When Treasurer Ferguson delivers the state budget on Thursday, there will be no way for him to spin what a disaster it is. This will be the worst and most unsustainable budget in Tasmanian history.
Less than a month after Saul Eslake’s report showed the Liberal minority government have completely lost control of the state’s finances, the situation has deteriorated even further. There’s now $2.4 billion more debt than when Mr Eslake delivered his report.
After inheriting zero net debt from Labor in 2014, the Liberals have blown the budget, managing to rack up $8.5 billion of record debt – and counting.
Tasmania’s finances are set to be the worst in the nation, and that will be their legacy.
Tasmanians will be wondering why we don’t have more to show for the record debt and deficits delivered by the Liberals. Our health system is in crisis, educational outcomes are lagging the nation, infrastructure is crumbling around us and key economic driver projects like the Spirits have been completely bungled.
At the same time the Liberals are mortgaging the state’s future, they’re cutting at least $300 million from public services. Tasmanians today will face reduced access to healthcare, education, housing, or help from the police, while Tasmanians tomorrow will have to pay for the Liberals’ budget mismanagement.
Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer
