Labor, unions blast debt, wage growth
Mr Ferguson will bring in record deficits each year – record deficits that will likely be higher given the borderline fraudulent expenditure forecasts Shane Broad
LABOR has rubbished Michael Ferguson’s first budget as a blow to the illusion the Liberals were superior financial managers.
And union leaders fear the budget’s projection of a fall in real wages for public sector employees will result in labour shortages and an interstate talent drain.
Opposition Treasury spokesman Shane Broad said the government would borrow $3.5m every day for the next four years, debt would rise to $5.2bn and Tasmanian taxpayers would foot a $611m interest bill.
“Mr Ferguson will bring in record deficits each year – record deficits that will likely be higher given the borderline fraudulent expenditure forecasts.
“Mr Ferguson expects Tasmanians to believe that while the Liberals have increased spending by an average of 8 per cent per year, they will suddenly find some budget discipline and reduce that to 0.4 per cent.
“Not content with his record as the failed former health minister who wrecked the health and hospital system, Michael Ferguson can now claim the title of the Treasurer who wrecked the budget at his first try.”
HACSU industrial manager Robbie Moore said the threat of industrial action by frontline health workers had increased due to a “let-down” budget.
“This will mean a wage cut to our health workers and it means more will leave the state for better wages and conditions,” he said.
“The government will not be able to fill (the 152 beds promised by June 2023) because they will not be able to get the staff to actually work in those areas.
“This budget will create industrial chaos in itself, before workers even take industrial action.”
ANMF Tasmania branch secretary Emily Shepherd said
We were hoping to see something much better out of Premier Rockliff’s first budget, particularly for Tasmanians who are needing a home Cassy O’Connor
This budget will create industrial chaos in itself, before workers even take industrial action Robbie Moore
The Premier has been in the role for a short time and has taken decisive action to address the workloads of his ministers ... what about our members? Emily Shepherd
“burnt out” and “fatigued” health workers would view the government as hypocritical for ignoring their concerns.
“It’s incredibly disappointing – this budget has been handed down on the back of the Tasmanian government announcing they will increase the size of the parliament due to the portfolios of the ministers, yet our members have been calling out for years for
additional resources because of their workloads,” Ms Shepherd said.
“The Premier has been in the role for a short time and has taken decisive action to address the workloads of his ministers. What about our members, where are their resources and support?”
Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday said the 2.5 per cent wage increase floated for public sector workers sent a signal to the private sector that it was acceptable for them to
make “lowball” offers to employees. “The Treasurer’s speech talked a lot about costof-living pressures, but looking through the budget I couldn’t find anything about wages growth,” Ms Munday said.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor described the budget overall as “uninspiring”.
“There is no new money in the budget next year to build the houses that Tasmanians desperately need,’’ she said.
“The government has promised to spend $1.1bn building 10,000 new homes by 2030 – yet this budget only allocates 3 per cent of that money and there’s no new money for housing next year.
“We were hoping to see something much better out of Premier Rockliff’s first budget, particularly for Tasmanians who are needing a home.
“But they’re dragging their heels on delivering the houses that Tasmanians need while more than half of the infrastructure budget is allocated towards roads again.”