Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to talk about the government's proud record of delivery in my home state of Tasmania. Tasmanians know that they always do better under federal Labor governments, and that's certainly the case at the moment. Since we've come to office, more than $2 billion in new commitments has flown to my home state, supporting hospitals, schools, local roads and housing and the jobs that keep our community strong. Total federal support for Tasmania now exceeds $6 billion every single year, That's nearly double what it was a decade ago. Federal funding now makes up two-thirds of Tasmania's entire state budget, around 70 per cent, and at the moment our GST receipts are over $100 million higher than forecast.

This year alone, the Albanese Labor government are investing $750 million in hospital funding in my home state. This is Tasmania getting our fair share. We're investing responsibly in the future of our state. There are five urgent care clinics, with another three on the way, including one in my electorate, in the area of Kingborough. Cheaper medicines have helped Tasmanians save more than $40 million. The HECS debt relief that was promised is being delivered now for more than 50,000 Tasmanians. We're also delivering funding for major works, such as the Macquarie Wharf redevelopment and the Hobart airport upgrades, and providing support for Tasmanian industries, such as Nyrstar and the Boyer Paper Mill, as part of the clean energy transition.

This is what delivery looks like, and it's in stark contrast to the Tasmanian state Liberal minority government. They are failing. They are handing down a budget today that will show that our state now has a record debt. This lack of delivery is the reason that I wrote to the state minister for infrastructure regarding projects in my electorate—projects worth more than $300 million—that we're still waiting on to be delivered in my electorate. They include upgrades to the Tasman Bridge, the South Arm Highway, the Huon Highway, the Channel Highway and the Mornington roundabout and the expansion of the Derwent ferries project. Some of these projects have been waiting to be delivered for years. The state government needs to get on with this, and I'm going to keep the pressure on to make sure that they do deliver for our electorate.

As I said, our state is now facing a record debt, sadly, and I share the concerns of all Tasmanians that the state Liberal minority government is failing Tasmanians. They're making stop-gap policy decisions on the run, each and every day, without a strategic thought to Tasmania's best interests. Tasmanians deserve much better than this. They deserve better than the games that are being played by their Tasmanian Liberal minority government at the moment. As they deliver their budget today, I hope they have in their hearts, and in their decisions, Tasmania's best interests. I seriously doubt it, but with the debt that they're accumulating they need to do much better for Tasmanians.