Pic: John Weller, from TT, here
The Tasmanian Greens today urged the Tasmanian Premier to ensure that some funds from the estimated $40 million GST revenue increase were invested in the transition to a clever 21st century economy.
Greens Science and Technology spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP today urged the Premier to consider earmarking part of the funds to ensure the continued operation of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, which is scheduled to lose its funding in 2014.
“The Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre based here is world class and world leading, and conducts research and provides policy and decision makers with scientific information,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“The centre brings in millions of research dollars into private and public investment and creates wealth and jobs into Tasmania, and is one of the reasons Hobart has one of the highest per capita number of scientists in the world.”
“It’s vital that continues functioning and delivering its invaluable scientific services beyond the current funding termination date of 2014.”
“The Greens are calling for a commitment from the Premier to utilise a proportion of this additional identified GST money to invest in meeting the state’s contribution to ensure the CRC continues functioning and delivering its invaluable scientific services.”
“If we are genuine about embracing the clever economy then we must invest in research and development and innovation so that we can, as Saul Eslake states, produce ‘highly differentiated goods and services, embodying a significant intellectual content’.”
Mr O’Halloran said that the predicted GST increase was welcome, but highlighted the pressing need to reform the state-based taxation system to shore up revenue and create a more stable economic base for Tasmania.
“This predicted revenue boost is welcome relief for the State Budget, but it does not address the essential problem that the GST is a volatile and unpredictable revenue stream,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“We must put the focus back on the state-based taxation reform process, which was deliberately derailed by the Labor and Liberal parties last year, to reduce the volatility of state revenue and provide greater economic certainty.”
