The Liberal-Lambie budget cuts are already having a devasting impact on Tasmanian community services.

Prior to the election, the Tasmanian Liberals pledged to fund Autism Tasmania – an organisation which has done the heavy lifting for autism in the state – for $300,000 per year for three years. The Liberals failed to deliver their promise and Autism Tasmania has had to close their doors due to a lack of funding.

Now with a budget disaster looming, the Liberal-Lambie coalition needs to outline what other services are at risk.

The budget papers reveal that from last week, Services for Children and Families have been cut by $3.6 million, due to the expiry of “a number of time-limited funding arrangements”, before being cut by a further $9.2 million in 2025/26. Programs facing the axe include*:

• The Youth Housing U16 Lighthouse Project
• A Tasmanian-based Therapeutic Program for Young People
• The After Hours Response Service
• Stable Permanent Placements Support
• The Intensive Family Engagement Service
• Transition to Independence (T2i) initiatives

When you add the so-called “efficiency dividend” on top of these cuts, it’s clear essential services are in for a big hit due to the Liberal-Lambie budget disaster. How many more important community organisations will have to close their doors?

The Liberal-Lambie coalition needs to come clean on what their budget cuts will mean for critical frontline community services.

*Budget Paper no. 2, vol. 1, p. 23 (n. 4)

Luke Edmunds MLC
Shadow Minister for Finance