The Liberals’ Roadmap to Recovery and Growth is all about providing Tasmanians with hope and optimism for the future. It identifies nearly half a billion in savings and revenue measures which will be used to grow the economy and create jobs, deliver essential services and ease the cost of living.
These savings have been identified by reprioritising non-essential spending, getting rid of luxuries we can no longer afford, and maintaining our focus on a smaller and more efficient public service.
An efficient public service
The Liberals remain committed to the overall reduction in public sector positions of 1700 FTEs.
Health, education and police and public safety will be quarantined from further frontline cuts.
Department of State Growth
A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will create more efficient service delivery structures.
Tasmania can no longer afford to sustain nine stand-alone Departments.
We will merge the Department of Economic Development with the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources.
To be known as the Department of State Growth, this new department will have oversight of the key economic drivers of our state like infrastructure, energy, resources – including forestry and mining, economic development and tourism.
With Tasmania in recession and unemployment at a decade high it is clear a new approach is needed to ensure these main economic drivers are refocused onto the task at hand of rebuilding our economy, in the most efficient and effective way possible.
Savings through prioritizing spending
The Liberals will cut spending in less essential areas in order to properly fund essential services like health, education and public safety.
Spending reductions will occur in the following areas:
• 10 Days on the Island
• Ministerial Limousines
• The Government car fleet
• Boards and Committees
• Tasmania Together Board and process
• Passenger Transport Innovation
• Metro Park and Ride
• The Social Inclusion Unit
• Sirolli Enterprises Facilitation
• Climate Council
• Integrity Commission efficiency
The Liberals’ Roadmap to Recovery and Growth is not only fiscally responsible, it provides Tasmanians with hope for a better future. With initiatives to stimulating economic growth and jobs, we will create the wealth to better fund essential services and ease the cost of living.
Will Hodgman is Leader of the Opposition