Tas government reacts to jobs crisis talks AN industry-organised jobs "crisis" forum in Tasmania has the state government conceding it can cut red tape and help local businesses secure government contracts. The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry convened the forum, in Launceston, after the state's unemployment rate hit 8.1 per cent - the highest in the nation - in June. Labor Premier Lara Giddings has responded with "a set of short-term actions." They include a review of regulation, a buy local push for government contracts, less paperwork and an inquiry into water and sewerage charges. The government will also establish a business advisory group to be chaired by the premier. "We have committed to additional short-term measures aimed at addressing issues that were identified as impediments to jobs growth," Ms Giddings said in a statement. The moves drew immediate condemnation from Opposition Leader Will Hodgman, who refused to attend the forum. "As a result of the jobs summit the premier has committed to four new reviews and two new committees," he said. We need less bureaucracy and red tape, not more. Millions of dollars of job-creating projects are being stalled under the Labor-Green experiment. Tasmanian Farmer and Graziers Association chief Jan Davis said the state's agriculture, forestry and fisheries businesses bore as much as $1 billion per year in compliance costs. "That is Big Brother on steroids," she said. Unemployment is set to be a major federal election issue in Tasmania and will dog Ms Giddings' government ahead of a state poll due in March next year. The announcement of the latest figures was quickly followed by news of closures at Australian Weaving Mills' plant and car parts maker ACL's factory in the state's north, throwing hundreds out of a job. The forestry industry in the state has shed thousands of positions in recent years, with little hope of a major recovery. Federal Environment Minister Mark Butler recently approved two mines for the environmentally sensitive Tarkine region in the northwest as the state looks for answers. Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim said they could be found in the sustainable industries of agriculture, tourism and information technology. "One of the strong themes to emerge from the forum was the need encourage a more risk taking, entrepreneurial culture in Tasmania and that's certainly a view shared by the Greens," he said.