Shane Broad MP, Shadow Treasurer, 26 May 2022
Michael Ferguson wrecks Tasmania’s Budget at his first attempt
Michael Ferguson’s first budget has shredded the Liberal Party’s credibility when it comes to economic management.
The Rockliff-Ferguson Government will borrow $3.5 million every day for the next four years, debt will rise to $5.2 billion and Tasmanian taxpayers will foot a $611 million interest bill.
Mr Ferguson will bring in record deficits each year – record deficits that will likely be higher given the borderline fraudulent expenditure forecasts. Mr Ferguson expects Tasmanians to believe that while the Liberals have increased spending by an average of eight per cent per year, they will suddenly find some budget discipline and reduce that to 0.4 per cent.
At the same time, the Rockliff-Ferguson Government continues to fail to deliver and in fact will make cuts to total spending over the next two years with the already critically under-funded health system taking a hit of more than $126 million next year.
On top of this, Mr Ferguson has made the stunning admission that his budget is so out of control he will have to task Treasury with coming up with a debt stabilisation plan – and that can only mean cuts, new taxes, or both.
And to rub it all in, the $305 million of cost of living relief Mr Ferguson has bragged about is actually a cut compared to last year’s budget.
It’s frankly unbelievable that in the middle of a cost of living crisis Mr Ferguson and the new Premier are cutting cost of living support to Tasmanians.
Not content with his record as the failed former Health Minister who wrecked the health and hospital system, Michael Ferguson can now claim the title of the Treasurer who wrecked the Budget at his first try.
David O’Byrne MP, Member for Franklin, 26 May 2022
Ferguson promised a budget with a heart, delivers a budget on life support
Despite promising a budget full of heart and compassion, the Treasurer has today delivered a cruel budget that fails nurses, teachers, and key government services, says David O’Byrne MP.
This Liberal Government’s ninth budget is set to plunge the state into nearly $5.2B of debt by 2026, without delivering much-needed improvements to healthcare and education sectors.
“Over the last two years of this pandemic, the government have relied on the goodwill of frontline health workers to see us through. But there’s nothing in this budget for them – no increases to hospital beds, no wage increases that will keep up with the cost of living, and no policies to attract and retain new staff,” said Mr O’Byrne.
“With a breathtaking sweep of the pen, the Treasurer has chosen to ignore the problems currently facing our health system and the real solutions required to address them, like funding for more hospital beds and staff retention strategies.
“This could be the budget that finally breaks the back of the frontline health workers who have shown the government so much goodwill through this pandemic.”
On social housing, the budget papers reveal large financial commitments to increase housing supply, although these initiatives come with scant detail about how they intend to deliver it.
“On social housing, there are some big numbers being thrown around, but we haven’t seen any sort of detail about what this involves. We don’t know if they’re going to build more social houses, buy them, or give land to community housing providers and expect them to do the work.
“The $1.1B New Housing Package sounds great, until you realise that 96% of the funding for this package is after 2026.
“Furthermore, the financial implications of this government’s ideological plan to offload housing to an arms-length statutory body are not yet known.”
“Unfortunately, teachers and students lose out on this budget too, with no increases to fund additional teachers and teacher assistants despite chronic pressures in these areas.
“The word ‘aspirational’ didn’t appear in the Treasurer’s budget speech once, despite it being a key talking point earlier this year. And that tells you everything you need to know about this budget.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP, Shadow Minister for Women, 26 May 2022
Ferguson delivers embarrassing glossy brochure instead of genuine Gender Budget
Michael Ferguson has fundamentally failed to understand the purpose of a genuine Gender Budget, delivering a light-on-detail glossy brochure.
The purpose of a genuine Gender Budget is to create a fiscal tool to drive economic and social equality and identify structural inequalities for women – something the Rockliff-Ferguson Government has embarrassingly failed to grasp.
What the government has delivered today at its first attempt is a glossy document which has been compiled via a tokenistic word search of the budget papers for every reference to women, men and gender.
