On behalf of the Tasmanian Greens, I was proud to table our 2024-25 Alternative Budget in Parliament today.
For a decade we’ve seen Liberal politicians more focused on lining the pockets of big corporations and special interests than on doing what’s in the best interests of this island and its people. This long-term neglect has had huge consequences for the environment, the health system, for people who are struggling, and so much more.
With so many huge problems facing lutruwita/Tasmania, the Liberals had an opportunity to deliver a Budget that funded what is needed to turn things around. Instead, they’ve made a billion-dollar stadium their top priority.
The Greens say things don’t have to be this way. Change is possible. We can make this island a kinder, fairer, and more sustainable place – we just have to make the right choices.
Our Alternative Budget shows how the Tasmanian government could do things differently. We believe the role of government is first and foremost to meet the critical needs in the community. That’s reflected in our plan to expand investment in building homes, taking climate action, hiring more healthcare staff, protecting the environment, and delivering real cost of living relief.
We know money doesn’t grow on trees. That’s why we’re not just spending more on critical services – we’re also making the choices that need to be made to raise the money that’s needed to do so.
Stopping the stadium will deliver hundreds of millions of dollars that can be invested in housing, health, and education. So will making big corporations pay their fair share, and ending the huge taxpayer subsidies to destructive and cruel industries like native forest logging and racing.
Spending public money is about priorities. This year our Alternative Budget will deliver a smaller deficit than the Liberals but will still fund many more critical services. Across the Forward Estimates we show it is possible to rapidly expand investment in hiring health and education professionals, to build thousands of new homes, and to take real climate action – all in a financially sustainable way.
The Greens know Tasmanians are sick and tired of politicians with the wrong priorities. That’s why we have put forward a plan that focuses on the things this island and its people need – not a billion-dollar stadium.
