Government still dodging questions on budget and job cuts

Revelations that the new Liberal Government took the axe to health workers’ jobs only weeks after assuming office highlights its secretive budget cutting agenda.

“During Budget Estimates hearings last week the Liberals refused to answer any questions about where cuts would be made and worse lied about protecting front line jobs,” Mr Green said.

“This clearly demonstrates the way Liberal ministers from the Premier down are wilfully misleading Tasmanians.

“The fact is that the Government is making additional savings in the budget purely and simply to honour election promises that it knew at the time were not affordable.

“No one working in the public sector, including health workers, teachers and police, is immune to the cuts and the Liberals arrogant and tricky approach to answering questions is wearing extremely thin.

“The only way we can get information is from Right to Information requests because we can’t get any straight answers from the Government.

“We now know it cut 16 jobs in the health sector almost immediately after the election while planning to get rid of 60 front line jobs in education.

“The Liberals commitment not to axe front line jobs is laughable.

“The Government is still refusing to provide any detail on budget savings while threatening to cut more jobs if pay cuts are opposed,” Mr Green said.
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader