A tumultuous day in the Tasmanian Parliament has seen the Labor Opposition’s Budget Reply delivered and a mooted no-confidence motion in Liberal minority government getting mixed support.
Labor Leader said his plan was different to the Government’s proposed “fire sale of the assets we’ve built together over the past 100 years” to cover ballooning deficits.
He said his party wants to modernise Tasmanian schools, hospitals and public services.
Shadow Treasurer noted the possibility of a credit rating downgrade which would cause further debt pain for the state.
“The interest payments on the Liberal legacy debt will reach $650 million per year, more than $2 billion across the forward estimates – and that won’t even start to pay it down,” he said. “A credit rating downgrade will push the interest bill on the Premier’s record debt even higher.”
Despite being urged by leading economists to raise more revenue, Treasurer Guy Barnett immediately invoked the tax bogeyman and criticised the Winter plan for wanting to raise certain levies. Barnett also repeated the misleading claim that his Budget outlines a path to surplus; last week prominent economist Saul Eslake stated in an interview that it simply didn’t.
Leader of the House of Assembly Eric Abetz criticised the Winter response for not having prepared an alternative Budget. The Greens usually do prepare their own version of the Budget and are likely to release it this week.
Winter has drafted a no-confidence motion in the Government and Premier Jeremy Rockliff, saying he would bring it on if there was support from the crossbench.
Kristie Johnston (independent, Clark) accepted the challenge, saying that the motion ‘had merit’ and the Government needed to be held for account.
Johnston supported the motion’s condemnation of “long-term damage to Tasmania due to serious mismanagement of the budget, the lack of support for the privatisation of public assets, and the serious inability of this government to deliver major projects.”
Northerners Miriam Beswick (independent, Braddon) and Rebekah Pentland (independent, Bass) however indicated they are not up for a fight.
“Tabling a no-confidence motion but not bringing it on is the Labor Leader trying to have his cake and eat it too,” said Beswick. “Labor hasn’t shown it’s genuinely interested in collaboration and has not yet proven it’s ready to govern.”
“On the state’s most controversial issue, the stadium, Dean Winter is on a unity ticket with the Government,” said Pentland. “The Opposition’s good at throwing rocks but it’s yet to present a clear vision for the state.”
Meanwhile the Government has launched an advertising blitz (see below) on the ‘Young Liberal Times’, also known as Pulse.
Unlike Pulse, Tasmanian Times is proudly independent and does not accept advertising direct from political parties nor politically-themed advertisements from the Tasmanian Government.
Pulse has also been the recipient of a Tasmanian Government business development grant. Tasmanian Times neither applies for nor accepts Government handouts that may compromise our independent reporting.
Tasmanian Times has received numerous complaints from private artists about Pulse appropriating the work of photographers with neither permission nor compensation and is investigating.
Media release – Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader, 3 June 2025
Tasmania needs change
The Labor Party has changed under my leadership.
Tasmanians have a choice between a minority Liberal government that’s given up, or a Labor Party with a plan to deliver the change Tasmania needs.
Between a Premier who has delivered the three worst fiscal deficits in Tasmania’s history, and whose only plan to fix it is a fire sale of the assets we’ve built together over the past 100 years, or a changed Labor Party with a real plan for budget repair.
A minority Liberal government that’s cost 7,000 Tasmanians their full-time job, or a Labor Party that’s focused on its fundamental purpose of creating safe, secure, well-paid jobs.
A minority government that oversaw the biggest infrastructure stuff up in history, or a Labor Party that’s proudly pro-development and has a plan to get Tasmania building again.
A minority government that’s broken its biggest promises on health and education and now wants to sack two and a half thousand workers. Or a Labor Party with a plan to modernise our schools, hospitals and public services.
More of the same, or an ambitious plan for change – that’s the choice for Tasmania.
Dean Winter’s budget reply is available here.
Media release – Josh Willie MP, Shadow Treasurer, 3 June 2025
Credit rating downgrade risk looms large
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has failed to hose down fears that Tasmania’s credit rating will be downgraded following last week’s horror budget.
When asked about the very serious prospect of a downgrade happening following S&P confirming it is actively considering one, the Premier treated it as a joke.
The Premier’s response was further evidence that he has given up trying to manage the budget responsibly.
When the Liberals came to office in 2014, Tasmania had $208 million in the bank. Now, after 11 years of Liberal budget mismanagement, Tasmania is staring down the barrel of almost $11 billion worth of net debt.
The interest payments on the Liberal legacy debt will reach $650 million per year, more than $2 billion across the forward estimates – and that won’t even start to pay it down.
A credit rating downgrade will push the interest bill on the Premier’s record debt even higher.
If the Premier can’t manage the budget, he can’t govern Tasmania.
Media release – Guy Barnett, Treasurer, 3 June 2025
Labor’s Alternative Budget has Tasmanian Tax Targets in its sights
In April 2025, Labor voted to legislate increased taxes.
