Media release – Andrew Jenner, Jacqui Lambie Network Member for Lyons, 20 September 2024
ANDREW JENNER RESPONSE TO THE BUDGET
The Jacqui Lambie Network Member for Lyons, Andrew Jenner, has told parliament that he cannot support the Rockliff/Ferguson budget because it’s incredibly reckless and completely irresponsible.
Mr Jenner told the House of Assembly: “The state’s finances read like an accounting shambles, with spending far outstripping revenue. The Rockliff government has been attempting to paper over the cracks by spending beyond its means, particularly on infrastructure projects where Mr Eslake says we have heroically embarked on the biggest infrastructure splurge in relation to the productive capacity of the economy anywhere in the country.
“I will not be supporting a budget which allocates hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars for a stadium at the expense of other priorities which will have a far bigger impact on the lives of everyday Tasmanians.”
Mr Jenner made it abundantly clear that Tasmania can no longer afford to continue to fund the Liberal governments spending spree, particularly when it comes to non-essential infrastructure projects and unfunded election commitments.
“One of the many disturbing elements of the Eslake Report is his finding that unfunded election commitments have been a significant contributor to the deterioration in Tasmania’s fiscal position since 2018.
“There are no mandatory regulations, legislation, or policies about how Tasmanian Ministers manage grants – including those they pledge during an election campaign.
“The Integrity Commission said the selection process fell far short of good management principles of accountability, openness, fairness and value for money because there were no identified objectives, there were no selection criteria, there was no application process, the grants were not publicly advertised or competitive, they did not identify decision makers, and there was no public record of how or why recipients were chosen.”
Mr Jenner asked for the Integrity’s Commission 2022 recommendations to be implemented before the next election. “We made that a condition of any new deal for confidence and supply, but the Premier rejected it out of hand. That is why I won’t sign an agreement.
“In other words, the Liberal party wants to continue to be free to put party political interests before the public interest in the distribution of public money.”
It is the role of the cross bench to hold the government accountable and to ensure that it remains transparent.
Mr Jenner stated “Tasmanians voted in one of the largest cross benches this state has ever seen. They wanted a more transparent and accountable government.
There needs to be significant changes before the next election to ensure governments can no longer push through their vote buying schemes at the expense of every Tasmanian taxpayer.”
