LIFTING productivity in both the public and private sectors is a key challenge for Tasmania over the next 12 months.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Robert Wallace said this would be a major thrust for the peak employer organisation over the next year, alongside upgrading training and skills, servicing members’ needs particularly in the area of industrial relations, advocacy and enhancing the State’s trade performance.Mr Wallace said after a little over three months heading the TCCI, he had established these as priority areas for attention.”The overall theme for the TCCI in the next 12 months will be productivity,” he said.

“I have a passion for public and private productivity and we’re not just going to be picking on the public sector. Equally, we need to lift productivity in the private sector.

“Productivity gains flow into higher salaries and wages which lifts people’s living standards, which lifts their wellbeing which then in turn enhances the livability of a region which in turn attracts people to a region to come and live and work.”

However, Mr Wallace said lack of skilled labor was going to hold back growth in the State and it was an area that had to be improved as Tasmania was competing against other regions in Australia to attract investment and people.

“That’s why we’ll be working closely with individual businesses and with agencies such as Skills Tasmania to promote skills training and education and it’s why we supported fully the State Government’s $11-million adult literacy program.

“Skills Tasmania is the largest provider of education dollars in Tasmania, with an annual budget of $110 million.

“They are now looking for new models and to extend skills training and education beyond the 16 to 24-year-olds taking a TAFE course.

“We want to work with them and help business to upskill. We’ll be working closely with individual businesses to identify skill gaps and also with industry sectors.”

Mr Wallace said the TCCI would also concentrate on lobbying and advocacy on behalf of members and to provide services members’ require, such as industrial relations support.

“We are a member-based organisation. Our members pay for our existence. We don’t get any core funding from any government and if we’re not relevant to members they won’t join and therefore this organisation will shrink and die.