November 29, 2019

State forester recognised

MechLog Wins Two National Industry Awards. Tasmanian forestry company MechLog has picked up two national awards at the 2019 Green Triangle Timber Industry Awards. The awards recognise excellence in the forestry industry and were presented at a gala event attended by more than 500 guests in Mount Gambier. MechLog’s CEO, Jillian Aylett Brown, said she was proud and surprised to win two of the main awards. “This is the second time we have entered the Green Triangle Timber Industry Awards. We entered to participate and to show support for the industry. To actually win two of the main awards was a fantastic surprise. Most of our team attended the awards,…

November 29, 2019

Getting it right from the ground up

By Mary Massina Like with all things, sometimes looks can be deceiving. When we take the time to look up and marvel at grand buildings and architectural feats, we often neglect the work, effort and care taken to establish what is considered the most important aspect of a building – its foundations. The foundations are what holds everything together, and without getting that right, we might never get a building off the ground. From an outsiders’ perspective or one who hasn’t been thoroughly involved with the Mac Point project, you might be forgiven for thinking not much has been done on-site. It may ‘look’ this way, but under the surface…

November 29, 2019

Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Jobs and ICT.

By Michelle O’Byrne A strategic, state-wide approach is needed in Tasmania to realise the full potential of the ICT sector to support economic growth and prosperity. Despite great progress globally, the ICT sector in Tasmania is relatively young and its potential to support every sector of the state economy is not being realised. Labor’s Industry Advisory Council on ICT recognises that collaboration is needed across the sector to reach that potential, along with an appropriate level of public sector investment. ICT is not seen as ‘an industry’ in Tasmania in the way that tourism, aquaculture and other more mature sectors are. The success of those sectors didn’t just happen. They…

November 29, 2019

Full speed ahead

Tasmania has by far the fastest growing economy in the country with a new report highlighting the state’s improvements and predicting future growth. The state has made a successful transformation from an industrial and manufacturing focus 30 years ago to an economy where our strengths – clean food, pristine wilderness and a vibrant higher education sector – are in demand from the rest of the world. We have strong population growth and a level of confidence that hasn’t been seen for some time. But as the 2019 Tasmania Report demonstrates, our economy is by no means perfect and we still lag behind the rest of the country in many areas.…

November 29, 2019

Business gives state the edge

By Michael Ferguson, Minister for Small Business Tasmania’s economy is leading the nation on a number of measures, and the Hodgman Liberal Government says “thank you” to the hard working and innovative Tasmanian businesses. Australian Bureau of Statistics Gross State Product data shows that the Tasmanian economy is the fastest growing in the country. In 2018-19 the Tasmanian economy grew 3.6 per cent, the highest growth rate of all of the States and Territories, and nearly double the national GDP growth of 1.9 per cent. This extraordinary result is the fastest economic growth recorded in Tasmania in 15 years and it is the first time since the series began in…

November 29, 2019

ANZ seminar sets course for next level

Launceston businesses are set for a brighter future after the ANZ Business Growth Seminar was held at the Country Club Casino. Hosted by ANZ and the Launceston Chamber of Commerce, the free one-day seminar was designed for business owners looking to grow but are unsure how to progress to the next level by identifying new opportunities and tackling existing challenges. Treasurer Peter Gutwein opened the seminar and the Minister for Small Business, Michael Ferguson, delivered a keynote address. The seminar was facilitated by Dr Jana Matthews, a renowned growth expert and director of the Australian Centre for Business Growth at the University of South Australia’s Business School. One hundred and…