Ms ROSOL (Bass) – Honourable Speaker, I move –
That the House take note of the following matter: privatisation agenda.
I speak, this morning, on behalf of the Greens about the government selling off Tasmania. The government can dress up their plans to support enterprise and business any way they like, but the reality is that they want to carve up Tasmania and sell it off. There is so much of value and worth in our beautiful state: the people of Tasmania; our incredible Tasmanian public service that works so hard to ensure our people have what they need; our public assets, including government business enterprises; and our stunning natural environment, including beaches, waterways, mountains and forests.
These belong to all of us as Tasmanians, yet the Premier stood in this Chamber yesterday and outlined the Liberals’ extreme plan that, if it goes ahead, will ultimately result in the trashing of all these treasures that belong to us, that make us, that sustain us. After yesterday’s address there can be no doubt in anyone’s mind the Liberals plan to push full steam ahead with the selling off of Tasmania and the destruction of all that is dear to us.
The reach of their plans are outstanding. Nothing is safe from this Liberal government drunk on right‑wing ideology, fuelled by donations from their business mates who cannot wait to get their hands on our services, our assets, our forests and environment – the essence of Tasmania – so they can increase their profits and grow their personal wealth. The Liberals are not governing with heart, unless by heart they mean a stone-cold heart that loves money above all else. The government has an agenda that puts privatisation and profits before people. This is deeply disturbing. The Greens will work to expose what the government is doing and fight it all the way.
While all of this is audacious, astounding and outrageous, it is not really surprising. We have already seen the government steering in this direction with their efficiency dividends, hiring freezes and general unwillingness to do what it takes to ensure the needs of Tasmanians are well met so they are able to live safe, healthy, fulfilling, productive lives. Take health services in Tasmania for example. The razor has long been taken to these services. Efficiency dividends and vacancy control measures have left positions unfilled within the health service. The government like to tell us they are protecting frontline services, but they have not once defined frontline services and they fail to acknowledge that every single health worker is essential to the provision of smooth, well‑functioning service provision. Efficiency dividends and vacancy control sells out Tasmanians.
Over the weekend, the Treasurer announced the Liberal Government is introducing a hiring freeze on non‑essential positions. What even is a non‑essential position? Everyone who works in our public service is providing an essential service to Tasmanians across the full spectrum of government departments and services. There is no such thing as a non‑essential position. Administration staff create pathways for good organisation and movement of information and Tasmanians through our services. Cleaners make sure environments are safe and clear and everyone can perform their role unhindered. Allied health staff perform tests, provide therapy, give support, and organise equipment – all functions that are essential to healthcare provision in Tasmania. Managers see the big picture and plan for both the immediate and long‑term. Nurses, doctors and paramedics provide services on the ground. They are the workers we most identify with the health service, but they are one piece of the whole and without the other pieces they cannot do their job.
The government can dress their actions with whatever fancy dressing and slick terminology they like, but an efficiency dividend is a cut. Vacancy control is a cut. A hiring freeze is a cut. Letting jobs slide away through natural attrition is a cut. Their cuts will result in service deterioration and service deterioration means Tasmanians will miss out. If the government are willing to cut staff and services and let Tasmanians miss out, what else are they willing to do to the detriment of Tasmanians?
The Greens will not let the government sell off Tasmania without a fight. We stand with the people of Tasmania, we stand with the public service, we stand for protecting our public assets and we stand for our precious natural environment. Tasmania deserves so much better than this Liberal Government.
