Government Advances Reforms While Opposition Alleges Broken Promises

Media release – Jo Palmer, Minister for Education, 9 September 2025

Next step in improving student outcomes

The Tasmanian Government is taking strong action to improve student outcomes by delivering significant reform.

Tasmania’s Lifting Literacy reforms are delivering strong results to improve student outcomes across the State.

As part of the next phase of the Government’s ongoing commitment to lift student outcomes, a trial of Multi-School Organisations will begin in 2026, delivering on a key recommendation of the Independent Education Review.

Multi-School Organisations unite families of schools under one leadership team, allowing schools to share resources, lesson plans, behaviour plans and other services, helping teachers and leaders consistently improve student outcomes.

Minister for Education, Jo Palmer, said this Liberal Government is delivering for Tasmania, for students, for teachers and for families by backing the bold reform, to improve student outcomes.

“We want every Tasmanian child and young person to get the best possible start in life through world-class education, and we are supporting our teachers and school leaders to make that happen,” Palmer said.

“That’s why we’re announcing a nation-leading Multi-School Organisations trial that will transform teaching and support across our government schools, to uplift results for every student.

“Three Tasmanian schools have volunteered to take part in the trial, with New Town Primary, Moonah Primary and Risdon Vale Primary to launch the first Multi-School Organisation from Term 1, 2026.”

The five-year adaptive trial is being delivered in partnership with McKinnon, an independent not-for-profit organisation with deep expertise in Multi-School Organisation design, along with expert input from the Grattan Institute.

The trial will be independently evaluated and refined throughout to ensure success for Tasmanian schools and communities.

All schools not yet part of the Multi-School Organisations trial will be grouped under dedicated executive leadership from Term 1, 2026.

This structure will allow all schools across the state to benefit from closer leadership and support from 2026.

“We are continuing to build strong foundations so that every child in Tasmania – no matter their school – can thrive, supported by quality teaching and strong school communities,” Palmer said.

Media release – Jo Palmer, Minister for Children and Youth, 7 September 2025

National Child Protection Week 2025 – Every Conversation Matters

This year’s National Child Protection Week shines a spotlight on the power of everyday conversations to help keep children and young people safe and well.

Minister for Children and Youth, Jo Palmer, said the 2025 theme – Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action – reinforces the vital role every member of the community plays in supporting the safety and wellbeing of children.

“Conversations are powerful. They can be difficult, but they can be life changing,” Palmer said.

“They can help us understand issues, challenge norms, find solutions, and create opportunities to reach families that need support.

“All children and young people in Tasmania deserve to be well and to feel safe, and that’s why every conversation matters.

“By speaking up and telling someone when you have concerns and by knowing what to look for, we can all work together to ensure that children and young people are safe.

“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our wonderful Child Safety, Out of Home Care and ARL staff across Tasmania for the incredible contributions they make, every day, to support and uplift children and young people and their families in our communities.

“Their enduring passion and commitment to what we know is highly complex and very difficult work, is deeply valued and does not go unnoticed.

“Thank you, for the difference you are all making.”

National Child Protection Week encourages all Australians to learn more about the signs of child abuse and neglect, and to work together to intervene.

It runs from 7-13 September and is coordinated by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN).

Now in its 30th year, NAPCAN has championed child safety as a collective community responsibility.

Anyone with a concern about the safety and wellbeing of a child should contact the Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123.

Media release – Eric Abetz MP, Leader of the House, 8 September 2025

Ambitious agenda to deliver for Tasmanians

The Tasmanian Government is getting on with the job to deliver for Tasmania.

Leader of the House, Eric Abetz, said the Government has an ambitious legislative agenda for the 52nd Parliament.

“We will be delivering an interim 2025-26 Budget, continuing with the process for the Macquarie Point Stadium, and of course, carrying on with important reforms from the previous Parliament, such as our Pets in Rentals legislation,” Abetz said.

“There is plenty of work to do to continue building a better health system, deliver more homes, lift education outcomes, keep cost of living down and keep our economy strong.

“We’ve already got the ball rolling to triple First Home Owner Grants to $30,000, along with extending tax rebates for apprentices – and we have lots more to do.

“We are working together with the crossbench and listening to their ideas, as well as views across the whole community, to ensure we can spend the next four years taking Tasmania forward.

“Just as we said we would – our Government is getting on with the job.”

Media release – Eric Abetz MP, Leader of the House, 7 September 2025

Update on the 2025-26 Budget

The Tasmanian Government will deliver an interim State Budget in November.

Treasurer Eric Abetz said due to the shortening of the customary six-month timeframe to prepare a budget to two months, the 2025-26 Budget will, by necessity, be an interim budget.

