Jeremy Rockliff,Acting Premier
The 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget will secure Tasmania's future and is based on the success of our financial and economic management over the past seven years, and our success in facing the challenges of COVID-19.
It will deliver all of the commitments we made at the May Election, and has been strongly endorsed across a broad cross-section of industry and community groups.
These commitments will keep us safe, deliver better hospitals and schools, provide more houses for those in need and support better education and training outcomes, while also investing in the necessary road and community infrastructure we need.
Some of the positive endorsements include:
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey:
"This is the right budget that gets the settings right, it's a budget that manages spending and shows our strong ability to generate revenue"
Master Builders Tasmania CEO Mathew Pollock:
"Significant investment into vocational skills, through TasTAFE and the High Viz Army Policy will drive workforce growth in construction … the High Viz Army Policy will mean those jobs go to Tasmanians …"
Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania CEO Luke Martin:
"We welcome the funding for Tourism Tasmania to enable us to compete in what will be an ultra-competitive tourism market over coming years.
Shelter Tas CEO Pattie Chugg:
"Shelter Tas welcomes the Tasmanian Government's commitment to deliver on its election promises in today's State Budget."
Neighbourhood Houses CEO Michael Bishop:
"The budget is fair and balanced. Tasmania is obviously in a strong financial position in spite of the COVID uncertainty."
Property Council of Australia (Tasmania) Executive Director Rebecca Ellston:
"The Government should be commended for its commitment to rebuilding the state in the aftermath of the pandemic and investing in critical industries that will create jobs throughout the State".
Adrienne Picone, TasCoss CEO:
"We were pleased to see a willingness, a real willingness, to do things a different way, particularly around involving people, community members in decision making but also in support to implement of some of the new initiatives.
Secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Emily Shepherd:
"I think there's some real positives. ANMF have been calling for greater investment in our community health services. We have seen that in today's budget …"
The Australian Medical Association:
"…welcomes the increased investment in health services as announced in the budget to help alleviate immediate pressures in our hospitals today."
Police Association of Tasmania President Colin Riley:
"…we warmly welcome the Budget."
The S&P Global Ratings Bulletin:
"…the Australian state of Tasmania's 2021-2022 budget shows an improving economic outlook that is supporting a return to operating surpluses… Tasmania's economy has recovered better than we expected."
General Manager, External Affairs of CPA Australia Dr Jane Rennie:
"We're pleased to see Tasmania incorporating environmental sustainability into its economy".
Small Business Council CEO Robert Mallett
"There is a lot to like about this year's budget. The economic forecasts are fantastic, and if accurate, small businesses have a lot to look forward to.
Economist Saul Eslake:
"The Budget paints an optimistic, but not unrealistic outlook for the Tasmanian economy."
Commissioner for Children & Young People Leanne McLean:
"Overall the budget includes a range of concrete commitments and it was very encouraging to see children and young people's wellbeing as a central budget theme."
Health Consumers Tasmania CEO Bruce Levett:
"HCT is particularly pleased that the Government has listened to the community and has committed $4.5 million to partner with our organisation to establish three Tasmanian Community Health and Wellbeing Networks.
Tasmanian Forest Products Association CEO Nick Steel:
"Importantly the budget recognises the need for more on-island processing and value adding of forestry products that will support and deliver more jobs."
Local Government Association of Tasmania President Christina Holmdahl:
"Local government welcomes the announcement of investment in planning and the resource recovery in today's State Budget."
NILS Network of Tasmania CEO John Hooper:
"NILS Network of Tasmania congratulates the State Government for subsidising low income Tasmanians to purchase energy efficient appliances through a no interest loan."
Mental Health Council of Tasmania, CEO Connie Digolis:
"These ambitious initiatives are set to be a game changer for everyone's mental health and wellbeing, and today's budget is a very promising start."
Legal Aid Director Vincenzo Caltabiano:
"…this is wonderful news and we thank Attorney-General Elise Archer for her support of this important issue and area of the law."
We are getting on with the job of securing Tasmania's future by delivering our plan in this year's State Budget, as we said we would at the May election.
By contrast, Labor remain in chaos and divided, and once again have not done the hard work to produce a properly costed Alternative Budget.
