Michael Ferguson,Leader of the House
The health and safety of Tasmanians remains our absolute priority as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we continue to do everything possible to keep Tasmanians safe and plan for all scenarios.
While Tasmania continues to be in a good place, the pandemic continues to seriously impact communities in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT and here in Tasmania we continue to plan in the event an outbreak were to occur here.
The 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget Bills will be introduced on 26 August as normal with an expectation that they will receive Royal Assent by early to mid-October 2021.
However, as part of our planning for a range of scenarios we will also put in place arrangements for continued funding for Government services, should it be necessary to introduce restrictions to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak which could impact Parliament sittings and therefore the passage of the Budget Bills before the end of October.
The Parliament previously passed two Supply Bills in June this year to provide funding for Government services through to late October, to provide time for the Budget Bills to pass Parliament.
On that basis, we will introduce a further two Supply Bills this week when State Parliament resumes to provide a further interim funding provision for Government services for the period from November through to January 2022, should this be required.
It is our intention for the Supply Bills to pass through both Houses as swiftly as possible and we have been working with other MPs and MLCs to ensure this occurs. If it were to be necessary to operate under an extended period of Supply and, if sittings were suspended, we would be prepared.
