Canberra hits back in war of words over funding for Tasmania
The federal government has emphatically rejected claims by state Treasurer Michael Ferguson that Tasmania is being financially dudded – pointing to hundreds of millions in extra funding.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The federal government has emphatically rejected claims by state Treasurer Michael Ferguson that Tasmania is being financially dudded – pointing to hundreds of millions in extra funding.
Mr Ferguson has cited a billion-dollar list of local projects as evidence.
But federal Housing Minister Julie Collins – a local MP and the state’s most senior member of the Albanese government – says Mr Ferguson is only intent on distracting from his own shortcomings.
“Our government is focused on Tasmanians who are under pressure. The under-pressure minority Tasmanian Government is just focused on itself,” she said on Friday.
“Tasmanians rightly expect us to focus on delivering better outcomes rather than blame games – and that is exactly what we are doing.
“Our number-one priority is cost of living which is why every Tasmanian taxpayer is about to get a tax cut and every Tasmanian household is about to get $300 off their energy bill.
Ms Collins said the state was getting $236m better off in health funding, more than $500m better off in road funding, had benefited from increased bulk billing and the opening of urgent care clinics among a host of other measures.
“In my portfolio of housing and homelessness, the Albanese Labor government has provided the Tasmanian government with more than $120m to Tasmania to support the delivery of homelessness services and help build more homes right across the state,” she said.
“At least 1200 homes will be delivered across the state through Housing Australia with the single biggest investment in social and affordable housing in more than a decade.
“After a decade of cuts and inaction under the former federal Liberal government, we’re delivering significant new funding in health, housing and infrastructure.”
Liberal Senator Jonno Duniam joined the pile-on on Friday, adding his voice to Mr Ferguson’s complaints.
“The federal Labor government have been a disaster for Tasmania,” he said.
“They have dudded our state in so many areas since their election in May 2022 that it is hard to keep count,” he said.
“Infrastructure Minister Catherine King has ripped away roads and infrastructure funding, [Lyons MP] Brian Mitchell is shamefully barracking for his party to deprive Tasmania of $240m of our GST funding, and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is caving to extreme activists by impeding our salmon industry and the MMG mine, putting hundreds of jobs under a cloud of uncertainty.”
“The Greater South East Irrigation Scheme is a pillar federal and state Liberal government initiative that will deliver cheaper water for our farmers so that they can improve their output and continue to provide regional jobs.
“Tasmanian Labor’s failures are hurting us and they need to be called out for it.”
Labor’s state shadow treasurer John Willie repeated his claim Tasmanians were being softened up for a horror budget.
“Michael Ferguson is clearly trying to do whatever he can to deflect from his own budget mismanagement as Treasurer, but it isn’t working,” he said.
“Under Treasurer Ferguson and the Liberals, Tasmania has entered record deficit and debt with nothing to show for it apart from a flatlining economy, public services at breaking point and record numbers of Tasmanians leaving for better opportunities elsewhere. It is no wonder the state is bracing for a budget disaster in September.
“Treasurer Ferguson knows this which is why he’s trying to shift the blame to the Federal government, but the reality is that the state’s finances are a complete mess of his own making.”
Libs say $1bn of Tassie projects have missed federal funding
Earlier: Treasurer Michael Ferguson has called on the federal government to step up and pay for nearly a billion dollars more for projects in Tasmania.
Mr Ferguson this week accused Canberra of dudding the state.
He has listed projects from infrastructure to health where he says the Tasmania needs a hand.
They include the $150m Greater South East Irrigation Scheme, the $320m new Tamar River Bridge, $350m in upgrades for the Launceston General Hospital masterplan, $15m for the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in Burnie and four more urgent care clinics.
Mr Ferguson said it’s disappointing that the federal government had made no provision for the new Tamar Bridge in his electorate.
“We submitted the business case to the Commonwealth ahead of the federal budget, and reiterated our $80m commitment, but the Albanese government has failed to recognise the importance of this project to the people of Bass, and the broader infrastructure pipeline and the jobs that it supports,” he said.
“In addition, the federal government has clearly not recognised the benefit of upgrading Wielangta Road – we had committed $6m to this project, but without an 80 per cent contribution from the Commonwealth, this project cannot go ahead.
“Another major infrastructure project that Tasmania’s federal members Brian Mitchell and Julie Collins have failed to advocate for is the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme – this expansion of the existing schemes to provide surety of affordable water for farmers and to grow jobs in the South East economy is a missed opportunity.”
Mr Ferguson said the state was shouldering more than its fair share of health costs.
“Whilst the specifics of the Commonwealth’s offer on Urgent Care Clinics isn’t yet clear, the funding allocated in the federal budget is totally inadequate and won’t be enough to support the additional UCCs we need in Tasmania, nor will it provide adequate funding to the ones that already exist,” he said.
“The Tasmanian Liberal government has had to repeatedly step in and shore up GP availability as practices come under threat of closure.
‘We are urgently implementing a range of measures to respond to these gaps, including establishing a team of 10 GPs to be deployed rapidly to provide primary care support in areas across greater Hobart where there is an urgent need.
“We will keep fighting to ensure Tasmania receives its fair share of the 29 new urgent care clinics – with at least five new UCCs required to support Tasmania’s needs.”
“We are also disappointed that the Albanese government has totally failed to provide any investment support for our 10-year $580m LGH Masterplan.
And Mr Ferguson said the federal government was short-changing the state on tourism and environmental funding.
“It’s regrettable that the Australian government has also failed to provide further investment in our parks and reserves,” he said.
“Whilst the Federal government has announced funding for the TWWHA, this is just a reannouncement of an existing funding agreement.
“Similarly, they should be embarrassed to be promoting investment in Freycinet, when it is just a resell of the existing National Tourism Icons Program funding that was committed by the former Liberal government!
“It’s clear that the business community feels let down by the federal budget.
“We had hoped that the much-hyped Made In Australia initiative would have provided something tangible for Tasmanian business, but even this seemed more of a thought bubble than an actual strategy.”
Originally published as Canberra hits back in war of words over funding for Tasmania
What could thwart Kangaroo Bay Hotel, even if it is approved
The Kangaroo Bay Hotel has been declared a ‘major project’, but there’s a glaring complication which could arise, even if it’s approved, as both parties claim ownership of the waterfront land.
Lambie MP maintains budget rage with rare move
Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner has maintained his one-man opposition to the state budget in a rare move as it passed through the House of Assembly.