After inheriting a state budget completely free of
debt, the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report released today shows Tasmania’s
debt is now higher than at any point this century.
Net debt is now $1.3 billion and Tasmania has almost
nothing to show for it. Our hospitals are in crisis, our education results are
going backwards and a record number of Tasmanians are waiting a record amount
of time for housing.
The report also shows the Treasurer recklessly
approved $123 million of spending on government advertising, consultants and
travel – a massive 50 per cent increase under the Liberals.
Now, with the Liberals fully committed to building an
unbudgeted $750 million stadium in Hobart, Tasmania’s debt is only going to
grow at a time when interest rates are rising rapidly.
Not only will Labor be left to fix the Liberals’
budget mess-just like we did in the 2000s, and just like the Federal Government
is having to do now-but Tasmanians will be paying for the Liberals’ reckless
budget management for years to come.
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Treasurer
