The Tasmanian Government will continue to support Tasmanian businesses that need it when the Federal Government’s JobSeeker program comes to an end.

The first and most important thing for Tasmanian business is the certainly provided by the election of a strong, majority Government, which only the Liberals can provide.

In addition, as part of the recent State of the State, the Premier announced $8 million in innovation and development grants to support the tourism sector.

We are also providing:

• $4 million in direct financial support to tourism and hospitality businesses identified as critical to regional visitor attraction that remain in acute financial stress. This will include grants of up to $100,000 per business from April 4, 2021;
• $3.5 million to deliver our most aggressive winter season tourism campaign ever. This will complement the Australian Government’s discounted flights into Launceston, Devonport, Burnie and Hobart;
• $500,000 to extend the business planning support program;
• $1 million in grant funds to support the state’s travel agents with a program to be rolled out through Business Tasmania from April 4.

Further, the funding that remains unspent of around $5 million from the successful travel voucher scheme we ran last year will be used to support the industry and will be rolled out to support these new grant programs.

These decisions, coupled with initiatives like the free Bass Strait vehicles program, will make a holiday in Tasmania more accessible than ever before.