[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_TCCI Report: Global Economic Challenges Require Long Term Planning_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

TCCI BUSINESS CONFIDENCE SURVEY SHOWS NEED FOR LONG TERM PLANNING
 
Government Must Show Leadership to Position Tasmania for Opportunities
Created by Global Change

Nick McKim MP
Greens Opposition Leader

Monday, 4 August 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today said that the state government needs to
address the decreasing business confidence highlighted in the Tasmanian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (TCCI) September Survey of Business
Expectations by committing to better long term strategic planning for
Tasmania's economic future in the face of changing global circumstances.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that global sustainability issues like
climate change and the end of cheap oil require a fundamental shift in
strategy for all economies, and those which have the foresight to seize
the opportunities which exist will thrive while those which refuse to
change will be the losers.

"Tasmania is uniquely placed to be a global leader in responding to the
sustainability crisis, which will be the real growth sector of the 21st
century, but it will require the kind of leadership that has been
lacking under the last ten years of Labor government," Mr McKim said.

"If we don't seize the day, we will lose out to other jurisdictions
which are flexible enough to make the most of the opportunities that
exist now, and will continue to appear in the future."

 "The government should be concentrating on facilitating investment into
areas like broadband, water and energy efficiency, digital content,
creativity, renewable energy, public transport innovation, environmental
regulation and sustainable agriculture, rather than old style projects
like a polluting pulp mill."

"Mr Bartlett can't have it both ways - his support for projects like the
pulp mill, which includes the ongoing allocation of government
resources, comes at the direct expense of leadership in positioning
Tasmania to prosper in the face of major global challenges."

"Tasmania's business confidence has been quite resilient, but it will
continue to trend down unless the government shows the kind of
leadership necessary to position our economy to make the most of
changing global conditions."

"Global challenges like climate change and the end of cheap oil mean
that we have to change the way we do business, but these challenges also
provide massive opportunities if we are prepared to act early."