Tasmanians face crippling increases in the cost of basic services in coming years if tough decisions aren’t made now, a prominent financial analyst has warned.
Announcing his nomination for Deputy Mayor of Launceston City Council, businessman Tom Ellison said with State and Federal Governments slashing their own Budgets, local councils were not financially equipped to pick up the slack.
“Tasmanians want to see better support for families and business in their local communities, and that burden will increasing fall on local councils,” he said.
“Successive State Governments have been unwilling to tackle the extravagant and unnecessary duplication of programs across the Tasmania.”
“An island state with a population of 500,000 cannot warrant supporting 29 local government areas, and I actively support council amalgamations and a reduction in the number of expensive and unproductive regional authorities and boards.”
Mr. Ellison said Launceston in particular faced near-term fiscal challenges including replacing ageing sewerage infrastructure, and warned voters to be wary of election hopefuls making unachievable promises.
“Every council election we see a handful of candidates looking for a pathway into State politics, and every council election we hear the same shallow rhetoric about reducing rates, being pro-development and cutting the cost of council services.”
“What Launceston, indeed all Tasmania needs, is responsible leadership able to balance fiscal responsibility and ensuring the aspirations of all sections of the community are met.”
Mr. Ellison said sensible financial management and protection of Tasmania’s unique environmental and heritage values were integral.
“Nobody wants to see Tasmania become an industrial and social wasteland,” he said.
“Helping make Tasmania the best place in the world to live, raise a family or grow a business should be a primary goal of anybody standing for local government.”
Tom Ellison, Candidate for Deputy Mayor Launceston City Council
