Tasmania parliament: Crossbenchers demand budget reform

A trio of crossbench MPs are demanding the government be more accountable for its budget management — and two say they’ll vote against budget bills without swift reform.

JLN MP Andrew Jenner and independents Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland speak to the media on parliament Lawns in Hobart on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

A trio of crossbench MPs are demanding the government be more accountable for its budget management — and two say they’ll vote against budget bills without swift reform.

Parliament will consider a motion from independent MP Kristie Johnston calling for reform on Thursday.

It has the backing of JLN MP Andrew Jenner and independent Craig Garland.

The motion includes a demand the government better explain how it is working toward meeting budget targets and that it establish a Parliamentary Budget Office.

They independents also want the government to implement an Integrity Commission recommendation to ensure election commitments of public money are “efficient, effective, economical and ethical”.

Ms Johnston said improving budgetary performance was vital as spending and debt rose.

“We want to ensure that the government is held to account — in particular where they don’t meet their fiscal targets, they need to explain to the parliament and most importantly, the community, why they haven’t met those targets and what they intend to do to address it, that’s really critical,” she said.

“We also want to ensure that they address the election spending issue we see time and time again where before elections, both parties go out and spend ridiculously in the community, throw money around, pork barrelling, indirect bribery, with no plan of how to pay for that.”

Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner said the motion should come as no surprise for the government,

“I think you’ll remember last year I was the only MP that actually voted against the budget,” he said.

“If they don’t actually stump up to these fairly innocuous asks, then I will be voting against the budget again, because all we’re asking for is transparency and accountability and that’s what the public want.

“It’s not ours, it’s public money. They have a right to know where it’s being spent and what we prioritise.”

And Mr Garland said he held grave concerns about the state’s finances.

“I put them on notice last year, last year’s budget … if you don’t lift your game, then I will seriously consider voting against the budget,” he said.

”That’s how serious it is. We’re in a world of grief, and they’re totally ignorant to the situation we’ve got ourselves in.”

Originally published as Tasmania parliament: Crossbenchers demand budget reform