Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
[10.07 a.m.]
Tasmanians are already struggling with the cost of living, and the conflict in the Middle East is expected to drive fuel prices to never before seen levels. This week 20 Community Service Peaks rallied to plea for more funds. They’re already not coping with food and support services and it’s clear the need will dramatically increase. Yesterday, you told us you were thinking about the fuel impacts on communities, with the costs hitting all those people delivering Meals on Wheels. We’re on the precipice of a social fuel shock that will be severe. We don’t know for how long. We know the budget’s in terrible shape, but the role of government in times of crisis is to be there for the most vulnerable. Will you reprioritise government resources to give community service organisations an emergency funding injection immediately and ensure an ongoing lift to their funding?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for your question. The sentiment you expressed in the question is very similar to the sentiment I expressed yesterday in the House regarding these incredibly uncertain times for the globe, Australia, and indeed Tasmania. When it comes to fuel, again, we’re an island off an island; there’s a natural extra vulnerability that Tasmanians feel when it comes to the fuel-shock across the globe.
I have, in fact, spoken in the last half an hour with a key person within the community sector about this very matter, about community service delivery. That particular example was community transport services for Tasmanians and vulnerable Tasmanians who need to access healthcare, for example, and the impact and the flow-on impact that fuel may well have on that service delivery. I spoke yesterday about Meals on Wheels and the impact that that has. The fuel-price shock is at the bowser for families, but it also flows through to the very important services that organisations that you’re referring to support vulnerable Tasmanians and families.
Of course, as you’re well aware, we have considerable investment when it comes to support for Tasmanians, those on fixed incomes and vulnerable Tasmanians when it comes to the concessions already existing and we need to redouble our efforts, in my view, in communicating what services and supports are available, but given the extraordinary times that were in, and very quickly, I wouldn’t have expected a question like this potentially three or four weeks ago. Things change and have changed dramatically. They are very different across the globe and, despite Tasmania’s wonderful location in the world, we are feeling the effects almost immediately as a result of the price shock.
When I look across the nation in respect of industry, when it comes to our smelters across the nation, and we’re impacted in our own way by the effects on major industrials globally. I’m very mindful, therefore, of the supports we need to put in place for local communities, particularly in northern Tasmania right now. I take your question in the serious nature that it has been presented and it reflects what I said yesterday about the need for everyone to work together.
The SPEAKER – The honourable Premier’s time has expired.
Supplementary Question
Dr WOODRUFF – You mentioned the considerable support that already exists and I go back to my question. The support is not proportionate to the need at the moment, let alone what’s coming. Will you commit reprioritisation of budget to an emergency injection of funding to community services for the need that they cannot now meet and will not be able to meet into the future and increase their funding overall in the budget?
Mr ROCKLIFF – We’re working through the budget process now and key priorities are at the fore. When it comes to investing in certain areas of the community, I know community expectations reflect cost-of-living pressures presently. In the 2024 election, we made some very clear commitments to our community sector about growth funding.
Dr WOODRUFF – This is about responding to the crisis that faces us all –
The SPEAKER – Order, Dr Woodruff.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I understand, Dr Woodruff, and I understand the pressures that were on the community services when we made the commitment for growth funding, at that time above CPI over the forward Estimates so there could be proper workforce planning for community organisations, therefore flowing onto service delivery. We will always work closely with our community services sector and I believe next week –
The SPEAKER – The honourable Premier’s time has expired.
