Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will:
- Deliver $1.2 million to unlock future housing developments.
- Bolstering health services including building a new $5 million new Ambulance station, new telehealth upgrades and recruiting two new community paramedics.
- Pick up the HECS debt up to $100,000 to attract 40 new GPs to work in rural and regional areas for five years.
- Support Council to deliver quality recreation facilities at the Memorial Park.
- Complete a shipping study to understand the long-term need of industry operations.
- Enabling growth in the critical minerals sector by supporting value add activities for the Dolphin Tungsten Mine.
- Help small businesses grow and thrive with $1.5 million in grants programs.
An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future is to ensure our Islands and regions are set up for resilience and growth.
We are committed to ensuring that King Island community and businesses can manage their own growth and build resilience by ensuring people, organisations and sectors can work together to build capability, leverage opportunities and be better prepared to manage and recover from shocks.
$1.2 million to Unlock Housing Development
There are growing housing pressures on our rural and regional communities and the Tasmanian Liberals recognise the need for additional housing on King Island.
To support economic and population growth for King Island a re-elected majority Liberal Government will commit $1.2 million to unlock large scale subdivision work.
This investment will help unlock essential housing for health, tourism and hospitality workers and other industry sector workers to meet growing demand for the housing.
We are committed to continuing to work productively with the Council to unlock further opportunities for sustainable development on the Island.
Bolstering Health services for King Island
We will work with Hydro Tasmania to provide Council with the unused Hydro building in Currie, now surplus to needs, that will enable Council to refurbish and repurpose the building - a common sense approach to delivering much needed infrastructure.
A majority Liberal Government will provide $5 million for a new Ambulance Station on King Island for a contemporary, fit-for-purpose facility for the volunteer-based service on the island.
The new Ambulance Station will be located adjacent to the King Island District Hospital and Health Centre grounds and have a dedicated driveway to provide direct access to Edward Street, providing the Island with new infrastructure to support the attraction and retention of volunteers for the sustainable continuation of the service.
We will also provide virtual health (telehealth) infrastructure upgrades at the King Island District Hospital and Health Centre, including access by District Hospital staff to immediate support from specialist doctors through MyEmergency Doctor. This new telehealth infrastructure will assist King Islanders to attend outpatient appointments with a hospital specialist without having to travel into the cities.
We will also recruit two community paramedics to be attached to the King Island District Hospital and Health Centre in Currie to respond to both non-emergency Triple Zero calls in the local community, assisting our fantastic volunteers, or treat minor illnesses and injury presenting to the hospital. Community paramedics are intensively trained paramedics and will have access to MyEmergency Doctor in attending patients if needed.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will pick up the HECS tab of up to $100,000 for 40 new GPs who commit to working in the State for at least five years. This is a direct incentive to attract up to 40 new GPs to work in Tasmania's rural and regional areas for five years.
We will also partner with GPs to strengthen and sustain their practices by delivering multi-year grant funding for existing GP practices, up to $250,000 per annum. The grants will be available for GPs primarily in rural and regional areas, with the aim to help GPs offer extended hours of service, embed nurse practitioners into their GP business model, offer added incentives to attract new doctors, change a GP practice model, or expand a GP practice with capital upgrades.
Shipping demand
Freight and logistics are key to the King Island way of life and supporting future growth for the Island. A re-elected majority Tasmanian Liberal Government will commit $150,000 to revisit and complete a Study on the Grassy Harbour Port expansion, through the Department of State Growth.
The Study will assess and identify current and future shipping requirements for general freight and logistics, the growing shipping needs of industry on the island and other opportunities that may impact future capacity requirements.
Recreation at the heart of Currie Memorial Park
The Memorial Park is at the heart of Currie and a key open space for the community to come together. A re-elected majority Liberal Government will work with Council to resolve the ownership of titles, to enable the Council to fully develop the park for recreation purposes and enhance the lifestyle of all Island residents.
Investment at the Memorial Park will augment our recent feasibility support for the King Island Hub and advocacy for $5 million in Australian Government funding. The Hub includes a visitor information and community lounge with free Wi-Fi, co-working space, a business services area, online access centre, gallery shop, library, multi-purpose space for meetings and events, with public toilet and shower facilities on site.
Support for the King Island community
Phoenix Community House in Currie provides services and activities including the King Island Men’s Shed and the King Island Community Garden, Heart Foundation walking, Zumba and quilting classes, a home for the Parents Group, My Space, My Place, Women of King Island and Chillax after school program.
With such a broad range of uses, Phoenix Community House is at the heart of the King Island community.
This is why a re-elected majority Liberal Government will provide an additional $74 000 per annum over four years to extend the core funding and support continuation and expansion of services and activities driven by King Islanders for King Islanders.
Provide $3 million to supercharge our Critical Minerals Strategy
Tasmania has the critical and strategic minerals that the world needs to power the global shift to renewable energy and to support growing advanced and defence manufacturing needs. King Island has a key role to play in driving strong economic returns through the Dolphin Tungsten Mine.
To best position our State and King Island to take advantage of these new opportunities, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will provide $3 million to industry to help drive investment in the critical minerals sector supported by Tasmania’s first Critical Minerals Strategy.
The Strategy will help identify resources, drive private investment and grow jobs, particularly in regional Tasmania.
Funding opportunities will be available for Dolphin Tungsten Mine to apply for support in the identification of geological data necessary for exploration, supporting existing operations and facilitating projects to enable new mining or processing operations.
Helping Small Businesses to Thrive, Innovate and Grow
The success of small businesses in the many communities across Tasmania often depends on their ability to grow, adapt and innovate.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will deliver a $1 million grant program to support small businesses to thrive, adapt and innovate in their local communities, with grants up to $10,000 for capital purchases, such as new technology, small-scale manufacturing equipment, computers or electronic payment terminals.
Eligibility will be for small businesses registered in Tasmania with fewer than 19 full-time equivalent employees. Small businesses will be asked for a 30 per cent co-contribution towards the purchase price.
The grant program will be established in the first 100 days of a re-elected majority Liberal Government.
Regional Hospitality Revival Fund
We will deliver a $500,000 Regional Hospitality Revival Fund.
The program will provide grants of up to $2,500 to support hospitality businesses in regional Tasmania to attract visitors to the region.
Eligible businesses can apply for funding to assist in meeting the costs associated with live performances, event staging, minor works, marketing, and promotion, or other initiatives that contribute to their business and help bring visitors to the region.
Net Cost: $1.646 million