The government has failed to provide a gender lens to its budget or any quality analysis of the outcomes for women and gender diverse Tasmanians. Instead has provided a shameful, token effort to cover off on a promise they clearly have neither understood or taken seriously.
Media release – TasCOSS, 26 May 2022
2022/23 State Budget
Ms Adrienne Picone, CEO, TasCOSS:
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- For a government that is committed to leading with heart, and for all the talk on addressing cost of living pressures, there was nothing new in the budget which will have an impact on making the basics more affordable for Tasmanians on low incomes.
- Funding in this budget for the Tasmanian Government’s revised social housing pledge of 10,000 new dwellings by 2032 is proof the government is listening to the concerns of the community with housing affordability only getting worse. The challenge now is to deliver the homes as quickly as possible.
- We warmly welcome the increased focus on women and children’s safety, including progress towards a child safe framework in this state and Tasmania’s inaugural Gender Budget Impact Statement.
- It was disappointing to see the Government choose not to fund a family and sexual violence coordination mechanism, meaning Tasmania is the only jurisdiction in the country without one.
- We welcome the announcement of the significant investment into digital health services which will see a fully integrated care platform, connecting our community health care and hospital sectors, however we are concerned for the 65,000 Tasmanians that are digitally excluded and unable to get online.
- Tasmania is the most digitally disadvantaged state in Australia and one of the clear gaps in this budget were measures to close this digital divide.
- Without the necessary investment in digital literacy, telecommunications concessions and a Digital Consumer Reference Group to identify key issues and solutions, thousands of Tasmanians won’t have the same access to services as their more digital advantaged peers, and our state as a whole will continue to languish at the bottom of the national pile when it comes to digital access, skills and affordability.
- The next step must be to move beyond only announcing funding and counting the services delivered — we need to start building in accountability through targets and the measuring of progress against outcomes that improve the lives of all Tasmanians.
- We are looking forward to working with the government on their commitment to using a wellbeing framework to set goals, monitor and report on progress.
Media release – Cassy O’Connor MP & Rosalie Woodruff MP, 26 May 2022
First Ferguson Budget Fails to Meet the Challenges of the Times
Cassy O’Connor MP – Greens Leader
Tasmanians desperate for an affordable home, young people yearning for a safe climate and the natural environment are the big losers in Michael Ferguson’s first Budget as Treasurer.
Despite the rhetoric and a promise to invest $1.1 billion over ten years into new homes, only 3% of that is actually allocated over the forward estimates.
When the Liberals said it would take 10 years to build 10,000 homes we didn’t think it would take them that long to commit the money. This incompetent scramble to keep pace with demand on social infrastructure demonstrates their lack of foresight and concern – the increase in social housing builds with existing funds is not beginning until 2023.
As the need for a functional public and active transport system increases, once again, the Liberals have failed to step up. Instead we see vast sums poured into roads while safe and sensible pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is overlooked.
Thankfully, finally, there is a funding allocation to close Ashley Youth Detention Centre and to build two new therapeutic youth justice facilities. However, funding for youth housing initiatives dries up next year.
There are some real positives scattered through the State Budget for Parks, with funding for a much needed statutory process for Reserve Activity Assessments (RAA) – to replace the wholly inadequate existing regime for assessing projects in the reserve system.
Regrettably, the Budget shows no sign of the Rockliff Government abandoning its failed, divisive and damaging Expressions of Interest (EOI) process to facilitate developments inside public protected areas.
Funding to maintain Tasmania’s nation leading climate profile is being drastically cut over the next four years, while the forest-destroying GBE, Forestry Tasmania, will continue to receive a $12 million annual subsidy and the autumn burns will blaze on.
Meanwhile, big extractive industries continue to get a free ride at the expense of Tasmanians, with no increase in royalties or license fees for big mining or forestry. The cronyism continues while ordinary Tasmanians battle on.
