The Tasmanian liberals have criticised the State Government for failing to honour all its election promises.
In the first year of a Labor-Green government, the Treasurer Michael Aird has dubbed his $4.6 billion budget one of compromise.
He says three quarters of Labor’s election commitments were met this year, and the rest will be delivered over the next four years.
The Liberal Leader Will Hodgman says every promise should have been kept.
“Labor can’t keep its promises and the Greens can’t deliver,” Mr Hodgman said.
“In so many respects this is a let-down.”
Mr Hodgman says with a projected budget surplus of $24 million, the Government has no excuse for not honouring all its pledges.
“They’re now rolling in cash. $1.5 billion extra for this government,” he said, “and they still can’t manage to fund all their election commitments.
“Tasmanians can be assured that the commitments we make, we stand by and are deliverable.”
The Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick McKim has taken credit for securing more money for public housing, climate change and public transport.
“Our decision to take Cabinet positions has resulted in a significant greening up of the state budget,” he said.
“You know, a massive investment into rail, significant investment into Parks and Wildlife, a cost of living strategy and a number of other Greens commitments.
“And I’d like to thank the Treasurer Michael Aird and the Premier David Bartlett for being open to taking on some of the Greens’ budget priorities and actually having those priorities reflected in the budget.”
Mr McKim says it’s a fair outcome, in what will be the first of four Labor-Green budgets.
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