Premier Jeremy Rockliff defends state budget as crossbench offers solutions

It is dishonest for the government to say its budget has a surplus pathway, an independent MLC says, as the crossbench offers their plans to get the state back in the black. THE LATEST >>>

TCCI Ian Jones, Liberal candidate for Braddon Gavin Pearce and Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Simplot. Picture: Elise Kaine

A prominent independent MP has condemned government’s defence of its financial management as being “so far from the truth it’s disturbing”.

Treasury’s Pre-Election Financial Outlook released this week found net debt was on track to be potentially $3bln worse than the government’s prediction.

Murchison MLA Ruth Forrest said the Premier and Treasurer were in “complete denial” and she could “absolutely not” see a pathway to surplus in the 2025-26 budget.

“It’s dishonest to say there was a pathway to surplus,” Ms Forrest told the Mercury.

Ruth Forrest Independent member for Murchison. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“It was the first time in 20 years I was not in a position to support the budget — but we didn’t even get to that point.”

Ms Forrest said the sole focus of the election campaign should now be on who can fix the budget — and how.

Independent Clark MP Kristie Johnston said the state was in “deep trouble”.

“With no change, net debt for the general government sector will grow from $4.2 billion in 2024-25 to $13 billion in 2027-28.

“Our annual interest bill will at least rise from $230.9 million to $697.9 million over the same period,” she said.

On Thursday Mr Rockliff said the key to the state’s budget problems lay in his government’s unpassed budget.

TCCI Ian Jones, Liberal candidate for Braddon Gavin Pearce and Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Simplot. Picture: Elise Kaine

He said the 2025/26 budget held the answers to a “sensible pathway to surplus”.

That budget projected four deficits in a row.

Treasury PEFO report found the government needed to raise revenue and save money, especially during election campaigns.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff outlined her party’s plan to get the state back to a surplus, which included a 10 per cent royalty for salmon farms using public waterways, making mining companies pay the same royalties as on the mainland and ending subsidies for greyhound racing.

She said Labor’s budgeting solutions were “peanuts” compared to the sort of changes needed.

“We need to bring in revenue in order to pay for critical services,” Ms Woodruff said.

“The treasury is very clear that we have to, in order to pay for the services Tasmanians need, raise some more money.

Tasmanian Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley and leader Rosalie Woodruff at the Goods Shed on day one of the 2025 state election campaign. Picture: Elise Kaine

“That’s why the Greens feel that the money should be coming from big corporations who at the moment are not paying their fair share,” she said.

Ms Johnston said the government needed to follow her four steps to budget repair.

These included smarter infrastructure spending, raising fair revenue through royalties on mining and salmon farming as well as luxury car and land tax reform, cutting “wasteful industry handouts and an end to pork barrelling.

“No more backroom grants or photo-op funding,” Ms Johnston said. “If it’s public money, it must go through a fair, open process.”

Independent member for Clark Kristie Johnston. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

In Ulverstone on Thursday Mr Rockliff announced a re-elected Liberal Government would reform trade waste legislative and regulatory frameworks.

He said without government intervention thousands of jobs were at risk due to “regulatory burdens” being placed on businesses by TasWater.

Labor’s industry and regional development spokeswoman Anita Dow said he welcomed the reforms but the timing raised “serious questions” about the government.

“The Liberals have been in government for 11 years. Why is it only now in an election campaign that Jeremy Rockliff is waking up to issues like this?”

Originally published as Premier Jeremy Rockliff defends state budget as crossbench offers solutions