Millions mount up after first week

LABOR claims the Government has made election promises of close to $2 billion since the May budget as the major parties jostle over spending.

The Opposition has accused the Liberals of a cash splurge beginning long before the official election campaign began last weekend.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the Liberals had made promises totalling $465 million since the campaign began, less than Labor’s $689 million.

But pre-campaign pledges — including a $340 million promise on prisons, a $125 million affordable housing strategy, and an estimated $130 million plan to duplicate the Sorell causeways — make the Liberals’ total much higher, Labor leader Rebecca White said.

“This is highlighted in the announcements they’ve made, particularly around unfunded promises to build bridges and build roads, very large infrastructure programs that haven’t got a time frame for delivery,” Ms White said.

“They haven’t detailed how they can afford to pay for those or over what time frame they will deliver those and that is information the Tasmanian public deserves to have.”

Among Liberal promises in the first week of campaigning was $142 million for a Northern road package, an estimated $100 million for an underground bus mall, and a combined $150 million for agriculture and irrigation.

Labor’s first big-ticket item has been a $560 million spend on health, but comes on top of a $106 million housing plan and $55 million to transition pubs and clubs away from poker machines.