Peter Gutwein,Premier
Treasurer
Yesterday I delivered a State Budget for our times designed to underpin jobs and provide the certainty and confidence our community needs.
We are rolling out a landmark $5 billion infrastructure program over four years, the largest investment to ever be announced by a Tasmanian Government. We are investing in records levels in our essential services of education and training, health and housing. And we’re future proofing our industries and protecting the Tasmanian way of life.
We have a Jobs Plan with the Budget supporting around 25,000 jobs, as we build the intergenerational infrastructure and invest in the essential services that our State needs. And importantly we’re providing the economic stimulus to return our Budget to surplus in two years.
This focus has been resoundingly endorsed across a broad cross section of industry and community groups including the following:
Rob Mallett, Executive Officer, Tasmanian Small Business Council, media release, 12/11/20
“Today’s Tasmanian budget, whilst forged in the fires of the world’s worst crisis in a hundred years, provides unprecedented opportunity for the Tasmanian small business sector.”
Matthew Pollock, Executive Director, Master Builders Tasmania, media release, 12/11/20
“Premier Peter Gutwein is committed to building our way out of this economic crisis, and today’s State Budget makes good on that pledge with construction put at the centre of our recovery strategy. Construction will be our economic accelerator and a jobs generator”.
Stuart Collins, Executive Director, Housing Industry Association, media release, 12/11/20
” The Government has handed down a budget designed to increase confidence, grow our economy, attract investment, support jobs and rebuild a stronger Tasmania.”
Patti Chugg, CEO, Shelter Tasmania, media release, 12/11/20
“Shelter Tas welcomes the State Government’s 2020-21 budget, with increased spending for social housing and homelessness services. A building-led recovery will help increase jobs and create more affordable homes for Tasmanians”.
“Today’s announcement that $300M over four years will be spent on social and affordable housing will provide certainty and a pipeline for new construction. Shelter Tas welcomes this clear commitment to increasing much-needed public and community housing across the state”.
Connie Digolis, CEO, Mental Health Council of Tasmania, media release, 12/11/20
“The Mental Health Council of Tasmania welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s ongoing commitment to reforming the state’s mental health system, as demonstrated through the funding announced today in the 2020-21 State Budget.
“This Budget is a clear acknowledgement by the Tasmanian Government of the need to create an integrated system that supports the mental health and wellbeing of all Tasmanians”.
Adrienne Picone, Chief Executive, TasCOSS, media release, 12/11/20
“The Government’s welcome shift towards prioritising investment in people’s health and wellbeing throughout the COVID-19 recovery is evident in this budget”.
Rachael Matheson, CEO, Civil Contractors Federation, media release, 12/11/20
“The uncertainty around COVID has dramatically impacted on market confidence in Tasmania. By announcing a record investment in infrastructure, the Government has laid the foundation for our economy’s recovery. Our members are looking forward to building the infrastructure that will serve the community for generations to come as a result of today’s budget”.
Angela Bennett, CEO, Master Plumbers Tasmania, 12/11/20
Welcomes the Government’s JobTrainer Fund initiative. “It means that up to 7000 Tasmanians have a chance to kick start their career”.
Luke Martin, Chief Executive, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania, 12/11/20
“The Tasmanian Government has walked the talk when it comes to support our tourism recovery from COVID. We welcome the record expenditure for Tourism Tasmania to invest in destination marketing and partnerships with our airlines to restore our visitor demand quickly, and ensure we can compete with other destinations across Australia.
“As Premier and Tourism Minister, Peter Gutwein has had to make some very painful decisions over the past few months that have impacted severely on our tourism industry. But today he has delivered for us, and has given us a platform to surge ahead over the next 12 months”.
Steve Old, CEO, Tasmanian Hospitality Association, media release & Mercury article 12/11/20
“Operators are still battling some of the heaviest restrictions of any industry and continue to face uncertainty. We commend the Premier and the Minister for Hospitality, Sarah Courtney, for investing in jobs across a raft of industries, and energy bill relief will be appreciated by operators”.
“We understand it’s a very tight budget and we appreciate the support, I don’t think we could have asked for much more.”
Peter Skillern, CEO, TFGA, media release, 12/11/2020
“The State budget has once again shown the government’s support for agriculture in the state, in conjunction with recent announcements the total package for agriculture is to be warmly welcomed.”
Michael Bushby, President, Roads Australia, media release, 12/11/20
“Tasmania’s road network will be safer and more sustainable as a result of the record level of infrastructure investment in today’s Tasmanian State Budget”.
“RA also applauds the Budget’s announcement of a target for electric vehicles … by committing to transition its own fleet by 2030 and investing in charging network infrastructure, the Tasmanian Government is helping to provide the community with greater confidence about EV technology that will be central to increased uptake”.
Stacey Pennicott, Chief Member Experience Officer, RACT, media release, 12/11/20
“This budget delivers on the Government’s key commitments around road funding”.
Saul Eslake, economist, 13/11/20
“It is a radically different piece of work from the previous six which Peter Gutwein has presented. It has been presented in circumstances which are radically difficult from those which have confronted any Tasmanian government in living memory.
“The overall conclusion is that this budget is an appropriate response to the circumstances which the government is confronting”.
Australian Education Union (AEU) Tasmania, Twitter, 12/11/20
“Having recognised the increasing numbers of students with trauma in our schools last year, it is most welcome to see an increase in funding in this budget to begin addressing the complex needs of students affected”.
