Budget shows renewed heart; next comes vision

Today’s State Budget demonstrates the Government has renewed heart when it comes to Tasmania’s
most vulnerable, and is ready for the next step of establishing an overall vision to tackle our State’s most
complex issues: Health, Education and Employment.

“This Budget provides the foundation for bringing together their range of plans and strategies to create
a cohesive, bold vision for the Tasmania we want our next generation to enjoy,” TasCOSS CEO Kym
Goodes said.

“The Government is starting to demonstrate the brave leadership we need to put in place a long term
strategy of good public policy that will help bridge the gap between those Tasmanians who enjoy the
fruits of our Apple Isle and those who struggle every day just to get by,” she said.

“TasCOSS outlined the fundamental building blocks of a broad social vision to the Government
throughout this past year and in our annual Budget Priorities Submission.

“While some of the programs and strategies have already been embraced with funding or policy
planning, the focus on the critical elements of a broad social vision—preventative health, education and
employment—are still to come.

“We look forward to working beside Government to achieve this in the months to come.”

Ms Goodes said health was an area that stood out as disappointing and would hold the State back.

“We had high hopes on preventative health in this Budget. With the aspiration of being the healthiest
State by 2025 and a praise-worthy draft preventative health paper brought to Tasmanians for consultation
recently, we are stunned to find all but nothing for preventative health.”

The Budget’s welcome initiatives are in the areas of affordable housing funding, child protection, family
violence, the Public Guardian and community legal centres (CLCs).

“We welcome these positive initiatives as building blocks for the vision that will transform them into
key steps towards a more equitable, more productive and ever-improving Tasmania.”

TasCOSS represents the State’s social service sector and advocates for the human rights of all
Tasmanians.
Kym Goodes, CEO, TasCOSS