The State Budget is getting worse under Peter Gutwein’s watch.
The September quarterly update shows the Treasurer has failed to reign in employee expenses, failed to deliver on wage restraint and under his watch net debt has deteriorated by $186.3 million in just three months.
Labor Shadow Treasurer Scott Bacon said despite Peter Gutwein’s tough talk and mass job losses, the Liberals are making the Budget worse.
“The Treasurer continues to spend irresponsibly on $400 million worth of election pork barrelling at the same time he is sacking hundreds of Tasmanian teachers, nurses and other public sector workers on the eve of Christmas,” Mr Bacon said.
“Despite preaching about not living off the credit card, in just 3 months Mr Gutwein has racked up an additional $186 million of debt. He wouldn’t qualify for most credit cards with that sort of record.
“After just three months, the Budget update is a damning report card on Peter Gutwein’s performance as Treasurer.”
Mr Bacon said the update did not reflect revelations in recent days that $75 million in future revenue from Hydro Tasmania is forecast to come from thin air.
“The Treasurer also lied to the Tasmanian people when he told them he would not take funding away from teachers and nurses to prop up Forestry Tasmania.
“Next year the Government will forgo $30 million in dividends from TasNetworks to cover the cost of Forestry Tasmania’s operations, which is money that could have employed 300 nurses and teachers.”
Scott Bacon MP Labor Shadow Treasurer
