Labor Leader Bryan Green today accused Treasurer Peter Gutwein of creating an illusion that Tasmania’s budget challenges are over.
“Peter Gutwein is pretending to be a magician by trying to make the impact of his budget cuts disappear,” Mr Green said.
“The consequences of Liberal’s deep cuts in the last budget particularly in health and education will be felt across Tasmania for years to come.
“The Government has broken its promises not to cut frontline jobs and community services and it hasn’t finished yet.
“These cuts are imbedded in the budget over the forward estimates.
“The Government is cutting 1200 jobs which means 400 hundred more workers will lose their jobs.
“The Liberals will make well over half a billion dollars worth of further cuts over the next three years; it’s in black and white in their budget.
“There are $200 million in cuts to be made in the coming financial year including $54 million in health, $38 million in education, $17 million in State Growth and $11 million in police.
“The government’s own target is $592 million in cuts by 2017-18.
Mr Gutwein is being too clever by half by trying to pretend that relief is on the way in his next budget.
“Peter Gutwein wants people to believe he’s not as bad as what they think. The message I’m getting from Tasmanians is ‘tell him he’s dreamin’.
“The ongoing cuts to essential services mean it won’t be getting easier, it will be getting harder.
“Peter Gutwein is no magician and no matter how hard he tries to fool Tasmanians, he cannot make his budget cuts disappear.
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader
