We are now just a week away from Michael Ferguson delivering the budget, and there really is no way to spin what a disaster it is.

The Liberals have already delivered the biggest deficit in Tasmanian history – nearly five times worse than the record deficit at the height of COVID.

After inheriting zero net debt from Labor in 2014, the Liberals have blown the budget so badly Tasmania is set to have the worst finances in the nation within three years, including record debt of $6.1 billion and $1.7 billion worth of unfunded election promises.

We’ve already had a preview that the Liberals have completely lost control of the budget, Saul Eslake’s Independent Review of Tasmania’s State Finances has found this mess is “entirely attributable” to state government policy.

He couldn’t be clearer that the Liberals have put Tasmania in this terrible position.

The budget will include vacancy control measures and at least $300 million worth of cuts from essential services as part of their ‘efficiency dividend’ that will impact Tasmanians trying to receive healthcare, housing, or help from the police.

Michael Ferguson has already lost the Infrastructure portfolio because he couldn’t manage the new Spirits project. He must be extremely nervous about the reception his budget disaster is going to get after the Liberals have shown they can’t be trusted to manage the state’s finances.

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer