Arabic version: تسمانيا في المرتبة الأخيرة بتقرير كومنويلث بنك الاقتصادي

According to ABC News, Tasmania has ranked last in CommBank’s latest quarterly State of the States report, extending a position it has held throughout 2026. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia report assesses states and territories against their own decade averages across six economic indicators.

The report found Tasmania had the nation’s highest unemployment rate, rising from 3.8 per cent a year earlier to 5.1 per cent. Wage growth slowed, while total labour income was slowing more than in every jurisdiction except Western Australia and the ACT. The state’s population aged 15 and over grew 0.7 per cent over the year, the slowest rate nationally.

Business investment rose slightly, but housing investment fell 6.2 per cent. Public demand, representing government spending, ranked last, though the report said recent figures were distorted by the purchase of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels. Household consumption was the sole positive indicator, increasing 2.1 per cent and placing Tasmania fourth.

The report said household spending may reflect an older population that has paid off mortgages and is less affected by higher interest rates. However, it identified a “clear risk” that deterioration in the labour market could eventually affect spending, saying employment growth was too weak to prevent unemployment from rising despite subdued labour-supply growth.

Labor Shadow Treasurer Dean Winter said the result showed the Liberal government’s economic plan was failing. Treasurer Eric Abetz said Tasmania remained resilient despite national challenges, citing more than 40,000 jobs created since Labor was last in government and the latest NAB Quarterly Business Survey. He said investment in the Hobart stadium and Launceston Convention Centre would support resilience in the face of economic headwinds.