Ideal time to look forward

IN NEW Premier Peter Gutwein’s inaugural speech he said he was focused on better sharing the spoils of Tasmania’s economic success. Yesterday, in releasing the State Government’s Revised Estimates Report, Mr Gutwein delivered one of the first examples of how he was going to do that.

The Treasurer and Premier said he would inject an extra $600 million over four years into the state’s health services.

The government will fund the increased health spending next year in part by taking special dividends totalling $90 million from Hydro Tasmania and Sustainable Timbers Tasmania.

Mr Gutwein said the health portfolio would also be quarantined from“efficiency dividend” cuts. He said his government had recognised that demand for health care was not slowing and that the state needed to invest to meet that need.

Mr Gutwein pointed out that Tasmania was already spending more than the national average on health and that in terms of full-time employee to patient ratios, our statistics were some of the strongest. However, we continue to face challenges including access to primary care, ramping at hospitals and overcrowding in emergency departments.

While the government’s success or failure in addressing Tasmania’s health crisis, as Mr Gutwein pointed out, will not be determined by how much it spends or how many people it employs. It will be

THE NEW PREMIER WILL BE HOPING THE CONVERSATION CAN SHIFT BEYOND POLITICAL POINTSCORING AND TO REAL-LIFE SOLUTIONS.

determined by on real outcomes that lead to improved services that ultimately lead to a longer, healthier life for too many of our residents who are at risk of just becoming another dire statistic.

By taking the discussion about funding off the table, the new Premier will be hoping the conversation can shift beyond political pointscoring and to real-life solutions.

Speaking at a Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry lunch yesterday where he made the announcement, Mr Gutwein hinted more announcements would be forthcoming.

He said Tasmanians should expect action on issues such as affordable housing and climate change.

Given the fine state of our economy, it’s absolutely correct that our government’s focus needs to be on lifting the standard of living across Tasmania.

As pointed out on the front page of yesterday’s Mercury — and reiterated by Mr Gutwein in his address yesterday — there is much to be positive about. Our economy is growing at three times the national rate of growth, Tasmanian businesses are some of the most confident in the country and residential building approvals continued to soar.

Tourism and visitation has exploded and the government’s budget is in a healthy position.

The budget update revealed a drop in the predicted net operating surplus for 2019-20 of $46 million, from $57.4 to $10.8 million.

The revised state budget revenues were affected by a $73 million drop in GST receipts, but this was offset by a $90 million increase in state tax revenue, due to increased stamp duties, land and payroll tax.

There is no better time to invest in our future and ensure the whole state shares in the success.

Responsibility for all editorial comment is taken by the Editor, Jenna Cairney, Level 1, 2 Salamanca Square, Hobart, TAS, 7000