Premier David Bartlett today signalled that relieving the financial pressure building in key areas of the public service was on his pre-Christmas reform agenda.
Mr Bartlett flew out of Hobart this morning for the COAG meeting with the Prime Minister and other state leaders in Brisbane and said he was seriously considering what flexibility the Government may have to move on addressing critical pressure points in the public sector.
“In the last week, we have moved decisively on water and sewerage bills and on electricity concessions in direct response to what the Tasmanian community has been clearly telling us,” Mr Bartlett said.
“We have also clearly signalled that we are listening to concerns from the business community and others in relation to land tax.
“Today, I also want public servants to know that we appreciate the sacrifices they have made in response to belt-tightening brought about by the global recession and I am looking at what we can do to relieve the most critical pressure points that those cuts are obviously creating in terms of service delivery.
“The sacrifices our skilled public servants have made to date have been significant and they are very much appreciated by the Government.
“I have already held preliminary discussions with key public sector unions about what flexibility the Government may have to assist because we have emerged from the immediate economic threat in far stronger shape than anyone had predicted.”
Mr Bartlett said the Government recognised the need to address inequities in the land tax system could not stand in the way of properly investing in top-quality public services for Tasmanians.
“I want the community to understand this will not be easy,” the Premier said.
“We need to retain a state revenue base to pay for our hospital workers, parks officers and other public servants the community depends upon.
“So in reforming land tax, we need to grapple with both the needs of those liable to pay and the needs of those dependent upon important public services.
“Striking a balance between retaining the revenue required for public services whilst also relieving the burden on business and allowing them to grow, invest and ultimately employ more Tasmanians is the challenge we need to manage.
“I am hopeful we can achieve a good outcome for the entire Tasmanian community and will be focusing on the options available to the Government over the coming days.”
David Bartlett, MP Premier
