How the Tasmanian government plans to cut costs
The Efficiency and Productivity Unit (EPU) will help government agencies find areas for "improvement" either through programs, staff cuts and digitalisation.
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West Australian
5 hours ago
- West Australian
Emma Garlett: No amount of money can heal the wounds of Stolen Generations
For decades, West Australian children were taken from their families, for no reason other than their race. These were the Stolen Generations — thousands of Aboriginal children forcibly removed from their homes, denied access to their mothers and fathers, their communities and their culture. They were stolen, and they were stolen from. They were robbed of the basic right to live with their loved ones. The impact from that injustice has rippled out for generations. And now, the WA Government has put a dollar figure on their suffering. Under a redress scheme announced by Premier Roger Cook during Reconciliation Week, surviving members of the Stolen Generation are eligible for a one-off payment of $85,000. Mr Cook said the payments were an acknowledgement of a great injustice. 'It acknowledges the Stolen Generations era represents a sorrowful and shameful part of our history, and recognises that it has caused cycles of disadvantage and intergenerational trauma,' he said. 'No amount of money could ever make up for the experience of Stolen Generations members and their families, and the ongoing effects on people's lives.' He is right that it is inadequate. Australia's median annual income is about $72,500. In return for lifetimes of trauma and suffering, victims will receive a little over a year's wages. What of those Stolen Generation members who are no longer living? They receive nothing, their families receive nothing. Intergenerational trauma is exactly that: intergenerational. The death of a person who was stolen doesn't end the suffering. It continues in their own children and grandchildren, handed down through families. It almost seems convenient that we should wait so long to repay the victims of direct government action and then give no heed to the impacts the stolen generations had on their families. That said, there's no way money could ever heal those wounds. Instead, the Government needs to step up on other initiatives which will help to acknowledge the sins of the past and make real steps towards reconciliation. Labor has said it intends to 'partner with Aboriginal stakeholder organisations to develop measures for healing and truth telling'. When it does so, these healing and truth telling measures need to be enshrined in law. They need to be locked in, made more difficult to abolition should a future government have a change of heart. Emma Garlett is a legal academic and Nyiyaparli- Yamatji-Nyungar woman
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is facing no-confidence threat that could end his time as leader
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff's shaky hold on government is in danger of collapsing, after the opposition flagged a no-confidence motion. In his budget reply speech on Tuesday, Labor Opposition Leader Dean Winter said he would put forward the no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff, challenging the crossbench to support it. Key independent Craig Garland said he would support the motion, telling The Australian the Liberal government's state budget last week that doubled state debt, the controversial AFL stadium project and the TT-Line ferries fiasco were keys to his decision. 'I'll be supporting a no-confidence motion in the Premier. I'm just sick to death of the arrogance and ignorance,' he said. Independent Kristie Johnston and Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner have also signalled support. Mr Winter said he would move the motion as soon as he had sufficient crossbench support to pass it. 'I have tabled a notice of motion that says this House has no confidence in the Premier because he has wrecked the budget, because he is planning to sell our power companies, our ports and our public transport,' Mr Winter said. The state Greens will decide Mr Rockliff's fate, expected after a party meeting as early as Wednesday. Mr Rockliff earlier in parliament defended his government's record and rebuked Mr Winter for being negative in his reply speech, the Mercury reported. 'Well, that was a negative outlook for Tasmania,' he said. 'I mean, if you're a Tasmanian listening to that speech, of course, full of inconsistencies, hypocritical, laced with hypocrisy, but most importantly for Tasmania and Tasmanians talking this wonderful state down, a state that everyone has worked so hard over the course of the last 11 years to take it from economic laggard to leading the nation.'
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
OECD economic outlook tips miserly Australian GDP growth of 1.9% in 2025, 2.2% in 2026
The OECD has downgraded expectations for growth in Australia's economy, urging the government to address the 'housing affordability crisis' and accelerate the transition to net zero. Australia's economy growth, measured by GDP, is tipped to reach 1.8 per cent in 2025, down from its March outlook of 1.9 per cent. Tuesday's OECD forecast of 2.2 per cent growth in 2026 were slightly better than March interim figure of 1.8 per cent, however lower than the 2.5 per cent projected in December. The international body urged the Albanese government to address 'longer term' demographic, housing and climate challenges, as well action to make the tax system more efficient. 'A range of policy actions, including easing zoning restrictions, is needed to strengthen competition and productivity, as well as to raise housing investment to reverse the longstanding decline in housing affordability,' it said. The report also identified both housing and reaching net zero as key action points. 'Key structural policy priorities are to address the housing affordability crisis by boosting supply and to accelerate progress toward net zero carbon emissions, especially in transport and industry,' it read. 'This should be complemented by other policies to strengthen investment, including improved incentives for house building, especially for social housing, and public investment to improve electricity grid connections.' On tariffs, the OECD noted the impact of global trade tensions had worsened business and consumer sentiment, while Australia's 'exposure to US tariff increases is limited' with exports accounting for about 5 per cent of total exports. But it said the domestic economy could be hammered by dropping commodity prices. The main sources of risk would be from import demand in China – Australia's largest export market. 'The impact of global trade tensions on the Australian economy is more likely to come via the depressing effect of higher tariffs and policy uncertainty on investment worldwide, manifested in part by lower prices for iron ore, coal and natural gas,' it read. The OECD report additionally flagged that inflation 'will remain close to target,' averaging 2.4 per cent across both years. The 'slump' in disposable incomes had also 'bottomed out' and have been on the rise since late-2023, however were significantly behind 2022 levels. Jim Chalmers said the downgraded growth reflected the 'uncertainty, unpredictability and volatility' currently plaguing the international economy. 'This is a stark reminder of the risks posed by tariffs and trade tensions, conflict and fragmentation,' the Treasurer said. 'We aren't immune from all of this global uncertainty but we are well placed and well prepared because of the progress Australians have made together in our economy. 'With lower inflation, low unemployment, positive growth and falling interest rates the OECD is making it clear that the Australian economy is turning a corner as the rest of the world takes a turn for worse.' Mr Chalmers also forecasted that Wednesday's economic check-up would reflect the 'global economic headwinds' as well as the impact of a string of natural disasters that have hit Australia's bottom line by $2.2bn.
