the Tasmania 2025 Bounty ($1,250 for individuals or $2,500 for couples) will be paid on receipt a successful application.  The other half of the Tasmania 2025 Bounty will be paid after twelve months, provided they have remained in Tasmania.

The eligible occupations will be set by regulation and reviewed periodically by the Government.

The Tasmania 2025 – Marketing Campaign
A Hodgman Liberal Government will promote the Tasmania 2025 campaign across Australia.  Tasmania is already seen as a great place to visit and holiday, but as we know it’s also a great place to live, work and to raise a family.

The Australia-wide campaign will assist in attracting the young people we need to secure this State’s economic and social future.

We will allocate $500,000 to make an immediate start to this vital marketing campaign.

Population Taskforce
A Hodgman Liberal Government will, within three months, establish a Population Taskforce. The taskforce will report directly to the Premier and will work with business, the community and the Government to develop further policies to address our impending population crisis.

Specifically, the Taskforce will review the effectiveness of these policies after one year’s operation and provide recommendations for future directions.

It will also examine other strategies for attracting people to Tasmania, including greater access to child care and other services for young families, and support for cultural and recreational activities.

The Population Taskforce will replace the current Demographic Change Advisory Council (DCAC).  Existing funding for the DCAC will be redirected to resource the Population Taskforce.  Additional funding for the Population Taskforce over and above that already allocated to the DCAC may be considered during 2010-11.

Making Tasmania the most competitive place to do business
We will make Tasmania the most competitive place to do business by abolishing land tax, making Tasmania a stand-alone state without this regressive tax. Abolishing this tax will provide incentive for business to invest in Tasmania, and people to move to Tasmania.

Tough on crime
We will protect the Tasmanian lifestyle by providing mandatory sentencing for adults who assault police and emergency service personnel. We also introduce a new crime of “serious assault” for, amongst others, those aged over 60 and under 16. One of Tasmania’s key attractions is its friendly lifestyle and by toughening our laws we will ensure that this continues.

*The total cost of this policy is $3 million.