Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has announced a special scheme for Tasmania that will pay bosses a subsidy to give the long-term unemployed a job.
The payment will be a one-off worth $250 a fortnight, for a total subsidy for six months of $3250.
Business can access it if they hire an unemployed jobseeker who's been on the allowance for six months or longer and continues to employ them full time for at least six months.
The payments will be provided for the first 2000 job seekers hired by a Tasmanian business.
Tasmania has the highest unemployment rate in Australia, at 8.2 per cent.
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"This is a boost for business, it's a boost for employment," Mr Abbott said in Devonport on Thursday.
"It's a scheme which is special to Tasmania ... because we need to make a special effort here in Tasmania to build the Tasmanian economy."
Mr Abbott suggested it was like a pilot scheme and could be expanded to other parts of Australia if successful.
"We want to see how it goes," he said.
"If it succeeds then, yes, it will expand."
Mr Abbott said the plan would cost $6.5 million over the budget forward estimates.
The jobs subsidy scheme is part the coalition's broader 'Plans for Tasmania', which will be released in coming weeks.
Asked how it would be funded, Mr Abbott said further savings would be announced as the September 7 election date drew nearer.
The opposition is awaiting the release of Treasury's Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook (PEFO) on Tuesday before it releases more of its policies.
The PEFO will provide an update on the state of the federal budget and the Australian economy.
