12 November 2020
Peter Gutwein MP
Premier and Treasurer
2020-21 Budget: Delivering on our Recovery Plan
The Tasmanian Liberal Government’s number one priority has been to keep Tasmanians safe and secure during the coronavirus pandemic.
The impacts of coronavirus have been felt across the world and will be with us for some time, which is exactly why we have a Plan to swiftly reboot the Tasmanian economy, restore and grow business confidence, create opportunity for investment, and support jobs.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I established the Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council (PESRAC) to provide advice and recommendations on how best to mitigate the economic and social impacts of the pandemic.
The Tasmanian Government accepted all 64 key recommendations of PESRAC’s Interim Report.
As part of the 2020-21 State Budget, the Tasmanian Government has implemented the following measures in response to the recommendations:
In addition to specific commitments made and outlined in this Budget, funding of $145 million in 2020‑21 has also been allocated to a central COVID‑19 provision in Finance‑General.
This approach reflects the establishment of a similar central provision in 2019‑20 to assist in meeting uncertain or unknown costs associated with the COVID‑19 pandemic.
The provision initially supports response measures that align with recommendations made by PESRAC, by supporting businesses, stimulating economic activity through improving the environment, creating regional jobs and supporting young people into training and apprenticeships.
Of the $145 million provision, $50 million has been allocated to initiatives to support businesses and our economy, assist women back into work, support the cultural and performing arts sector, improve our environment and invest in public housing infrastructure upgrades.
To ensure we continue to have a whole‑of‑government approach to respond to COVID‑19, with resources ready and available for a pandemic, but also for other state emergencies which may arise, such as bushfires or floods, $4.4 million will be invested for an ongoing centralised COVID‑19 coordination centre for the next 12 months, in partnership with the Commonwealth Government.
The remainder of the provision will be held as a contingency for COVID‑19 related health, economic and social response measures and to support the ongoing management of our response to the pandemic as well as supporting the next phase of the PESRAC’s recommendations.
We know the pandemic is not yet over and that Tasmanians continue to face challenges and that is why we are delivering on our recovery plan, sensibly easing our way back to business and life as we know it.