Hickey Proposes Parliamentary Budget Office

Media release – Independent Clark candidate Sue Hickey, 4 March 2024

Parliamentary Budget Office needed

Independent Clark candidate Sue Hickey has called for the establishment of a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) to provide credible economic advice to Members of Parliament and to avoid the fanciful claims and rubbery figures thrown around at election time.

Ms Hickey said a PBO staffed by independent researchers would accurately cost policy ideas and report on spending and revenue. It would research budgetary matters for all Members of Parliament and the information would not be biased to suit the Government of the day or any political party.

She said Tasmanians would be alarmed at the wild and costly promises being made by the political parties and the billions of dollars of taxpayers’ funds they are proposing to spend, just to buy votes.

“They claim they are being budgeted, but because the promises are not independently costed, we don’t know the true figure and that’s just the way the parties want it.

“For instance, the Government may claim that Treasury has looked over its proposals, but I’ve yet to meet a Treasury Department that has disputed its Government party’s costings.

“In caretaker mode, the Government has the advantage of holding onto the Treasury and with only a couple of weeks to go until the polling date, there is no opportunity for proper, independent scrutiny.

“The Opposition parties are also throwing around money wildly and can basically claim anything with regard to costings.

“Independent candidates are not provided with resources, so the parties are not held to account. The big question must be, where is the money coming from?”

Ms Hickey said because of the Liberal Government’s profligate spending and poor financial management, Tasmania was running a serious budget deficit, but it won’t be until after the election that electors get more detailed information on what each party has promised and the true cost to the budget.

“Our tax base is narrow. We spend more on education to get the worst results but, spend significantly less than the other states on health to have the poorest outcomes, so more funding is certainly needed.

“But with the parties’ reckless spending promises and pork-barrelling, Tasmania could be heading for the edge of a fiscal cliff.

“Of course, based on history, many of these promises simply won’t be delivered or delayed and the costs pushed out, but the risk is still extremely serious.”

Ms Hickey said the time for financial honesty and disclosure was well-past.

“We need much more accountability and transparency around the management and spending of public funds and the establishment of an independent Parliamentary Budget Office to advise all parliamentarians would be one step towards achieving this.”