Post by ferryfast admin on Feb 19, 2006 0:44:35 GMT -5
Labor takes credit for success town
By CHARLES WATERHOUSE
The Mercury-Tasmania
www.themercury.news.com.au/
19feb06
GEORGE Town perfectly symbolises the Labor Government's economic recovery, says Premier Paul Lennon.
He chose the town yesterday to kick off the Government's re-election campaign.
Mr Lennon said eight years ago communities around Tasmania such as George Town were on a downhill slide, with families moving out, businesses closing and a bleak outlook ahead.
"Look at George Town today -- it's a living example of how our strategic and responsible statewide economic program put in place by a stable, majority Labor Government has turned things around," he said.
"It's living proof of the benefits of being able to make the hard political decisions that are impossible in minority government."
He said some decisions had not been popular, such as the investment in two high-speed ferries for Bass Strait which displaced the Devil Cat service from George Town.
The decision to buy Spirit of Tasmania I and II was taken after careful consideration of the statewide benefits.
Mr Lennon said fears among George Town residents about the impact of the loss of the Devil Cat had never been realised.
Figures showed that as a result of increased tourism traffic through the Spirit ferries and the airlines, nearly 21,000 more tourists a year were visiting George Town than eight years ago.
He said the Labor Government had committed almost $1.5 million in recent years to improving tourism infrastructure at, or near, the town.
George Town had also benefited from the state's $2 billion-plus energy program, with both the natural gas project and Basslink coming ashore nearby.
The hundreds of workers involved in those projects had produced a huge spinoff for local businesses, and the development of a pulp mill would have an even bigger impact.
By CHARLES WATERHOUSE
The Mercury-Tasmania
www.themercury.news.com.au/
19feb06
GEORGE Town perfectly symbolises the Labor Government's economic recovery, says Premier Paul Lennon.
He chose the town yesterday to kick off the Government's re-election campaign.
Mr Lennon said eight years ago communities around Tasmania such as George Town were on a downhill slide, with families moving out, businesses closing and a bleak outlook ahead.
"Look at George Town today -- it's a living example of how our strategic and responsible statewide economic program put in place by a stable, majority Labor Government has turned things around," he said.
"It's living proof of the benefits of being able to make the hard political decisions that are impossible in minority government."
He said some decisions had not been popular, such as the investment in two high-speed ferries for Bass Strait which displaced the Devil Cat service from George Town.
The decision to buy Spirit of Tasmania I and II was taken after careful consideration of the statewide benefits.
Mr Lennon said fears among George Town residents about the impact of the loss of the Devil Cat had never been realised.
Figures showed that as a result of increased tourism traffic through the Spirit ferries and the airlines, nearly 21,000 more tourists a year were visiting George Town than eight years ago.
He said the Labor Government had committed almost $1.5 million in recent years to improving tourism infrastructure at, or near, the town.
George Town had also benefited from the state's $2 billion-plus energy program, with both the natural gas project and Basslink coming ashore nearby.
The hundreds of workers involved in those projects had produced a huge spinoff for local businesses, and the development of a pulp mill would have an even bigger impact.