Rosalie Woodruff MP
Newly-minted Treasurer Michael Ferguson’s first Budget has failed to address the urgency and severity of the climate emergency, with investment in resilience and emissions reduction dropping over the forward estimates.
Our Parks and Reserves system has been groaning under infrastructure pressures, poorly maintained tracks, toilet facilities overflowing into previously pristine alpine areas. Despite this, the natural environment suffers with a $52.4 million cut to environmental management over the forward estimates.
The Liberal’s budget gives barely a nod to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Tasmanian emergency departments and other health services receive a funding increase less than CPI. This means spending goes backwards, even more pressure on staff, and there’s no panacea for unhealthy emergency waiting times and ambulance ramping.
People needing urgent ambulance assistance, and overworked paramedics, will be distressed to hear that funding for additional paramedics is utterly ineffectual to meet the real needs of a system at breaking point.
We welcome the investments in drug and alcohol programs, and in mental health.
Our creative industries have suffered through Covid with no federal Liberal support, and are now gutted further under the state Liberals. The immediate cut of $4 million in arts development and screen investment will injure our cultural growth, and is a cruel and short-sighted saving.
Today’s State Budget is not what lutruwita/Tasmania needs to ensure no-one is left behind. The Greens look forward to delivering our fully costed Alternative Budget next week.
Media release – Shelter Tas, 26 May 2022
Budget paving the way to continue major investment in homes for Tasmanians
Shelter Tas is the peak body for housing and homelessness in Tasmania, representing all Tasmania’s funded specialist homelessness services and community housing providers.
“With our community facing cost of living pressures, and escalating housing costs, and over 40,000 households managing the stress of high rents in the tight and competitive private rental market, we welcome the State Government’s continued investment in affordable housing in today’s Budget. Investment in social and affordable housing is the foundation for building our community,” Shelter Tas CEO, Pattie Chugg said.
“Our state’s nation-leading investment in social housing delivered by community housing providers assists many Tasmanians with the homes they need, and together with the Government we recognise that there is more to be done. There is still a need to boost that essential supply, and deliver a Housing First approach.
“This year, we have seen increasing demand for affordable homes, with the waiting list for social housing pass 4,400 applications, and 46 people a day being turned away from homelessness services. There is every sign that housing stress and homelessness are continuing to increase across Tasmania.
“The $1.5 Billion package to build and acquire 10,000 homes by 2032 reflects the Shelter Tas budget ask for 1,000 homes per year. Shelter Tas hopes this important announcement will contribute substantially to boosting the supply of social housing from the current level of 6.2% to 10% of all dwellings, to ensure all Tasmanians have the safe and affordable home they need.
“It is positive to see the increase in both capital and recurrent funding, with an increase in the capital funding to $538 million, which is $142 million more than allocated in last years budget. We are pleased to see the investment in bricks and mortar is accompanied by the essential dollars for running these services, to cover staffing and the costs of supporting vulnerable clients to achieve independence.
“Our submission to this year’s State Budget Process emphasised that in 2022, with accelerating cost of living pressures and an affordable housing crisis, it is vital to ensure investment in social and affordable housing products, as well as targeted strategies for specific population groups that are vulnerable,” Ms Chugg said.
The Shelter Tas Budget Submission is available at https://sheltertas.org.au/shelter-tas-submission-to-the-state-government-budget-process-2022-23/
“Funding for the Safe Spaces in Hobart ($3.06M), Launceston ($1.9M) and Burnie ($1.9M) totalling $6.9M across the state is very welcome, but provides operational funding for only one year. We would like to see an ongoing commitment to these services because the need for this essential safety net will not disappear in one year’s time,” Ms Chugg said.
“In the north-west, we are pleased to see $2.5 million operational funding for the new 8 unit Devonport Men’s Shelter. The Youth to Independence centres in Burnie and Hobart will receive $3.2M over two years.
“There is $16 million committed for the establishment of supported accommodation facilities for older Tasmanians in the north and north-west. This fills a much-needed gap identified by our members, and will build on the success of the Wintringham aged care model in the south, providing homes for the increasing numbers of older Tasmanians experiencing homelessness.
“Women and women with children are some of the hardest hit by housing hardship, and it is time for a dedicated women’s housing strategy to address their specific needs. Shelter Tas has called for this strategy in our Budget Submission, and we hope that the Hon Guy Barnett MP, Minister for Housing will initiate the development of a Women’s Housing Strategy.
“More women than men seek assistance from specialist homelessness services, and family violence is the number one reason that women and their children ask for help. We know that one women’s shelter is turning away 8 out of 10 women seeking assistance, which means that women who may be survivors of family violence are forced to couch surf, live in their cars, or make do in hostels or short-term hotel rooms. More women live in poverty, and older women are the fastest growing group of people facing the risk of homelessness and presenting to our member services.
“It is important to identify funding opportunities in the Budget. The obvious and yet untapped source is the stamp duty (conveyancing duty) that comes from the increasing value in Tasmania’s housing market, which last year was a windfall of $48.5M more than expected in last year’s Budget, and this year will be $49.9M more than budgeted. The additional stamp duty income can be dedicated to much needed social housing and homelessness services, to build safe, inclusive thriving communities across the state. Every house and every dollar counts when so many people are missing out,” Ms Chugg said.
Of concern in this year’s budget is the low indexation rate of only 2.5%, substantially lower than inflation, and this will impose significant challenges to services over the coming year.
“The housing policies of the new Federal Labor Government elected this week pave the way for new partnerships and efficiencies with the state government in the year ahead. Shelter Tas anticipates opportunities for new social housing supply and home ownership products that will complement the existing programs in Tasmania. We encourage both levels of government to work closely with the community housing providers who will continue to be front and centre of the expansion of affordable rental housing in our state,” Ms Chugg said.
Media release – Kristie Johnston, independent MHR for Clark, 26 May 2022
Comment on State Budget
You don’t have to look far past the glossy brochures and government rhetoric to see that this budget does very little for homeless, vulnerable and socially isolated Tasmanians. Those that live week-to-week and often don’t know if there’s a bed for them or a meal at the end of the day.
There’s nothing to get excited about if you are:
· Trapped in the private rental market
· On the housing waiting list
· On the hospital waiting list
· Trying to find a GP
· Trying to see a dentist
· Need additional support for your children at school or learning from home
The challenge of properly funding community services over the long-term remains. As I pointed out in parliament today, Community service organisations play a crucial role keeping people safe, supporting people through hardship, and ultimately helping communities thrive.
Organisations like St Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army, City Mission, Loaves and Fishers and many more are stretched beyond their limits. They have more and more people seeking help who are crumbling under the cost of living pressures. They tell me that their emergency food reserves are exhausted, blankets and clothing stocks are running low and workers and volunteers are at their wits end. There’s not much in the budget for these groups.
I accept that budgets are about priorities. There is no magic pudding, so the government has to put its money – our money – where it can do the most good for the most people.
I don’t see this budget doing that.
Media release – Tasmanian Small Business Council, 26 May 2022
No Surprise Budget Provides a Steady Hand
Today’s budget handed down by the Tasmanian Treasurer Hon Michael Ferguson, provides consolidation in key areas of health and housing and an air of quiet confidence as we all regroup from the COVID crunch.
Ongoing support for the Small Business Advice and Financial Guidance Program is welcomed, but its lack of any substantial funding through the forward estimates is of concern.
No big surprises and some solid investment in emerging small business opportunities with the investments into the Science, Technology, Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries.
In addition, ongoing support for round three of the Advanced Manufacturing Accelerating Growth Grant program opening in August will encourage Tasmanian entrepreneurs to continue to do business in Tasmania. Already delivering in excess of $2.2M investment into the Tasmanian economy and an estimated 40 jobs, this hi tech sector will continue to grow our knowledge base.
A new focus on school years 9-12 in vocational education through the establishment of a fit for purpose RTO will go some way to ensuring that the Tasmanian trades sector will have access to job ready workers committed to their sector. This will lead to less early employment angst for enterprise owners and a more streamlined experience for all in the new look TasTAFE operating environment. They are the tradies of the future and we need them and their employers operating on all cylinders.
Media release – Mental Health Council of Tasmania, 26 May 2022
Strategy needed to address mental health workforce shortages
Following Thursday’s State Budget announcement, the Mental Health Council of Tasmania (MHCT) has welcomed the Government’s continued investment in the mental health and wellbeing of Tasmanians, but warns that more needs to be done to address workforce shortages across the state’s mental health sector.
As part of their submission to this budget, MHCT recommended dedicated resourcing to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of an upskilled and responsive workforce that meets the mental health needs of all Tasmanians, regardless of whether they live in urban, rural or remote areas of the state.
“While we welcome the initiatives announced today, we are concerned that many of them will be unachievable unless we can address the existing workforce challenges that we’re seeing right across the mental health sector,” said MHCT CEO, Connie Digolis.
“We are already hearing from our members of their struggle to recruit and retain qualified mental health workers needed to meet demand. So while these new initiatives announced today, as well as those recently announced as part of the bilateral agreement are great, they won’t mean anything if we don’t have the skilled workforce to deliver them.”
MHCT’s proposal recommends the appointment of a Community Mental Health Workforce Coordinator to implement an integrated workforce strategy involving community, public, primary, and private mental health service providers across the state.
In addition, MHCT has also called for a Mental Health Professional Development Fund, which would ensure the continuous improvement of a contemporary and responsive mental health workforce that meets the needs of Tasmanians.
MHCT CEO, Connie Digolis, said that a multi-faceted approach was needed to meet current and future workforce demands.
“Attracting people from outside of the state is one piece of the puzzle, though this presents a number of challenges given similar shortages of qualified mental health workers across the country. At the same time, we must also look at ways to upskill our current workforce, and attract new people from outside of the sector and ensure that there are a range of suitable training and professional development options available to them.”
Media release – Unions Tasmania, 26 May 2022
State Budget response
The Rockliff Ferguson Liberal Government have delivered their first budget and if Tasmanian workers were hoping to see action on wages or job security, they will be sorely disappointed.
Tasmania is in the grip of a cost-of-living crisis and while the Treasurer’s speech is full of detail on the spiralling living costs facing Tasmanians, it doesn’t outline a single Government initiative that will help get wages moving.
Worse still, the forecast pay rise for public sector workers (inclusive of all allowances and other conditions) is a mere 2.5% which will see essential workers across the entire public service experience a real wage cut with Tasmanian inflation running at 5.8%.
“Tasmania has some of the lowest wages in the country and some of the highest levels of workforce casualisation,” said Unions Tasmania Secretary, Jessica Munday. “To suggest that we’re going to address rising cost of living pressures without delivering wage growth for workers is fantasy and will put a handbrake on our local economy as workers continue to tighten their purse strings just to afford to pay for essentials.”
“This sends a signal to the entire private sector that low ball wage offers are acceptable when they absolutely are not. There will be no relief from the cost-of-living crisis without a decent wage rise,” said Ms Munday.
This year’s budget also includes a welcome Gender Budget Statement which aims to highlight how the State Budget will target areas of inequality facing women, men, and gender diverse Tasmanians but it does not once mention the gender pay gap or any action to target lifting women’s wages.
“The gender pay gap is the biggest barrier to women achieving economic security, now and in retirement. Having a Gender Budget Statement without any action on this critical issue shows the Government is still behind the eight ball when it comes to addressing gender equity at work,” said Ms Munday.
Media release – Youth Network of Tasmania, 26 July 2022
State Budget
YNOT CEO Tania Hunt:
- We are pleased the Rockliff Government is backing Tasmania’s children and young people in today’s budget.
