Alarming new population statistics have revealed that Tasmanians are continuing to leave the state for better opportunities elsewhere – providing a massive hit to an economy on its knees after 10 years of Liberal mismanagement.

The latest ABS population figures show there have now been seven consecutive quarters of net interstate migration losses.

The December quarter was the worst quarter for net interstate migration since 1998, and the past year has also been the worst year for net interstate migration since 1998 – with 15,805 people leaving the state, 3,271 more than moved here.

Workplace demographer Lisa Denny attributes ongoing departures to a lack of secure, full-time well-paid jobs. Since Jeremy Rockliff sent his government into minority, Tasmania has already shed 5,000 of those.

In his report into the Tasmanian economy and Tasmania’s public finances released this week, economist Saul Eslake stated that Tasmania had appeared to have entered another cycle like the 1990s, when the economy slumped to a standstill.

With Premier Rockliff preparing Tasmanians for a horror budget in September, all signs are pointing to tough times ahead and a government with no capacity to respond. 

The Rockliff Liberal Government committed to releasing Tasmania’s population strategy in the first half of this year, but like so many of their promises, have failed to do so.

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer