Michael Ferguson,Leader of the House
Labor’s claims regarding the introduction of Bills are completely bogus, and clearly designed to deflect from their own disunity and absence of anything resembling an alternative plan for Tasmania.
The facts are that in the last 36 sitting days of this year, the Tasmanian Liberal Government has introduced 40 Bills. That’s more than a Bill per day.
Additionally, during the next three sitting days, we intend to introduce another. We have had 29 bills receive Royal Assent so far this year, including five bills yesterday. We are on track for around 35 bills to come into law by the end of the year.
This is more Bills than were introduced in 2020 — not even taking into account that 2021 has been an election year, which reduces the sitting days available for legislation.
Highlights of our 2021 Legislative Agenda include the introduction of landmark election commitments including:
* the Future Gaming Market Bill, which breaks the gaming monopoly that Labor previously protected;
* the Container Refund Scheme Bill to enhance our environmental management;
* the Guardianship and Administration Amendment (Advance Care Directives) Bill 2021, which will better enable Tasmanians to make decisions about future medical treatment and/or health care options;
* further planning reforms to unlock more land for Tasmanians to achieve home ownership;
* E-scooters to provide a low pollution and convenient transport alternative;
* the Stadiums Tasmania Trust Bill to attract investment and events, enhance communities and build the infrastructure for our future; and
* a number of important justice Bills to keep Tasmanians safe.
This year we’ve also had four sitting weeks of scrutiny of the State Budget, one sitting week in debate on the Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation, and nearly four sitting weeks on the future gaming market reforms.
Labor needs to stop deflecting from their dysfunctional internal politics, and either come up with an alternative Plan for Tasmania or get on board with our positive plan for the State which is delivering positive results for our State.