Four weeks later, the Parliament overwhelmingly voted to call on Labor to produce an alternative Budget to outline these tax increases.
With the release of the 2025-26 Budget, a shocking analysis shows that Labor’s plans would mean Tasmanian taxpayers would pay more than $1.8 million extra in tax each and every day under Labor’s plan.
In fact, Tasmanians would be hit with over $667 million in new taxes in 2025-26.
Treasurer, Guy Barnett, said whether that is land tax, conveyance duties or payroll tax, or motor registration fees, Labor’s planned support for legislating revenue targets will mean that every Tasmanian will have to pay.
“The Tasmanian Government is resolute in its commitment of no new or increased taxes,” the Treasurer said.
“The 2025-26 State Budget clearly shows how it will manage the state’s finances, and its sensible pathway to surplus.
“In contrast, the Labor Party is on the record as voting in favour of legislation mandating ‘Tasmanian Tax Targets’.
“Under Dean Winter and Labor, the following Tasmanians will be subject to increased taxes and fees:
- over $120 million in increased duty hitting our first home buyers and Tasmanian businesses looking for their own commercial premises;
- more than $103 million in motor vehicle registration fees, taxes, and other duties being slugged on families;
- almost $70 million in additional land tax for Tasmanian businesses, renters, investors, and family shack owners; and
- more than $215 million in additional Payroll tax payments hitting businesses, putting countless jobs at risk.
“Tasmanians should be fearful of what Dean Winter’s “Tasmanian Tax Targets” means for them.
“The facts are the Tasmanian Labor Party has voted for higher taxes on Tasmanians.
“They’ve made it clear that they would tax and cut.”
Media release – Eric Abetz, Leader of the House, 3 June 2025
Weak Winter offers Tasmanians nothing
Dean Winter has delivered the worst Budget reply in Tasmania’s history.
Winter’s budget reply was so hollow that it is quicker to outline what it didn’t include. It didn’t include a pathway to surplus, any budget costings, an alternative budget, a vision or a plan.
Labor’s leader is so weak he didn’t even rule out new or increased taxes, but he had time to chastise the crossbench.
But at least, he is proud of himself. Labor will never change.
Labor’s hapless leader is loose with the truth – he can’t even be honest with Tasmanians about where he was born, so how can anyone trust him.
Our Government is building a better Tasmania, now and for the future, while the Labor party talks down investments in our regional communities, fights against keeping Tasmanians employed, and has nothing to offer but negativity.
Media release – Kristie Johnston, independent MHA for Clark, 3 June 2025
‘Every issue on its merits’ – supports Labor’s no-co
After the last election I told my community in Clark I would consider every issue on its merits.
That I would consider three critical things in making any decision.
Is there integrity in what the government is doing?
Is there proper process, transparency and accountability?
Is it in the best interests of Tasmania and does it improve the lives of Tasmanians.
I’ve taken that approach to every decision.
That’s why during this term of Parliament I have supported every no-confidence motion in this government or minister of this government.
Because I have serious concerns about the conduct of this government.
The Opposition Leader has today tabled a no-confidence motion (attached) in the Premier, indicating that he would bring on the motion if he had the support of the crossbench.
I have considered the motion.
It talks about the long-term damage to Tasmania due to serious mismanagement of the budget, the lack of support for the privatisation of public assets, and the serious inability of this government to deliver major projects.
These are concerns of Tasmanians, particularly the people of Clark, who tell me they are sick of this government not listening to them and not listening to the experts.
I have been on the public record a number of times raising these concerns myself.
The no confidence motion has merit and I will be supporting it. This government needs to be held to account and I will not shy away from my responsibility to do just that.
Media release – independent MHAs Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland, 3 June 2025
CHAOS NOT THE ANSWER TO THE STATE’S CHALLENGES
Northern independents Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland remain committed to providing stability to the parliament and the people of Tasmania.
The pair has confirmed they do not support Labor’s tabled no-confidence motion in the Premier.
“We take the supply and confidence agreement we signed very seriously,” Mrs Beswick said.
“It was a commitment to Tasmanians as much as it was an agreement with the Premier. We’ve made our criticisms of the budget and the stadium saga crystal clear, but political chaos is not the answer.”
“It appears the Opposition Leader wants the crossbench to do his dirty work.
“Tabling a no-confidence motion but not bringing it on is the Labor Leader trying to have his cake and eat it too.
“Labor hasn’t shown it’s genuinely interested in collaboration and has not yet proven it’s ready to govern.”
Bass Independent Rebekah Pentland says the Opposition Leader is playing with fire.
“A successful no-confidence motion at this stage of the term would trigger a political crisis.
“I firmly believe that would not be in the best interests of the state.
“We need to work together to address the big challenges facing Tasmania.
“As it stands, Labor is not offering a genuine alternative. On the state’s most controversial issue, the stadium, Dean Winter is on a unity ticket with the Government.
“The Opposition’s good at throwing rocks but it’s yet to present a clear vision for the state.”
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