Labor bemoans lack of answers

PARLIAMENT’S budgetary estimates hearings have highlighted the inability of the Liberal government to give straight answers, Labor says.

Four days of parliamentary scrutiny of the government has raised more questions than were answered, claims Deputy Opposition Leader Michelle O’Byrne.

“There are at best two types of ministers in this government: those who simply can’t do the job and those who choose not to do the job,” she said.

“I think you can count on less than one hand the amount of ministers that had any detail that they could provide in that transparent process that estimates is supposed to be.

“We had some ministers who frankly couldn’t string sentences together and were clearly not across their portfolios.

“We had other ministers, in particular in relation to the northern corridor in Hobart, they’ ve got $25 m from the federal government they can’t demonstrate how they’ ve done any work to advance that cause.

“We had a housing minister who couldn’ t tell us how many houses were built.

“It turns out we can’t build an underground bus mall which I think everybody was expecting and, really frighteningly, the government just did not seem to be able to be honest about the matters pertaining to the LGH nurse when they knew, and what action they took to keep people safe .”

Health Minister Sarah Courtney emphatically rejected the criticism.

“That’s just rubbish from Labor, they continue to prove that they are not fit to be able to govern Tasmania ,” she said.

“We have seen a budget that has delivered $9.8bn for health care, and indeed $45m for additional funding for electivesurgery.

“This is avery strong budget. This is a budget set in what has been an extraordinarily difficult year. We are making sure that we’re backing our community.

“We’re investing in infrastructure and, importantly, we’ re making sure more Tasmanians can return to work .”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said reluctance to answer questions was undermining democracy.

“So often evasion is the name of the game, and some ministers really do treat it like a game,” she said.

“Some ministers spent the budget estimates week smirking, spinning or turning questions around on opposition parties. That’s not how Westminster democracy works .”

Labor MP Shane Broad said the government appeared to be putting in a determined effort to keep the public in the dark.

“We see these farcical scenes where there are committees discussing issues only for the minister store lease reports to the public during those committees or indeed after those committees have finished ,” Dr Broad said.

“There is absolutely no transparency and what we’re hearing and seeing time and time again is the number one priority of this government is to keep things secret, to play games, to put out reports late so that there’ s no scrutiny .”