Small and medium businesses in Tasmania are going gaga over the Hodgman government’s policies, with the state leading the nation in terms of business confidence, according to the latest Sensis Business Index.
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Support for government policies increased by 17 points, making the Tasmanian government the most popular with small and medium businesses.
“This is the highest balance we have on record for any state or territory government,” the SBI for the June 2018 quarter said of Tasmania’s performance.
Of the businesses surveyed, 65 per cent were optimistic about their business’ prospects over the next 12 months, while 8 per cent were pessimistic.
Tasmania topped the nation in terms of the wages balance, with +24 points – but it was forecast to fall to +7 in the next three months.
Among businesses who viewed the government in a positive light, key factors for their bright outlook were a booming local economy, incentives and grants, support and helpful and good policies.
While the criticisms were “few”, businesses who were not fans of the state government identified constant changes to legislation and a lack of infrastructure development and policies relating to competition and trade as reasons for their displeasure.
Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the Sensis report confirmed the government’s plan for the state was creating jobs and investment.
“Our long-term plan is about putting in place the right economic conditions to allow Tasmanian businesses to thrive,” he said.
“What we’re doing is we’re setting the framework – we’re providing the environment for businesses to prosper.”
Labor finance spokesman Scott Bacon welcomed the new data but said it was due to a low Australian dollar and solid global and domestic growth, rather than the government’s own initiatives.
“The Liberals’ spending spree on infrastructure has been poorly targeted based on election politics, rather than the strategic needs of business and the community,” he said.
