8 Budget questions answered
Q: What does this Budget offer in terms of infrastructure projects?
A: A $245.2 million investment in new infrastructure over four years until 2020-21 is part of a $2 billion total allocation. Infrastructure spending is being directed to hospitals and schools in line with a focus on health and education. Roads and rail expenditure of more than $827 million over the next four years includes $294 million in 2017-18.
Q: What’s the big health announcement?
A: There’s 106 beds — 36 of which are newly announced. These beds will be mainly in the South including 22 at the Repatriation Hospital which will require renovations over 2017-18. There will be another 10 beds near Royal Hobart Hospital emergency department. Plans for 350 more staff to allow all 106 beds to open.
Q: What will this Budget do to encourage people to live or stay in Tasmania?
A: When the Liberals came to office they had a population strategy which set the ambitious target of 650,000 people by 2050. This ongoing population strategy will receive $1.5 million over four years. There is also $500,000 to keep promoting skilled migration and $3 million over four years to attract more international students. Q: What about debt? A: Total state sector debt, including the government business enterprises, will be $57.9 million in 2017-18. This is a much better outcome than expected.
Q: What is the superannuation liability and how is it going to be paid?
A: By June 30 next year the state’s public sector superannuation liability will be $6.2 billion. The liability is paid for on an “emerging cost basis” each year from the consolidated fund. This annual amount is about $300 million a year. The liability is not expected to be paid off until 2078.
Q: What will this Budget offer for our schools?
A: New funding of $28.8 million goes to primary and high school upgrades. A total of $57 million over four years to cover the Education Act, primarily the lower school starting age, which is yet to pass Parliament. There’s money for more support staff like school nurses, speech pathologists, psychologists and social workers.
Q: What does the Budget offer for tourism?
A: An extra $37 million will be injected into the “shining light of Tasmania's economy”, including: $11 million for marketing, increasing funding for the new Cradle Mountain visitor centre from $15 million to $22 million, $2 million to restore the Darlington site on Maria Island and $6 million to boost the state’s already booming cycling tourism sector.
Q: Will there be anything to cover the State Government’s planned takeover of TasWater?
A: The Budget includes $20 million a year from 2018-19 to cover the dividends the Government promised to pay to councils to 2024-25. The takeover is yet to pass the Legislative Council.