- We are especially pleased to see funding for young people aged 18-25 years as they transition to adulthood. This funding is the next step in appropriately responding to the unique needs of this group and will ensure they are not left behind as they move towards independence in our COVID affected world.
- This group is often lost as they transition from services aimed at children to services built for adults and we’re looking forward to speaking with young Tasmanians aged 18 to 25 years to develop appropriate supports so they can go out into the world and live the lives they want to.
- This funding is in addition to that already promised to resource the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy Action Plan and the substantial funding announced on Tuesday for Safeguarding Officers in our schools, which we also welcome.
Please refer to YNOT’s Budget Priorities Statement 22/23 for more details.
Media release – Australian Education Union Tasmania Branch, 26 May 2022
Budget a broken promise for Tasmanian schools
A failure to invest in additional teachers and teacher assistants leaves Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s promise to lead the country in education broken and students falling behind.
Tasmania’s public students, schools and colleges are facing growing pressure to catch up on learning following COVID-19 disruptions, but the State Budget delivered no additional resources to make schools COVID-safe and deliver catch-up learning for students who have missed classes or suffered from teacher shortages.
The Australian Education Union Tasmania Branch presented solutions to teacher shortages and catch-up work following COVID-19 disruptions with 18 ‘Lifting Learning Priorities’ for the 2022-23 State Budget, but State Manager Brian Wightman said too many had been ignored.
Mr Wightman said experienced teachers were being lost due to excessive workload amid a chronic statewide teacher shortage and student learning conditions would worsen unless solutions were supported.
“Teacher shortages and a lack of adequate resourcing has added to COVID-19 disruptions and teachers are at breaking point,” he said.
“The Rockliff Government knows the teacher shortage is affecting student learning and more teachers and in-class support are urgently required, but there’s nothing to address this in the budget.”
“Jeremy Rockliff said his Government would make Tasmania a leader in education by 2020, well the time is past and we have a teacher shortage crisis and very little for student learning in this budget.”
Mr Wightman said $33.7 million in cuts to Tasmanian public schools from the Morrison Government’s Budget put added pressure on the state’s education Budget.
“Every Tasmanian student is funded $1,289 below the minimum standard and since the Rockliff Government failed to convince the Morrison Government to increase funding, it’s now up to them to ensure every child receives 100 percent of the minimum funding they need, currently a 10 per cent increase.”
The Education Union’s ‘Lifting Learning Priorities’ for the State Budget addressed staff shortages and improvements to student learning, including reduced class sizes, and more support for new educators.
The Rockliff Government’s Budget commitment to Safeguarding Children and Young People was welcomed by the Australian Education Union, but Mr Wightman said student learning was what an Education Budget should be judged on.
“We welcome the funding to ensure the recommendations of the 2021 Independent Inquiry can be implemented, including additional school psychologists and social workers,” Mr Wightman said.
“What is missing is the additional teachers and teacher assistants to address the current staffing crisis and deliver on Mr Rockliff’s promise to make Tasmania a leader in education.”
Media release – Australian Education Union Tasmania Branch, 27 May 2022
Tas Budget shock – cuts to public school funding, buildings and TAFE
Deeper analysis of the Tasmanian State Budget reveals shocking cuts to public schools, school infrastructure and TasTAFE.
With costs rising above five per cent, public school funding gets a cut in real terms at a time when every Tasmanian public school is underfunded 9 per cent below the minimum standard required.
The Schooling Resource Standard is the minimum funding each student needs, enshrined in the federal Education Act, and increased each year to match rising costs.
The Australian Education Union is concerned funding cuts to public schools in real terms means the gap between what public schools receive and the minimum standard will grow, and student learning will suffer.
“School funding must keep up with rising costs or it’s a cut in real terms,” said Australian Education Union Tasmania State Manager Brian Wightman.
“Real funding cuts to every public school and college when students are already suffering from a teacher shortage and a lack of in-class support is a disgrace.”
Inflation is tipped to reach 6 per cent, but the State Budget increases school funding by less than four per cent per year on average.
