Tasmanian unions join business lobby in backing Labor’s budget repair plan

The state’s union movement has given its support to the Labor Party’s budget repair plan and says it will work with a Dean Winter-led government to fix the state’s finances.

Unions Tasmania acting secretary Tom Lynch, Labor leader Dean Winter, shadow Treasurer Josh Willie and Labor candidate Jessica Munday speak to the media in Hobart on Monday, June 30, 2025.

The state’s union movement has given its support to the Labor Party’s Budget Repair Plan and says it will work with a Winter government to fix the state’s finances.

Opposition leader Dean Winter said he was keen to build a partnership with business, unions and the community sector to get he state out of debt and onto a sustianable footing.

“The Liberals have ruined Tasmania’s finances,” he said.

Labor leader Dean Winter and Labor member for Clark Josh Willie. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“They’ve wrecked the budget, and that puts at risk 2500 public sector workers: that’s nurses, teachers and other important public sector workers who support and protect Tasmanians every single day.

“We can’t afford for Jeremy Rockliff’s plan to be put in place.

We’ve already found $1bn worth of savings and we’ve committed in this plan that every cent of new revenue goes to paying off the Liberals’ debt.

“We’ll hold a round table to work with business, public sector workers and the community sector to make sure that we can deliver for Tasmanians,

Unions Tasmania acting secretary Tom Lynch said the unions would be glad to play their part.

“The Liberals have put our budget into a crisis, and we now need a plan to fix that, and this plan is the only credible plan that is out there in this election,” he said.

“The government’s plan is to cut jobs, to sell assets and to still drive us into unsustainable debt. So we welcome the opportunity to work with Labor.

“We especially welcome the opportunity to work with the business community and the community sector, to sit down together and come up with plans to repair this budget for the future of Tasmania.”

TCCI CEO Michael Bailey with Labor leader Dean Winter and Josh Willie at TCCI headquarters in New Town. Picture: Linda Higginson

And the community sector also welcomed the plan.

“TasCOSS welcomes the inclusion of the community services industry in Labor’s Budget Repair Roundtable, should they win government,’ TasCOSS CEO Adrienne Picone said.

“We must reshape our budget narrative by investing in Tasmanians and their wellbeing,” she said.

“The roundtable presents an opportunity to explore how macroeconomic and social policy settings can improve productivity and boost living standards, particularly for those on low and inadequate incomes.

“We can’t solve all our state’s problems alone. Working in partnership across government, private and community sectors is key to bringing about positive change.”

Liberal MP Felix Ellis said the memorandum of understanding Labor signed with the business community could include asset sales.

Government minister Felix Ellis. Picture: Simon Sturzaker

“Labor also plans to sell Tasmania’s share of ownership in the Marinus power project, giving mainlanders control of Tasmania’s energy assets,” he said.

“The Liberals’ plan means we keep our share of ownership without spending a single extra dollar.

“Labor also voted in Parliament to increase taxes.”