Rebecca White says Labor would cancel the fifth lane on the Southern Outlet, if elected

Plans for a fifth lane on the Southern Outlet would be canned, if Labor is elected, leader Rebecca White has revealed. Here are other ways she says her party would trim the fat.

Heavy traffic in bound to Hobart on the Southern Outlet. A fifth lane is planned. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Labor says its election promises will cost nearly $1.7bn over the next four years, but will be offset by more than $2bn in “savings, offsets and reprofiling”, including by canning plans for a fifth lane on the Southern Outlet.

Labor released costings for its commitments, totalling $294m in 2023/24 and $226m the following financial year.

Savings would be made by measures including “ending Liberal rorts” and “replacing failed Liberal policies” accounting for nearly $170m worth of savings on their own over the next four years. No further detail was given.

Rebecca White and Ella Haddad. Image: David Killick.

Labor says it would also save $110m by cancelling the construction of the fifth lane on the Southern Outlet.

Labor leader Rebecca White said a government she lead would pay back the state’s debt.

“Just like when the Labor government was elected last time, it had to repair the budget that had been ruined by the Liberal Party racking up lots of debt no doubt we’ll be faced with the same circumstances if we’re elected on Saturday again,” she said.

“It’s always Labor who pays off the Liberals’ debt.

“The Liberals have racked up $6.1bn of debt and what it have Tasmanians got to show for it? “The health system’s worse, education outcomes are worse, people can’t buy a house.

“This is the legacy of the Liberal Party and I won’t be lectured by them, or anyone else, about their record on budget management because it is so terrible.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Labor could not deliver their promises without raising taxes.

“They’ve outspent us three to one,” he said.

“Their promises cannot be believed, their promises cannot be afforded.

“The only way that they can afford their commitments and their promises – and they’re throwing money around with some magic money tree — is to tax Tasmanians.”

Liberals announce big boost to kids sport subsidies

Subsidies to help disadvantaged Tasmanians take part in sport and recreation would be expanded if the Liberals are returned to office after Saturday’s election.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced he a re-elected Liberal majority government would expand the eligibility criteria for Ticket to Play to include more families on government benefits, delivering extra 2500 vouchers;

And the Liberals announced a trial a two-year $1m Ticket to Wellbeing program for the health and wellbeing of older Tasmanians as well as an additional $300,000 to support Reclink Australia to provide evidence-based, innovative community sports and active recreation programs.

“Our Ticket to Play program is something that I am incredibly proud of – I hear regularly about the genuine difference that this has made to the lives of so many young Tasmanians,” Mr Rockliff said.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff gives Cooper Dobson 7 from Kingborough Tigers Junior Football Club a high five. Premier Jeremy Rockliff in Kingston in relation to a junior sport announcement. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“That is why I cannot be happier to announce that we will not only expand this program with an extra 2,500 vouchers, but also pilot a brand new Ticket to Wellbeing for eligible older Tasmanians.

“This new program will also offer two vouchers worth up to $100 each and will be available to those listed on a Services Australia Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card.

“Given the roaring success of Ticket to Play, the positive impact Ticket to Wellbeing is set to make for older Tasmanians simply cannot be understated.”

Clubs Tasmania welcomed the expansion of eligibility criteria for the Ticket to Play program the pilot for a Ticket to Wellbeing program for older Tasmanians.

“Ticket to Play has proven to be a wonderful success for younger children who previously may have missed out playing sport due to the costs involved,” Clubs Tasmania chief executive Steve Old said.

Greens pledge EV mechanic training and free TAFE

Bringing an electric vehicle mechanic training course to TasTafe is among the Greens’ strategies to upskill Tasmanians for jobs in growth industries.

Under their future-ready workforce plan announced on Friday, Greens candidates said they would make TAFE free for Tasmanians and bring TasTafe back into the public service.

The party would also push for more VET courses to train people for jobs in the renewable energy sector and offer scholarships for people to train in renewable skills areas.

