Federal Budget 2018: Funding focuses on northern electorates

TASMANIA’S southern electorates are largely overlooked in the Federal Government’s hunt to win back northern seats.

Funding has been allocated for a replacement for the ageing Bridgewater Bridge in the Lyons electorate. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

TASMANIA’S southern electorates have largely missed out on federal funding boosts this year as the Commonwealth shifts its focus towards winnable seats in the state’s north.

The Federal Government will be hoping to build on the Liberals’ state election victory and win back the seats of Lyons, Bass and Braddon at the next federal election, which could be held later this year.

Funding announcements in this year’s Budget have focused on Launceston and Burnie, the largest population centres in the electorates of Bass and Braddon respectively.

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But by far the biggest announcement for Tasmania was revealed ahead of Budget day — a $921 million roads and rail package, including funding for a new Bridgewater Bridge in the Lyons electorate, safety improvements along the Bass Highway in the North-West, and a second tranche of funds under the Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation Program.

Braddon, Bass and Lyons were unexpectedly lost by the Liberals’ “Three Amigos” Brett Whiteley, Andrew Nikolic and Eric Hutchinson at the 2016 election, with each MP having served only one term.

At the same election, Denison independent MHR Andrew Wilkie secured a swing towards him and Franklin Labor MHR Julie Collins held on to a comfortable margin in her electorate, making the two southern electorates difficult for the Liberals to win.

The Federal Government will be hoping for a positive reception in the three northern electorates for this Budget, after recently released internal polling showed the Liberals had more than 50 per cent of the primary vote.

Launceston’s Tamar River, which has long been beset by problems with sewage and silt, will have $47.5 million directed towards improving its health.

The money will fund 12 projects to reduce pollution and improve the health of the river, and has been allocated as part of Launceston’s City Deal arrangements.

Areas affected by the 2016 floods will benefit from funding to improve data collection and renew flood mapping, with $1.5 million to be redirected from previously allocated disaster relief funding.

Tasmania also stands to receive an additional $31 million in health funding over the next four years, if growth in national health reform funding is lower than CPI and population in a given year.

And by July next year the National Disability Insurance Scheme commission is expected to have established operations in Tasmania.

Tasmania’s regional areas are set to benefit from a $2.3 million regional jobs and investment package, redirected from the Tasmanian Jobs and Investment Fund, which was created with $16 million originally earmarked for a Cadbury redevelopment.