The Liberals have launched our plan to build a stronger future for Tasmania.

Key to that plan is our commitment to deliver a strong and growing economy.

We will create 1.3 million more jobs over the next five years across the country, including 26,000 in Tasmania.

Our Plan for Tasmania will help achieve this through tax relief for workers and small businesses, investment in better roads, and support for industries that will be critical to Tasmania’s future like renewable energy, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

A strong economy will enable us to continue making record investments in Tasmania’s health and essential services, including record funding for hospitals.

Under the Liberals, Australia’s economic recovery is leading the world on almost every measure – economic growth, jobs growth and debt levels, and Tasmania has the best performing economy in the country according to the latest report from CommSec.

Our economic plan has already helped the Tasmanian economy overcome the biggest economic shock since the Great Depression, with unemployment in the state at 4.5 per cent – compared to 8-per cent when Labor, supported by the Greens, was last in government. There are more than 31,000 more Tasmanians in work today than under Labor.

Our strong economic management means Australia is one of a small number of countries to maintain a AAA credit rating from all three major ratings agencies. This has allowed us to deliver lower taxes to around 63,000 Tasmanian small businesses and 232,000 individuals, to invest more than $4.5 billion since 2013 in infrastructure projects such as upgrades to the Bass Highway, Midland Highway and Murchison Highway, and to provide record levels of funding for Tasmanian hospitals and schools. But there is much more to be done.

The Liberals will continue to build a stronger Tasmanian economy by:

• Providing lower taxes and immediate cost of living relief for families and pensioners, with around 222,000 Tasmanians to receive tax relief of up to $1,500 this year, a one-off $250 cost of living payment for those most in need, and 22 cents per litre off fuel excise for six months.
• Delivering lower taxes to boost investment for around 63,000 Tasmanian businesses.
• Investing a further $639 million in Tasmania’s road and freight rail infrastructure pipeline, supporting more than 2,500 jobs and bringing total funding to over $4.5 billion for 98 projects.
• Building Tasmania’s manufacturing industries, including $50 million to secure the future of Nyrstar’s operations.
• Growing the emerging hydrogen sector with up to $70 million for the Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub Project at Bell Bay.
• Unlocking Tasmania’s potential as a renewable energy powerhouse by making additional investments in the Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation projects.
• Investing to attract international and domestic tourists back to Tasmania.
• Growing Tasmania’s forestry and forest products sectors – including an Australia-wide National Institute for Forest Products Innovation, with a central hub in Launceston – and backing the growth of Tasmania’s agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture industries.
• Guaranteeing the continuation of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme.
• Securing Tasmania’s place as a hub for Antarctic research and operations.
• Helping more Tasmanians into home ownership by expanding our Home Guarantee Scheme.
• Continuing to invest in mobile blackspots and broadband upgrades.

A strong economy means we can guarantee essential services:

• Improving northern Tasmania health services, including $15 million to upgrade and expand the Royal Flying Doctor Service Launceston base.
• Record funding for the Tasmanian health system including hospitals, medicines (including a $10 cut to the price of medications listed on the PBS), Medicare, more access to MRI machines, a once-in-a-generation reform to aged care and expanding the Early Psychosis Youth Services mental health program into Tasmania.
• Record funding for Tasmanian schools and expanding apprenticeship wage subsidies.
• $7.5 million for Veteran Wellbeing Centres and services across Tasmania.
• Growing Tasmania’s defence industries, including a key defence contract with Elphinstone.
• Record funding for defence with funding to be maintained above 2 per cent of GDP.
• Strong border policies to disrupt people smuggling and prevent illegal maritime arrivals.
• Keeping Tasmanians safe in their homes and local communities, with further action to improve online safety, prevent local crime and end domestic violence.

This is in stark contrast, to Labor, which has no economic plan for Tasmania.

When Labor was last in power, supported by the Greens, Tasmanians suffered more than most.

The Tasmanian unemployment rate peaked at 8.8 per cent, interest rates were higher, jobs were destroyed, new taxes were introduced and industries like forestry were decimated.

Labor leader Albanese would be too weak to stand up to the Greens and the unions. He has also argued for higher taxes on retirees, housing, families and inheritances.

Labor’s economic and budget mismanagement also means the essential services Tasmanians rely on, such as health, education and road infrastructure, would be put at risk.