The policy would exempt electric vehicle mechanic apprentices and the qualified electric vehicle mechanics who trained them from counting towards a businesses’ payroll tax until 2030.

Doctor Rosalie Woodruff leader Tasmanian Greens, Tabatha Badger Greens candidate for Lyons, Vica Bayley Greens member for Clark at The Car Doctor in North Hobart. The Tasmanian Greens will announce their plan to invest in training and support for the green jobs of the future. Picture: Tasmanian Greens

Greens Lyons candidate Tabatha Badger, who has an automotive mechanic’s qualification, said Tasmania was one of only two states that did not offer training for electric vehicle technicians.

Ms Badger said the Greens wanted to introduce Certificate III in Automotive electrical Technology at TasTafe.

“Tasmania has a skills shortage as it is, let alone with industries we are going to see moving forward that require a whole new skill set for renewables, for electric vehicles,” Ms Badger said.

“It is absolutely critical Tasmanians receive adequate training and the facilities to be able to complete that training and the support so that we can keep future jobs here in Tasmania with Tasmanians so they don’t go to people on the mainland or elsewhere.

“In EV tech and new electrical automotive, Tasmania has some of the highest skills shortage in the country.

“TAFE absolutely needs to be free for people to go in and learn those skills.”

At the launch of the jobs and training policy on Thursday, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the party’s campaign had been focused on community needs and the environment.

“We are very, very clear we need to have big, strong investments and real action on climate, on the situation with health and the housing crisis, the cost of living for people and protecting the environment into the future,” she said.

Lambie’s warning to Libs amid another poll tipping minority

Senator Jacqui Lambie says her party’s state election candidates will make up their own mind whether to support the Liberals, if they end up in hung parliament.

Senator Lambie also lashed the Liberals’ “filthy games” during a national TV interview.

The Tasmanian Senator’s comments came amid new polling showing her party would make a strong showing in Saturday’s state election.

In an interview with Sky News host Kieran Gilbert on Thursday, Senator Lambie said JLN candidates’ mood to co-operate had been soured by a fake attack website set up by the Liberals to look like a legitimate JLN website.

Screenshot from Liberal Party website jacquilambie.com.

“My candidates are like how can we possibly do this, how can we possibly go in with everything they have done and the filthy games they’ve played, because we base ourselves on transparency and integrity,” Senator Lambie told Sky News.

“I just cannot believe they are playing these shenanigans, I have to say Labor has been a lot smarter. They haven’t really gone at the Network at all. They have just gone out there and sold their own policies.”

Senator Lambie said the fake website reduced the Liberals’ chances at forming government.

“Is Jeremy Rockliff doing this for a reason, because Jeremy Rockliff never wanted to be the Premier. We all know that Jeremy Rockliff’s ready to leave. Has he done this on bloody purpose?” she said.

“For me it’s not so much the politics I actually find it personally hurtful because there’s no need to use that gutter politics and Tasmanians are bigger than this.”

Mr Rockliff said he did not believe the Liberals’ efforts to show the JLN had no policies would impact his ability to negotiate in the event of a hung parliament.

“We have a right to point out the policy positions of all political parties including the Lambies,” he said.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff during the Sky News/ The Mercury People's Forum at the Town Hall, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“When given a key opportunity last night in the Australian Senate, when there was a vote on supporting salmon, Jacqui Lambie squibbed it. She squibbed that opportunity to come forward, be upfront and nail her party’s colours to the mast when it comes to supporting a key industry in Tasmania.”

Polling revealed by Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell on Thursday showed no party getting a majority in Tasmania, with the Liberals getting the most seats and a “terrible” result for Labor.

Mr Clennell did not name the pollster to protect his source, but said the poll canvassed 800 people in each of Tasmania’s five seats.

The poll showed the Liberals winning 14 seats, Labor remaining on nine, with four Greens, four independents and four Jacqui Lambie Network members.