Labor’s budget reply a complete disaster, would create a billion dollar black hole

What on earth has happened to the Labor Party?

Just a few days after the budget and they’ve completely run out of questions, they have no alternatives and they appear to be broken, dispirited and scattered.

Let’s be honest, yesterday’s budget reply by Bryan Green was an absolute shocker. It was so bad, I almost felt sorry for him.

It was completely silent on the important issues – jobs, the economy, investing in frontline services and building on the momentum in our economy.

However, at least we now know where Labor stands on the all important issue of electric buses.

Seriously Bryan, electric buses? That’s it? No plan for jobs, no plan for a surplus, no plan for the economy, but don’t worry everyone, Bryan’s going to make sure you can hop on an electric bus.

While Labor is too embarrassed to release an alternative budget, I have committed to keeping a running tally of their spending commitments. So far, their commitments would blow a one billion dollar hole in Tasmania’s finances (see table below). Labor wants to thrust Tasmania back into deficit, rack up huge debts and once again put it all on the credit card.

1. Bryan Green, Parliament Hansard, 3 September 2014
2. Costing based on Publicly Released Treasury Estimate, ‘Michael Ferguson sends damaging message to developers’, Bryan Green Media Release, 18 December 2014. https://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/domino/dtf/dtf.nsf/LookupFiles/RHH-TaskForce-paper-on-CenoTas-proposal.pdf/$file/RHH-TaskForce-paper-on-CenoTas-proposal.pdf
3. Bryan Green, Parliament Hansard, 29 April 2015
4. ‘Increased fines target more than criminals’, Lara Giddings Media Release, 22 April 2015
5. ‘Michael Ferguson must stop closure of hospital beds’, Rebecca White Media Release, 18 February 2015
6. Estimate based on NSW trial cost. ‘Labor back cannabis committee’s findings’, Lara Giddings Media Release, 20 November 2014
7. “Labor initiative to boost children’s participation in sport’, Michelle O’Byrne, 24 May 2015
8. Southern Cross News, Lara Giddings, 7 August 2014, opposition to Liberal Government stance despite increased funding
9. ‘Liberals send rail funding off the tracks’, Craig Farrell Media Release, 14 May 2015
10. ‘Labor announces Tasmanian Education Partnership’, Taslabor.com, 31 May 2015
11. ‘Value adding our Resources – Labor has a Plan to Support Growth in Forestry’,Taslabor.com, 2 June 2015. It is noted that in policy identified funding from Federal and State Government sources.
12. ‘Economy for the Future – Labor will make Tasmania a global leader in electric transport technology’, Taslabor.com, 2 June 2015. It is noted that in the policy identified funding from Federal and State Government sources.
13. Estimated Cost, Rebecca White, Parliament Hansard, 2 June 2015
14. ‘Value adding our Resources – Labor has a Plan to Support Growth in Mining’, Taslabor.com, 2 June 2015
15. Estimated Cost, Bryan Green, Parliament Hansard, 2 June 2015
16. ‘Families focus for Labor’s centres’, The Mercury 11 May 2015
Sarah Courtney, Liberal Member for Bass