The TCCI recently said it would be difficult to trust the Minority Liberal Government again in the wake of the ferry fiasco, well it’s also going to be difficult to ever trust the Liberals with Tasmania’s finances again.

Treasury’s Annual Financial Report has confirmed Tasmania’s record $1.5 billion deficit, in fact it was $4 million worse than the Preliminary Outcome reported in August.

Premier Rockliff’s minority government have completely lost control of the budget. There’s no way to spin out of what a disaster this budget situation is for Tasmania’s future.

Yes, it is very important that we fund the Commission of Inquiry redress and implementation, but it only accounts for around half of the budget blowout.

Tasmanians will be rightly wondering why they have nothing to show for this budget mismanagement. Business confidence is shattered, the economy is flatlining, public services are at breaking point, and planeloads of working age Tasmanians are leaving the state for better opportunities elsewhere.

Our health system is falling apart, education outcomes are lagging the nation, we are in the middle of a housing crisis and crucial infrastructure projects like the Spirits have become an international embarrassment.

The budget deficit is now nearly five times worse than at the height of COVID. Tasmania can’t afford this tired Liberal minority government that is out of ideas.

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer