On Monday, the government announced it had extended its Payroll Tax Rebate Scheme for a further two years, until 2021. 

The scheme provides a payroll tax incentive for Tasmanian employers to help create additional employment for apprentices, trainees and youth employees.

“What we’re seeing is an opportunity for young people in Tasmania that hasn’t been there before,” Mr Gutwein said. 

Launceston business owner Karen Burbury said employing young people was an important part of her business, which now has five front of house trainees and three apprentices. The Cataract on Paterson owner opened the business not long after her two children were born. 

“If I hadn’t of done that then we wouldn’t have the 68 people that we now have employed,” she said. 

“We do have people that start with us in the youth program when they’re 15 and stay right through university and leave us at 24 and then I get to follow their careers which is really exciting.”