Rising student enrolment numbers will mean even less funding per student.
At the same time public school funding is cut in real terms, private school funding increases at five per cent per year on average – a continuing trend of public funding favouring private schools which are already funded above the minimum standard.
The budget surpluses projected in the forward estimates not only depend on real wage cuts for teachers, teacher assistants, principals, nurses and other public servants – they come from severe cuts to school infrastructure investment and TasTAFE funding.
There is an $8 million cut to TasTAFE funding in 2025, reducing grants to Tasmania’s public vocational education and training provider to below pre-COVID levels, a dramatic cut in real terms.
“Cutting funding to TasTAFE and forcing the organisation to run at a loss is just the latest attack on Tasmania’s TAFE from a Liberal Government that seems hell-bent on undermining quality education and training,” said Mr Wightman.
“It’s shortsighted, as cutting TasTAFE will hurt our economy, as well as people who will be forced to pay more or miss out.”
School infrastructure funding falls off a cliff in the second half of the budget, from $95 million in 2023-24 to just $24 million in 2025-26, a $71 million cut.
“Does Premier Rockliff suppose classrooms will not need to be renewed and no buildings will need replacing in two years’ time?” asked Mr Wightman.
“A surplus at the expense of Tasmanian students and their learning environments is a shameful failure from the new Liberal leadership team.”
Media release – Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council Tasmania, 27 May 2022
State Budget stifles reform in community alcohol and other drug sector
Tasmania’s community-managed alcohol, tobacco and other drugs services have once again walked away from the annual State Budget questioning what more they can do to garner additional investment from the Tasmanian Government to reduce the harm of alcohol and other drugs in the community.
Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council Tasmania chief executive Alison Lai said that they were shocked at the absence of additional funding to support new initiatives for community-managed alcohol and other drug services.
“This was clearly a budget that didn’t want to upset anyone, by ensuring that community-managed organisations who were already receiving funding continued to do so,” Ms Lai said.
“Ensuring the ongoing funding of services is essential, but the lack of clear commitments to new initiatives has literally left us scratching our heads.
“Our organisation and our members have been working tirelessly with government over the past 12 -24 months, to progress a number of new initiatives that everyone agrees will strengthen the quality of, and access to information and services across the state.
“This includes the introduction of peer workers to support Tasmanians who chose to seek help, and the introduction of a data sharing system that our members have been working on alongside government for the past year.
“These requests were exceptionally reasonable and both of these projects align with the priorities of the Tasmanian Government’s Reform Agenda for the Alcohol and Other Drug Sector.
“To see the data project abandoned is particularly devastating and confusing as it was going resolve the long-standing issue of the lack of data that the government can access to inform their decision making on how to respond to drug use in the community.
“While there is reference to peer workers in the budget papers, there is no firm commitment to the level of investment which is equally frustrating.”
Ms Lai said that their members were feeling fatigued and frustrated at the painfully slow progress that the Tasmanian Government is making in the implementation of their Reform Agenda.
“The Tasmanian Government announced funding for the Reform Agenda almost two years ago, but very little progress has occurred”, she said.
“This causes increased frustration when initiatives are presented by the community-managed sector that align to reform priorities, but they don’t get supported.
“Our sector is ready to go, but this budget unfortunately communicates that the government is still not ready to move forward with us.
“We are a resilient sector, and we must be because Tasmanians from all walks of life use drugs and we must do more to reduce the harm and ensure support is available if people chose to seek it.”
Ms Lai said that they will try to salvage the data sharing project, and seek clarity on whether the peer worker project will proceed.
“We will also be turning our minds to the 2023-24 State Budget, in the knowledge that the government has previously committed to the funding establishment of an independent organisation to represent Tasmanians with a lived experience of alcohol and other drugs next year,” she said.
“This is the number one priority in the Tasmanian Government’s Reform Agenda, it is the number one priority for our members and it is imperative that this additional investment is secured.”