“The interim budget will ensure essential funding continues until the full budget is handed down in May next year, enabling the continued provision of essential services to the Tasmanian community, Treasurer Abetz said.

“It will not be the same Budget presented to Parliament earlier this year and not all previously committed funding will be included.

“Budget repair measures already underway will continue, including the productivity and efficiency measures along with the state service non-essential hiring freeze.

“Our Government is serious about budget repair, and we are committed to working across the Parliament as we prepare for the 2026-27 Budget.

“Our Multi-Partisan Budget Consultation Panel has met three times, and we thank Members of Parliament for their collaborative approach.

“We are delivering for Tasmania by using commonsense and compassion to deal with challenges.

“The truncated timeframe to prepare this year’s Budget means that additional budget repair measures will be worked through as we develop next year’s budget.”

The 2025-26 Budget papers will be presented in a streamlined form, reflecting the nature of the interim budget.

Budget figures by output group will remain as in prior papers to enable proper Parliamentary scrutiny.

Media release –  Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister for Environment, 7 September 2025

Further protecting our threatened species

Tasmanians National Threatened Species Day is an important reminder to celebrate, protect and work together to recover the species and habitats most in need of support.

Minister for Environment, Madeleine Ogilvie, said the Tasmanian Government is reviewing Tasmania’s Threatened Species Strategy.

“The review of the Strategy reached a milestone this week with the release of the Threatened Species Strategy Discussion Paper ‘What we heard’ consultation report,” Ogilvie said.

“The ‘What we heard’ consultation report summarises the perspectives provided during consultation on the ‘Developing a new Threatened Species Strategy for Tasmania’ Discussion Paper.

“This feedback has directly informed the development of a draft Strategy and Implementation Plan that will be released for consultation in coming months.

“There are challenges and opportunities for threatened species management in Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government will continue to work together with the community to move our State forward in this area.”

Since the release of the Discussion Paper, a range of actions have been progressed to support the development of a draft Strategy and Implementation Plan.

This has included the establishment of the Threatened Species Fund, with $8 million provided over four years for conservation activities.

Further consultation on proposed directions and priorities will continue over the coming months, with the Threatened Species Strategy and foundational Implementation Plan expected to be finalised next year.

The Threated Species Strategy Discussion Paper ‘What we heard’ report can be found on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website.

Media release – Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister for Environment, 5 September 2025

Grants bolster waste recovery efforts

A total of $2.3 million will be provided to infrastructure projects to support the waste and resource recovery sector in Tasmania.

Minister for Environment Madeleine Ogilvie said the Tasmanian Government was reinvesting the landfill levy via grants which provide support to businesses and councils so valuable resources are diverted from landfill.

“Our Government is delivering a range of projects in the pipeline that will make a difference for Tasmanians and which support a circular economy, science and innovation,” Ogilvie said.

“The grants form part of the Tasmanian Government and the Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board’s support for the waste and resource recovery sector in Tasmania.

“We are working together to move our State forward and these grants continue to be rolled out, supporting the upgrade of facilities, purchase of specialist equipment and collection services.”

The second round of the High Priority Infrastructure Grants Program opened for applications earlier this year, following the success of the first round of grants in 2024.

High Priority Infrastructure Grants Round 2 was open to applicants that currently operate a Tasmanian waste and resource recovery facility that receives more than 1000 tonnes of material per year.

The following nine successful applicants will receive grants from $50,000 to $500,000:

Central Coast Council – for a plant and infrastructure upgrade of the Lobster Creek Resource Recovery Centre;
George Town Council – to establish a tip shop at the George Town Waste Transfer Station;
Meander Valley Council – to establish a community recycling centre at the Deloraine Waste Transfer Station;
Cradle Coast Envirowaste Pty Ltd – for a vacuum truck waste resource recovery system;
Southern Waste Solutions – for a resource processing pilot project;
Horticultural and Landscape Supplies – for food and garden organics processing equipment;
Huon Valley Council – to establish a permanent reuse shop at the Cygnet Waste Transfer Station;
Mornington Park Waste Transfer Station Pty Ltd – for a trailer to enable a new food and garden organics collection service; and
Launceston City Council – to establish a new food organics collection service for businesses and other commercial organisations.

Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board Chair Pam Allan said she was thrilled to be jointly announcing the successful applicants from this round of the Board’s High Priority Infrastructure Program.

“Each of these grants is a step toward a circular Tasmanian economy—where products are designed to stay in use, repaired when possible, and recycled into new materials here at home,” Allan said.

“By moving decisively up the waste hierarchy, we’re backing the sector with the infrastructure, systems and partnerships it needs to grow new industries, build regional jobs and reduce product and material losses to landfill.

