Labor leader Rebecca White says this year’s budget misses the chance to make a better nation

Tasmania’s Labor Party has hit out at this year’s Federal Budget, saying social housing, the health system and help for those “doing it rough” should have been front and centre.

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THE federal budget was a missed opportunity to build a better and fairer nation after the coronavirus pandemic, Labor leader Rebecca White said.

Ms White said there was little in the budget for Tasmanians, who would be hit hard by reductions to social security payments and who needed more money spent on health and housing.

“There should have been investments in social housing, there needed to be more investment in Tasmania’s health system which was already in crisis before COVID,” she said of the budget.

“There should have been more investment into those Tasmanians who are doing it tough.

“Tax cuts are all very well and good if you’ve got a job, but 35,000 Tasmanians don’t.

Labor leader Rebecca White says this year’s budget misses out on impoverished Tasmanians. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“One in four Tasmanians are living in poverty. That’s 120,000 Tasmanians who are our friends and neighbours who won’t be in receipt of any of the supports that come in the way of tax cuts.”

Ms White said this was the budget that failed battlers.

“Unfortunately struggling Australians and Tasmanians have been left behind by this budget,” she said.

“There isn’t adequate support to help them keep their heads above water, there is not adequate support to keep workers engaged with their workplaces and there’s not adequate support to support those who are out of housing at the moment — with no investment in social housing.

“We’re going into $1 trillion worth of debt and sadly there’s not a lot in this budget for Tasmanians, there’s not a lot in his budget for Tasmania infrastructure projects.”

By contrast, acting Premier and Treasurer Jeremy Rockliff said the budget handed down by his Liberal Party colleagues in Canberra was an artful document.

“We welcome the initiatives in the federal budget. This is a budget for the times and these times very challenging times for the nation,” he said.

“The federal budget complements many of the initiatives we’ve outlined as a state government since the pandemic, complements the infrastructure spend, particularly complements the skills initiatives and complements the desire for Tasmanians to get back to work and trained, and provide confidence to our business community and the community in general.”

Mr Rockliff said the government was pleased that the GST estimates were in line with expectations.

The state budget’s revenue is around 40 per cent funded by the consumption tax.

Mr Rockliff said tax cuts and other stimulus measures would help push more money through the state economy.

“The amount of tax relief announced is a very good stimulus for our economy,” he said.

“The investment in infrastructure is a very good stimulus, great for jobs, great for regional jobs and I include irrigation infrastructure in that as well.

“But tax breaks, also great stimulus effects for people to get out there and spend.”

The state budget will be handed down on November 12.

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