Business says election should be in February

BUSINESS has called on Premier Lara Giddings to bring forward the State Election to February rather than delay it until May and risk further eroding economic confidence.
 
The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) says business has been operating on the premise that the election would be held in March.
 
Now the Premier has hinted she could delay the poll until May, after the presentation of the Abbott Government’s first Federal Budget.
 
TCCI Chief Executive Michael Bailey said if the Premier was considering changing her earlier commitment to a March election she should bring the date forward to February.
 
“That way, the Government would be in place and the new parliament could sit in March and get straight on with the job of restoring the Tasmanian economy,” Mr Bailey said.
 
“More than 80 per cent of Tasmanian businesses surveyed by the TCCI want strong majority government and believe the current situation has impacted adversely on business confidence.
 
“To extend this for a further two months would be irresponsible and destroy the small glimmer of confidence that has begun to appear following the federal election.
 
“Based on the Premier’s often repeated pledge, business and indeed the entire community have been operating on the belief that an election would be held in March.
 
“If that is to change, then I recommend that the date be brought forward to February, so we can end the uncertainty and the new parliament can start afresh from March,” Mr Bailey said.
 
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