3 days ago
Unions flag walk offs over 'Musk-like' saving measures
Unions could take industrial action against flagged privatisations and "Elon Musk-like" public service cuts contained in a Liberal state budget.
Tasmania's government is investigating whether eight government-owned entities, including bus operator Metro and power provider TasNetworks, should be sold.
The Liberals, who inherited no debt when they came to power in 2014, will more than double debt to almost $10.8 billion by 2028/29.
Interest repayments debt is expected to rise to almost $650 million a year by 2028/29, according to Thursday's budget.
The government wants to cut 2500 state service jobs by 2033 and has set up an "efficiency unit" to find public sector savings of $150 million a year.
"The irony of the government setting up a new team to cut waste is not lost on us," Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday said on Friday.
"It seems like the government has ripped off Elon Musk and brought it to Tasmania."
Mr Musk was in charge of a body tasked with reducing spending as part of US President Donald Trump's government.
Ms Munday said cuts of 2500 would have a big impact on services in a state of Tasmania's size. She didn't rule out protest strikes.
"We will do whatever is necessary to protect not only members' jobs but defend services provided to the community," she said.
Treasurer Guy Barnett says his budget charts a sensible path to surplus, despite no surpluses being contained across four years of forward estimates.
"We are very focused on delivering frontline services to Tasmania that need it. We have a 12 per cent increase in health funding," he told reporters.
Mr Barnett also spruiked $9.9 billion in education spending and record cost-of-living support.
Head of social services body TasCOSS, Adrienne Picone, said the Liberals had lost sight of real issues in pursuit of a $945 million new Hobart stadium.
"A new stadium won't help Tasmanians living on low incomes feed their family and get their foot into the housing market," she said.
"We're also concerned the level of debt we're taking on to fund infrastructure projects is severely impacting the funding available to deliver essential services.
"We are aware of many community services organisations who will be cutting hours, cutting staff, changing services delivery and cutting services completely."
Mr Barnett said the government would have more to say in coming months about potential state-owned business sales, following a review by economist Saul Eslake.
The government has taken the sale of some businesses, including Bass Strait ferry operator TT-Line, off the table.
