A $10.9 million deal from the Tasmanian Government secured the Qantas call centre for the state.
Premier Will Hodgman has announced details of his government’s agreement with the airline, which resulted in 450 jobs being relocated from Victoria and Queensland.
The decision infuriated the Victorian government, with cabinet minister Matthew Guy accusing his federal counterparts of playing favourites with Tasmania.
But Hodgman says his government’s 10-year deal got the state over the line, securing nearly 250 jobs in Hobart.
“This is a win for Tasmania and a win for Tasmanian jobs,” Mr Hodgman said.
The majority of the deal comes in the form of payroll tax relief.
Money will also be spent on upgrading Qantas’s Hobart call centre and assisting interstate employees to relocate.
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“We expect the number of jobs will grow as Qantas offers the opportunity for its Victorian and Queensland call centre employees to relocate to Tasmania,” Hodgman said.
The closure of the mainland centres by mid-2016 will result in 250 positions being lost in Melbourne and another 200 in Brisbane.
Guy, Victoria’s planning minister, claimed the Federal Government had helped Tasmania poach the jobs, while Premier Denis Napthine said the island state was being considered a “special case”.
Hodgman has denied any knowledge of federal help while the office of Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss has said no assistance was provided.
