The federal opposition has offered an election sweetener to Tasmania, by pledging to help fund an upgrade at Hobart’s Cadbury chocolate factory.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott has promised a Liberal Government will help boost jobs at Cadbury with a $16 million contribution to factory upgrades.
Mr Abbott is visiting the Cadbury factory in Claremont in Hobart, which is in the federal seat of Denison held by Independent Andrew Wilkie.
He says the modest investment the coalition gives to Cadbury will create more than 300 jobs and secure 1000 currently existing direct and indirect jobs.
Mr Abbott also predicts the coalition’s commitment will open the way for the return of factory tours suspended in 2008.
The chocolate plant is about to undergo a $66 million upgrade, which will demand an extra 6,000 dairy cows in Tasmania to supply milk.
Mr Abbott says it is unusual to invest in individual commercial operations, but Tasmania is a special case because of high unemployment and low wages.
«Occasionally, I think it is necessary to offer help and let’s not forget that this money is going to result in $50 million of private investment, a significant expansion in production, a significant expansion in exports and a very significant expansion in employment,» he said.
«Tasmania has the lowest wages, the lowest GDP per head, the lowest life expectancy, the lowest education attainment and the highest unemployment of any state by far in our Commonwealth.
«And if we are determined to be one nation, not some states that are skyrocketing, others that are languishing, we’ve got to be prepared to make these investments.»
He is talking up the jobs prospects to combat Tasmania’s unemployment currently at 8.4 per cent.
The upgrade would significantly increase Cadbury’s production capacity and Mark Smith from Dairy Tas says the extra 6000 cows needed to supply milk volume will also create jobs.
«Depending on the number of new farms, we could be looking at around 50 odd new jobs on dairy farms around the north west of Tasmania,» he said.
State Parliament
Question Time in State Parliament has been dominated by the federal election promises.
Both the Labor and Liberal parties were keen to talk up the promises made this morning by their federal counterparts.
The Deputy Opposition Leader Jeremy Rockliff says Tony Abbott’s promise to help upgrade the Cadbury factory will benefit Tasmania’s dairy industry.
«Will the minister join with me in congratulating Tony Abbott for this commitment?» he said.
The Resources Minister Bryan Green says the pledge shows the State Government is doing a good job.
«Yes, I welcome that announcement because it effectively says the state is in good shape when it comes to the dairy industry,» he said.
Labor used questions to sell the $40 million freight plan detailed by federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese in Launceston, saying infrastructure experts have labelled as «really stupid» the state Liberals alternative of direct subsidy to a new international shipping service.
Source: ABC.net