“The Tasmanian Government deserves to be commended for committing to needs-based funding in our schools – it’s a common sense, fair funding approach”.
Julian Harrington, Chief Executive, Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council, media release, 13/11/20
“The Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council welcomes the 2020 Tasmanian State Government and the announcements that will help the Tasmanian seafood industry further recover from the impacts of COIVID-19. 2020 has certainly been a challenging year for Tasmanian seafood, and it is important I acknowledge the $5.6 million direct support the State Government provided the seafood industry”.
Mayor Chrinstina Holmdahl, President, Local Government Association of Tasmania, media release, 12/11/20
“The commitment of $4 million to implement the Waste Action Plan, $10 million to co-invest with the waste management sector in recycling infrastructure and $5.5 million to match the Commonwealth Governments’ Recycling Modernisation Fund are most welcomed by the Local Government sector.
“The targeted investment in the collection and sorting of recycling, combined with funding to support improved resource processing will serve Tasmania very well from a jobs and resource recovery perspective”.
Colin Riley, President, Police Association of Tasmania
“This is a very positive and sound budget from a Police Association perspective and will provide a more secure and safe Tasmania”.
“The establishment of a full-time SOG is an excellent example of collaboration between the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Mark Shelton, Tasmania Police and the Police Association of Tasmania … this investment will protect members from harm to their safety and improve their health and wellbeing”.
Dr Lisa Schimanski, CEO, Volunteering Tasmania, media release, 5/11/20
“We are grateful to the Tasmanian Government for its acknowledgement of the importance of volunteers and we welcome this investment to support Tasmania’s recovery. This funding will enable Volunteering Tasmania to support our sector to re-engage their volunteers and meet new ones”.
Dr Helen McArdle, President, AMA Tasmania, media release, 12/11/20
“AMA Tasmania has valued the approach taken by the Government in guiding our State and the health system through COVID-19. It has been critical for our clinicians to know that access to funds was not going to be an issue when dealing with this insidious virus”.
“We support the government’s commitment to funding investment into the State health sector. We could not as a State or as a health system have coped with cuts to state government expenditure at a time when the economy is fragile, and demand for health services is increasing”
Paul Lupo, CEO, St Lukes Health, media release, 12/11/20
“St Lukes Health CEO Paul Lupo said the funding boost for elective surgery and mental health support would go a long way to tackling some of the challenges the Tasmanian community faces”.
Youth Network of Tasmania, media release, 12/11/20
“YNOT welcomes the Tasmanian Governments investment in job creation for apprentices, trainees and youth employees, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) reform, supporting the mental health and well-being of students impacted by trauma and a new Youth at Risk Centre in Launceston”.
Dr Scott Fletcher, Vice-President, Australian Medical Association, Tasmanian Times
“Any increase in funding for elective surgery is welcomed as this will help us to manage waiting lists”.
Mercury Editorial, 13/11/20
“With interest rates at an all-time low, it’s the right time to spend and, as we’ve said before, Mr Gutwein has carte blanche to fork out the cash. With a planned $5bn infrastructure spend, Mr Gutwein says he is throwing the “kitchen sink’ at our recovery. And that’s what’s needed”.
Matt Cocker, Acting CEO, Hobart Airport, media release, 12/11/20
“Welcoming direct international flights will be a massive shot in the arm for the tourism sector and the economy more broadly. In addition to that, the upgrades themselves will be a great stimulus for the local economy”.
Hans van Pelt, CEO, Launceston Airport, Examiner, 7/11/20
“On behalf of everyone at Launceston Airport, I’d like to thank Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and his government for committing $5.15 million towards upgrading our airport infrastructure.
The funding will ensure we can grow to welcome around 1.9 million passengers by financial year 2028. It will also directly support hundreds of construction jobs as we work through our expansion plans.
Thanks to the Premier’s recent relaxation of borders we’re seeing airlines quickly add capacity into Launceston. By the end of the year we hope to be serving up to 60 per cent of our pre-COVID passenger numbers, putting us well ahead of other cities.
The state’s historic infrastructure spend should be applauded as it will no doubt stimulate jobs and inject millions into the local economy as we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.”
Peter Cornish, CEO, Fruit Growers Tasmania, media release, 13/11/20
“The Budget’s Job Trainer initiative, which will target school leavers, young people and job seekers, builds on the recent joint efforts between the fruit industry and Tasmanian Government to promote the job opportunities available to locals in the fruit industry”.
Claire MacDonald, President, Devonport Harness Racing Club, 12/11/20
“The investment in a new harness racing track for Devonport is great news. The track and facilities at the Showgrounds are ageing and don’t meet modern needs”.
Graeme Barber, President, Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association, 12/11/20
“This will give the Tasmanian greyhound community the opportunity to design and develop a state of the art brand new facility with an emphasis on safety and welfare for our animals”.
Matt Bulkeley, Chief Executive, Football Tasmania, Mercury, 12/11/20 and media release
“the funding boost was recognition of the role the sport played in the community”.
“On behalf of the entire football community, I would like to thank the Government for recognising the benefits the World Game brings to Tasmania and giving football a fair go”.
Brett McKay, President, Hobart Chargers – Facebook, 12/11/20
“I would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to the Premier and the Minister for Sport and Recreation for this ongoing investment which recognises the strong and continuous support for basketball in this state”.