“This is about future-proofing Tasmania: reliable recovery infrastructure today, and the foundations for local remanufacturing and innovation tomorrow.”

A full list of successful applicants is available on the Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board website.

Media release – Josh Willie MP, Labor Leader, 9 September 2025

Secret cuts confirmed – more broken promises to come

Since the election, the Liberals have shown that their word isn’t worth the paper it’s written on, when they broke key promises with industries to form government with the support of the Greens.

Today, it has been confirmed that budget promises made by the Government to Tasmanians are also up in the air – with Treasurer Eric Abetz refusing to be upfront about which services he plans to cut in his interim budget.

Treasurer Abetz has spoken at length about the need for transparency and collaboration on the budget, yet he seems happy to keep Tasmanian workers and community organisations in the dark until November.

Tasmanians are already paying the price for this Government’s budget mismanagement through our stretched health and education systems, and a lack of affordable housing.

The Treasurer’s words today will trigger many sleepless nights ahead for community organisations across Tasmania wondering whether they will be the latest casualty of this Government’s inability to manage Tasmania’s finances.

Media release – Josh Willie MP, Labor Leader, 7 September 2025

Real opposition ready to hold Liberal-Green Government to account

As we enter the first sitting week of Tasmania’s 52nd parliament, Labor stands ready to hold the minority Liberal-Green Government to account as the real opposition.

Being a strong opposition is Labor’s first responsibility to Tasmanians. It’s how we can help drive more jobs and opportunities and improvement to core Labor areas of health, housing and education. With the Greens and Independents voting to support the Liberals, this role is more important than ever.

Since becoming leader I’ve made a point of highlighting the fact that I will be respectful of all members of parliament. I want to see a new style of politics where Tasmanians are put first.

But that doesn’t mean I will shy away from calling a spade a spade, or highlighting when Tasmanians have been let down.

It’s a fact that Premier Jeremy Rockliff broke key promises with industries to make new promises with the Greens and crossbenchers. He let down countless Tasmanian families, and he demonstrated that his word is not worth the paper it’s written on.

At a time when trust in elected representatives is at an all-time low, the Premier’s actions have eroded it even further. He’s severely damaged business and investment confidence, and I won’t allow his actions to go unchallenged.

The Premier still hasn’t been upfront about business-case or modelling behind his TasInsure promise, despite countless experts raising the alarm about the damage it will do the state’s dire financial position.

Tasmanians are already paying the price for the Liberals’ budget mismanagement through our stretched health and education systems, and a lack of affordable housing.

We can’t afford for the Premier’s empty promises to make matters worse, which is why we’ll be prosecuting all these issues and more in the upcoming parliament.

I want to see a Tasmania where we have a strong economy, good schools, accessible healthcare and safe housing for all, and my Labor team won’t stop working hard to achieve that.

Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader 7 September 2025

NSW National Park Decision Shows Our Forests Are Worth More Standing

The Tasmanian Greens welcome the NSW Government’s decision to finally create a Great Koala National Park. It shows they recognise native forests, with the endangered species they contain, have more value standing than being logged and burned. With Western Australia, Victoria and now NSW ending native forest logging in threatened species’ habitat areas, it is past time for Tasmania to do the same.

The Greens salute the community and environmental groups, and our NSWs’ colleagues, who have fought long and hard for this win.

Tasmania’s State of the Environment Report, published last year, called for more land reserves to protect the habitat of threatened and endangered species such as the swift parrot, masked owl and Tasmanian devil. The Liberal Government has so far refused to accept that recommendation.

The first and easiest action for this Liberal Government would be to permanently end the logging of native forests, protect the giant levels of carbon they store, and the animals and plants they contain.

The Greens know Tasmanians would welcome the creation of new national parks, or an extension to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Tasmania has so many special, still unprotected places – from the north-east highlands, the great southern forests, Takayna and the Spero-Wanderer Wilderness – with habitat for critically endangered and threatened species.

Just as existing national parks do, these world-class forests can become protected landscapes that would bring long-term social benefits for all Tasmanians, and enable our precious species to thrive for future generations.

Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Environment spokesperson, 7 September 2025

Threatened Species Day – A Time To Reflect

Today the Greens mark National Threatened Species Day, a yearly reminder of why we do the work we do to protect the environment that nurtures us, places that should be home to an abundance of remarkable species.

Sadly, more and more species are being driven towards the precipice by the actions of our government. Just as the flowering blue gums herald the return of the ever-dwindling numbers of swift parrots to breed, we continue to fight state-sanctioned habitat destruction in the form of native forest logging.

