We work closely with Tasmania’s industries to develop their short and long-term capability as well as promoting investment.
We do this at an enterprise level, helping individual companies, and also at the strategic level, promoting our industries nationally and internationally.
Our ultimate goal is to promote Tasmania as a competitive place in which to invest and conduct business.
We focus on a number of key industries and activities that improve the resources and infrastructure available for all industries.
These industries and activities are:
Antarctic industry
The Antarctic sector generates approximately $100 million dollars annually, with almost half of this expended in Tasmania. The Antarctic sector employs 800 people in a wide range of organisations including private enterprise, government, science and conservation research, logistics support and world-class education providers.
Biotechnology industry
Biotechnology has the potential to become a significant industry of the future in Tasmania. Tasmania has many advantages in the biotechnology sector.
We have a unique climate and environment and being an island, have natural biosecurity. We have a strong research and development sector and our small geographic size makes it easier to achieve a ‘whole-of-state’ approach.
Several businesses are growing rapidly in the state in this industry sector and large international pharmaceutical companies have several interests in this state.
Energy resources
More
than 1,500 Tasmanians work in energy related industries. During
2004-05, substantial new investment in the sector occurred, with the
principal projects being natural gas distribution and Basslink. A major
milestone during the year was the entry of Tasmania into the National
Electricity Market.
Financial and business services industry
The
business services and contact centre industry has continued to grow
during the past year with approximately 5,300 people now employed in
this industry. This represents an increase of 300 jobs in the 2004-05
year. The Tasmanian contact centre industry sector contributes in
excess of $150 million in wages and a further $9 million in payroll tax
to the Tasmanian economy.
Food and beverage industry
The Tasmanian food and beverage sector performed well in 2004-05 with strong domestic and export performance. The food, agriculture and fisheries sector employs approximately 20,000 people and has a gross value of over $1 billion prior to processing. Key challenges in the food and beverage sector continue to be falling commodity prices and low-cost competition in domestic and international markets.
Forest industries
The
forest industry sector employs around 7700 people, representing
approximately 3.5 per cent of the total Tasmanian workforce. The gross
value of production for the sector is in the order of $1,200 million.
The Tasmanian forestry industry accounts for 19 per cent of total
Australian hardwood production; 70 per cent of woodchip exports and 50
per cent of Australian-produced printing and writing paper.
Information and communication technology (ICT) industry
The
most recent comprehensive survey found that the Tasmanian ICT sector
earned an estimated $1.2 billion in 2002-03 and employed 2,800 full
time equivalent employees. Tasmania’s ICT growth rate of five per cent
exceeded the national growth rate of 1 per cent.
Intelligent Island Program
The Intelligent Island Program is a joint Australian and State Government venture designed to contribute to the development of an internationally competitive ICT sector in Tasmania by supporting new projects as well as building on the existing ICT industry, Tasmanian Government initiatives and the research capacity of Tasmania’s education sector.
Infrastructure development
The
boom in tourism has led to significant investment in tourism
infrastructure. Approximately $80 million worth of tourism
infrastructure projects were completed during the year. Conditions in
property development and construction industries continued to be
buoyant in 2004-05. Approximately 10,000 people are employed in the
construction industry.
Manufacturing and services industry
The Tasmanian manufacturing sector employs about 23,000 people and has an industry turnover of approximately $6 billion. The Tasmanian manufacturing sector performed strongly during 2004-05 with higher levels of production, and strong employment and export growth. Shortage of skilled labour and an ageing workforce continue to be challenges for the sector.
Resource industries
The minerals sector employs approximately 4,000 people. The value of mining and minerals processing production is in the order of $1.5 billion. In 2003-04, Tasmania had a 77 per cent increase in minerals exploration expenditure to $7.6 million, and strong conditions continued into 2004-05.
Screen industry
The Tasmanian screen industry has grown rapidly since Screen Tasmania started operations in 1999. Recently completed projects include Real Life Water Rats (a four part series for ABC Television), a second cartoon series of Time Cracks from Blue Rocket Productions and a short drama film called Dark Decisions.
