Budget to strengthen our future

This budget is about making your priorities, government priorities and delivering for all Tasmanians, writes

THE first state budget I delivered on Thursday is all about strengthening Tasmania’s future and delivering for all Tasmanians.

The Tasmanian Liberal government is focused on what matters to Tasmanians: health, education, housing, and building safe, inclusive, thriving communities. Our vision is for Tasmania to be a place where everyone is encouraged and supported to be the best they can be.

To achieve this, we will harness our competitive advantages, create more opportunities for Tasmanians and maintain a robust economy so that we can invest where it matters most.

The challenges from the pandemic are not over and we must build on the gains made. Responsible budget management has been a hallmark of this government and the 2022-23 state budget is built on this foundation.

This foundation has enabled the government to navigate the worst of the pandemic, providing economic and social support measures that exceeded $1bn. These measures have worked and our economy remains strong, with 26,000 more people in jobs across the state since we came to government, with the unemployment rate now at 3.8 per cent – the lowest level on record, and half of what it was in 2014.

Business confidence is up, resulting in more jobs and investment, and the Tasmanian economy has led the nation in the CommSec State of the State reports for nine consecutive quarters.

In 2020-21, our economy grew by 3.8 per cent, the second strongest growth recorded by all jurisdictions, and more than double the growth experienced in the national economy.

In 2021-22, the Tasmanian economy is expected to grow by 3.75 per cent, well above the long-term average, while State Final Demand is estimated to grow by 6 per cent. Treasury forecasts that above-average economic growth will continue in 202223 and 2023-24, which allows the government to increase investment in health, education, housing and community infrastructure.

This budget will see an average spend of $7.3m every day on health – accounting for a third of the budget’s total operating expenditure.

There’s good reason for this investment. We are seeing demand for health services increasing across Tasmania.

While much of this funding will be targeted to meet immediate needs, such as reducing the elective surgery waitlist, opening more beds, and employing more staff, we are also focused on planning for the future.

The budget includes a significant $654m in funding to deliver health infrastructure projects over the next four years as part of our $1.5bn critical health infrastructure plan over the next decade.

This includes upgrades and new facilities at our four major hospitals, and investment in rural hospitals and community health services, to ensure we are well positioned to meet service capacity now and for future generations of Tasmanians.

We also recognise that modern digital health infrastructure is just as important as bricks and mortar which is why this budget delivers $150m over the next four years to implement a game-changing strategy that will transform the way we treat patients.

Every child has a right to have an education, to be heard, and to be kept safe from harm.

That is why the Tasmanian Liberal government will invest $26.1m over four years to employ a safeguarding officer in every government school. The safeguarding officers, who will be employed as part of a support and wellbeing team, will plan and implement riskmanagement strategies for every government school to protect students from sexual abuse.

And despite the impact of the global pandemic on our economy, we will deliver on our promise to get the budget back on track and into surplus over the Forward Estimates.

In 2023-24, we will return to a net operating surplus of $19.1m, increasing to $32.2m in 2024-25, and $30.5m in 2025-26.

This is a government with integrity and heart, one that is courageous, accountable and delivers on its commitments.