Tasmanian Labor backs in today’s stand by the Community and Public Sector Union, the United Firefighters Union, and the Police Association of Tasmania against the Liberal-Lambie coalition’s cuts to the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management.

The Liberals have mismanaged the Tasmanian economy for the last decade and are set to deliver a budget disaster in September, so now they are cutting front-line services through their ‘efficiency dividend’ in a desperate attempt to repair the State’s finances.

Crucial frontline public services, such as those performed by the Police Service, are already stretched to the limit. The President of the Police Association Shane Tilley has declared the workforce is in “crisis mode”, and that we already have a shortage of police. Documents obtained by RTI show that DPFEM believe frontline services will be affected.

Make no mistake, the Government is asking our essential, frontline services to do the same job, with less staff and less resources. However, Tasmania can’t afford the Liberal-Lambie budget cuts.

Last week in Parliament saw the Liberal-Lambie Coalition along with David O’Byrne, continue to block attempts to reveal details about their $300 million in cuts to public services.

Labor will continue to hold the government to account, and we will continue trying to get to the bottom of the Liberal-Lambie budget disaster and what their cuts will mean for our schools, hospitals, and emergency services.

Why should Tasmanians be the ones to suffer because of the Liberals’ disastrous financial management?

Jen Butler MP
Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management