A year the Liberals would rather forget

One year ago today Will Hodgman won the privilege of governing in Tasmania.

On election night he guaranteed Tasmanians that almost everything would be better with the Liberals in charge.

12 months on and the Liberal Government has massively underachieved on what it promised.

A commitment to protect essential services has been replaced with huge cuts to frontline jobs, including the axing of 266 teachers.

Morale in the public sector has never been lower.

There’s also been a complete failure to stand up for Tasmania in the face of Tony Abbott’s cuts.

A right-wing and ill-considered legislative agenda is in tatters, rejected by the Legislative Council and the broader public.

Attempts to stifle free speech have failed dismally.

A promise to be a decisive government has been dumped for an endless parade of reviews and committees.

Despite harsh cuts and an increase in revenue, the budget position is actually worse, largely due to reckless spending in the lead up to the election.

Peter Gutwein’s promise of a surplus has gone out the window.

On forestry, all the pre-election bluff and bluster has amounted to nothing. Forestry Tasmania still requires a subsidy from taxpayers, the industry has access to the same amount of resource and timber customers aren’t even on the Premier’s agenda in China.

Labor Leader Bryan Green said Tasmanians who voted Liberal for the first time last year have a right to feel let down.

“So many people put their trust in the Liberals for the first time in 2014,” Mr Green said.

“Cuts to frontline services have been the biggest breach of that trust.

“Tasmanians do not like to see schools and hospitals attacked to pay for unaffordable election promises.

“The last year has taught us that one line slogans do not make for good governing.

“The Liberals inherited a strengthening economy but are too quick to take credit for the hard work of the private sector.

“Labor’s encouraged by a falling unemployment rate and will always talk up the Tasmanian economy.

“But we won’t stand by and watch the Liberal Government break promises and weasel out of tough decisions.

“And unfortunately, with harsh cuts still to come in health and education, we predict there will be more pain inflicted in the next 12 months.

“We’ve got a Premier lacking in leadership. Mr Hodgman is fine at delivering good news but goes missing when the heat comes on.

“The next 12 months will be a giant test of the Premier’s ability. It will no longer be acceptable to blame everyone else for the challenges he faces.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader