Scott Bacon knows Labor’s reckless spending would immediately drive Tasmania into deficit and almost double net debt across the forward estimates – that’s why he has refused to deliver an alternative Budget.
When costed, Labor’s State Budget thought bubbles, including a blanket 3 per cent per annum public sector wage rise and opposition to the government efficiency dividend, would blow a $790.5 million hole in the Budget bottom line, driving State net debt to more than $1.9 billion by 2022-23.
If yesterday’s Budget Estimates hearings were anything to go by, the remainder of the week is certain to be an unnecessarily tedious and repetitive affair.
In what can only be due to a lack of preparation and imagination, both Labor and the Greens have continuously asked the exact same questions across all hearings – not because the answers were not provided, but simply because they did not like the answers.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management
The Hodgman Liberal Government will maintain the momentum of its nation-leading Fuel Reduction Program with an ongoing investment of $9 million per year.
In the first 4 years of the program, the Government has complete 553 fuel reduction burns across the state encompassing more than 63,752 hectares, of which 10,848 was private land.
Tenders are being sought for the design, documentation and construction management of the new Visitor Centre and associated works at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is investing $3.6 million in the new visitor centre which will be located adjacent to the main gate and include a shop and public amenities.
The Hodgman Liberal Government has employed more than 1000 additional health staff in the past five years.
Since 2014, we have hired:
More than 550 more nurses;
More than 160 additional doctors;
More than 90 paramedics; and
More than 110 allied health professionals.
These frontline workers are delivering more care for more Tasmanians, and we are committed to continuing to build on this further as we deliver more space in our hospitals.
Will Hodgman, Premier & Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events
Tasmania’s visitor economy is stronger than ever before, and the 2019-20 State Budget is focused on maintaining the momentum with investments that will drive growth in tourism across every region of the State.
