Treasurer Michael Ferguson will hand down Tasmania’s budget tomorrow and it is expected to show the states debt climbing to $8.5 billion by 2028. That has sparked accusations the government is loading up the taxpayer’s credit cards, but the government says the budget will also show a path to surplus.
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00:00A day before the budget's even handed down, an eye-watering debt projection already has
00:08the opposition in uproar.
00:09You've mortgaged Tasmania's future.
00:13Why should future generations pay for your budget mismanagement and infrastructure blowouts?
00:18We have charted a sensible pathway to surplus.
00:22Now is not the time to reduce investment in key areas of priority.
00:27At the end of the last financial year, Tasmania's net debt was $3.5 billion.
00:33Last year's budget predicted it would reach $5.6 billion by 2027.
00:38But the Treasurer's revealed tomorrow's addition will chart a course towards $8.5 billion in
00:442028.
00:45It's quite clear that this government has lost all budget discipline when it comes to
00:50managing the state's finances.
00:52They don't care.
00:53The $5.1 billion infrastructure program is part of the spend.
00:57The Greens say it's a chance to restore the trimmed budget for the Royal Hobart Hospital
01:02Emergency Department upgrade.
01:04It's not a matter of cutting infrastructure spending, it's a matter of choosing the spending
01:09that will best be for the benefit of Tasmanians.
01:12One measure for small business is announced today, grants for energy efficiency audits.
01:17Every dollar you save and every watt of energy that you don't use is attributable to the
01:23bottom line.
01:24Treasurer Michael Ferguson says tomorrow's budget will be good for public services.
01:28However, unions are nervous, with the efficiency dividend to be introduced this year.
01:34They say it equals a cut to public services.
01:37All of these workers taking industrial action is showing that there is a real problem.
01:41A lot of services are at breaking point and we need the government to address that in
01:46the budget tomorrow.
01:48As much pressure as ever on the state's financial future.