Our waterways are groaning under the pressures of industrial fish farming, risking the existence of the Maugean skate, a species that has called Macquarie Harbour home since the age of the dinosaurs. And the iconic red handfish clings to life in a small pocket of Fredrick Henry Bay, while the salmon industry seeks to expand into neighbouring Storm Bay.

Despite the warnings laid bare recently in the State of the Environment Report decisions are still being made at federal and state level that puts industry first and nature last. The approval of the Robbins Island wind farm puts at risk the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot along with the last disease-free population of Tasmanian devils. Not to mention the tens-of-thousands of migratory shorebirds that visit Pilitika / Robbins Island.

All over our Lutruwita / Tasmania there are threats to fragile populations of wildlife and today the Greens commit to redoubling our efforts to fight for their future.

Tasmania’s wildlife is unique and special, we have done so much damage to their habitat and therefore their future, we call on the Liberal government to implement every recommendation of the State of the Environment Report, which means we must learn more about the threats, secure habitat in formal reserves and manage the waste from our activities so it doesn’t foul our land and waterways.

From the forests of giant kelp, the saltmashes, rainforests, heathlands, lakes and rivers, mountains, beaches and bays – the Greens celebrate all the creatures that need these places to be healthy and thriving – may every species come back from the brink and be no longer threatened.

Media release – Tabatha Badger MP, Greens Primary Industries spokesperson, 7 September 2025

Greens Call For Marinus River Flow Assessment To Be Made Public

While the Liberals have tabled their economic assessment for Marinus, the critical environmental river flow assessments are still not public.

Tasmania’s rivers are quite literally the lifeline of our communities and are an integral ecosystem of their own. River health is of vital importance.

Changes to flow rates occur when hydro water is, or is not, released to generate power on demand. It has a heavy impact on our rivers and Tasmanians want to know what those changes will look like under Marinus. What measures will be put in place to ensure the health of our rivers?

In 2001, prior to Bass Link coming online, a large study was undertaken on major river systems in the state to assess the impacts. We must see an equally in-depth report on what river flows will look like under Marinus to help prevent future problems like these.

The 2024 State of Environment report showed Tasmania’s river health is in decline, yet instead of taking responsibility and acting to restore them, the Government has walked away. The absence of a river flow assessment report is further proof of their neglect.

River flow knowledge is essential, not only for the environment but also for the state’s economy. Landowners and primary producers rely on consistent flow rates for irrigation and drinking water, while recreational users and tourism operators need clear information about when waterways are safe or unsafe to use.

Just as a ferry needs a port, rivers need water flow. It would be an unforgivable failure if the Liberal Government signed off on Marinus without first conducting a proper environmental flow assessment of Tasmania’s precious rivers

The Liberals must make the river flow assessment for Marinus public as a matter of urgent public transparency.

Media release – Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 8 September 2025

Interim budget a chance for Government to show budget restraint

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the Government to use November’s interim budget as an opportunity to show restraint on spending rather than turning to new or increased taxes.

TCCI Chief Executive Officer Michael Bailey said Tasmanian households and businesses are already carrying significant cost pressures and cannot afford higher taxes.

“Tasmania’s economy needs confidence and stability right now, not new taxes,” Bailey said.

“Government must focus on getting its own spending under control. Every dollar spent should be directed at delivering real outcomes for the community, not propping up a bloated bureaucracy and the cross bench needs to understand that too.”

Mr Bailey said businesses understand the challenges of balancing a budget under difficult circumstances but warned against short-term fixes that would undermine long-term growth.

“Just as businesses have to make tough decisions about how they allocate scarce resources, Government must also be disciplined in how it spends taxpayers’ money,” he said.

“Resorting to more revenue-raising will only make it harder for businesses to invest and employ, which in turn risks slowing the very growth needed to repair the budget.”

TCCI has consistently called for a focus on efficiency and productivity in government spending.

“The best way to get Tasmania’s budget back on track is to support private sector investment and jobs growth,” Bailey said.

“That requires a steady hand on government finances, not knee-jerk revenue measures that hurt business confidence.”

Mr Bailey said the business community would be looking closely at the November budget to see a clear commitment to fiscal discipline and a long-term plan for economic sustainability.

Tasmanian Times (TT) is a community-based news and current affairs service covering the island state of Tasmania. It exists to provide a diverse presentation of Tasmanian issues. TT creates and supports independent media content utilising the best of modern technologies and tried-and-true practices of public-interest journalism.

Support us in expanding our coverage and developing new content by and for Tasmanians. 

 New initiatives on the way include … what our contributors and readers suggest! Please get in touch with your suggestions.