Property Council, Brian Wightman, Executive Director:
“The doubling of the first home builders grant will assist to create essential jobs in Northern Tasmania, and this remains critically important”. [Advocate/Examiner, 26 May 2015]
“An excellent State Budget 16/17 for @propertycouncil members. $1.8 billion infrastructure spend the highlight”. [Tweet, 26 May 2016]
Local Government Association of Tasmania, Mayor Doug Chipman, President
“The Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) has welcomed the State Government’s decision to fund the full implementation of the Planning Schemes Online Project (iPlan).
“This project was LGAT’s number one priority for the 2016-17 Budget as it will strongly contribute to making land use planning faster and simpler in Tasmania.
“The Association was pleased to note other key initiatives including a $5 million allocation towards a Community Infrastructure Fund to support private sector and community projects, as well as assisting local government to generate economic development opportunities within their municipal areas”. [Media release, 26 May 2016]
Tasmanian Minerals & Energy Council, Wayne Bould, CEO
“Tasmania’s largest miners and mineral processors welcome the Hodgman Government’s ongoing support of their industry … In these very difficult economic times, both locally and globally, this investment builds on previous funding allocations of more than $1 million to the MRT relocation. The Hodgman Government will have invested more than an additional $5 million over this term in mining”. [Media release, 26 May 2016]
Font PR, Becher Townshend:
“… it is still a surplus and reflects a steady and determined path that has been undertaken by the Hodgman Government of prudent financial management in the capable hands of the Treasurer.
“In summary, it would be fair to say that while there are no surprises in the budget, sometimes this can be a virtue with the Government setting the course and sticking to its guns. This has allowed Treasurer Peter Gutwein to, over a three year period, create a sure and steady path that leads the State’s finances to positive and sustainable outcome with a surplus of some $77 million”. [Media release, 26 May 2016]
Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby, Kristen Desmond, Founder:
“The budget is a major first step in Tasmania”. [Examiner, 27 May 2016]
“The Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby is encouraged to see some real commitment from the Tasmanian Government to improve the education of students with disability. This is the first step towards meaningful reform and a truly inclusive education system”. [Media Release, 26 May 2016]
Albert Van Zetten, Launceston Mayor:
“With an additional $30m earmarked for the Northern Cities project from this budget, this is extremely exciting for Launceston which will share in those funds…”. [Examiner, 27 May 2016]
Launceston Chamber of Commerce, Jo Archer, Acting Executive Officer:
“Any infrastructure projects that create activity and development ... are a positive, and in this economy right now they are very welcome”. [Examiner, 27 May 2016]
Tasmanian Small Business Council, Rob Mallett, Executive Director:
“The Treasurer is to be commended for the additional funds to support small businesses and Group Training Organisations to support small business with apprenticeships and traineeships”. [Examiner, 27 May 2016]
Housing Industry Association, Rick Sassin, State Executive Director:
On doubling First Home Builders Grant: “The extension of the grant will sweeten the deal for any of those people looking to relocate back to build their first home. It is important for the stimulation of our economy to encourage people to come back to Tasmania, and we believe that the announcement by the Government to extend the $20,000 grant will assist in enticing people to relocate”. [Mercury, 26 May 2016]
“HIA welcomes the Government’s support for our industry, which has once again been demonstrated by this announcement”. [Media release, 25 May 2016]
“2016-17 Tasmanian Budget – a real first home owners dream come true”.
“The Housing Industry Association (HIA) … welcomes the Tasmanian Budget, which includes many positive sentiments which will continue to stimulate the State’s economic growth and residential building community”.
This budget has seen a great deal of care and efforts directed to the residential housing industry which provides much of the economic drivers for continued and confidence growth”.
“Overall the Treasurer has delivered a sound and positive budget for the Residential Building Industry”.
[Media release, 26 May 2016]
Master Builders Tasmania, Michael Kerschbaum, Executive Director:
On doubling First Home Building Grant: “… we think it will generate economic growth and activity for the industry”. [ABC, 25 May 2016]
“Master Builders Tasmania welcomes today’s State Budget.”
”There is no doubt that the building and construction industry will be a major beneficiary out of today’s Budget, with the Government committing to big spending initiatives in the education and affordable housing space”.
“There are other smaller areas such as the small business assistance program, apprentice training incentives and spending on planning reform. However the headline issue for the industry is definitely the $113 million capital investment in upgrades to schools, colleges and TasTAFE training facilities. This huge package of work will need to be rolled out in conjunction with industry to ensure the Government receives best value-for-money given the high level of commercial activity at the moment”.
With the combined injection of the $60 million affordable housing initiative and the doubling of the First Home Builders Boost, house builders will also be celebrating. These two initiatives will see dwelling approvals rise sharply and re-ignite the entire residential sector”.
“Overall this is a great budget which delivers on many fronts”. [Media release, 26 May 2016]
RACT, Harvey Lennon, Chief Executive Officer:
“The RACT has welcomed the $1 million allocated to alleviate traffic congestion in Greater Hobart in the 2016/17 State Budget delivered today … while the improvements were potentially beneficial, a long-term plan was still urgently required to address the problem”.
“Mr Lennon said the Tasmanian Government’s significant support of the Cradle Mountain Master Plan was most welcome. The RACT is on the record as supporting any infrastructure development that is environmentally sensitive and enhances the total visitor experience”. [Media Release, 26 May 2016]
ShelterTAS, Pattie Chugg, Executive Officer:
“A win for Affordable Housing”.
“We are pleased to see the government responding to the housing needs of vulnerable Tasmanians”.
“Over one fifth of people over 65 are in housing stress … it is great to see the State Government committing these new funds to this crucial area, as housing is the lynchpin of health and wellbeing”. [Media release, 26 May 2016]
Rural Business Tasmania, CEO, Elizabeth Skirving
On additional funding for Rural Financial Counselling: “the funding for extra counsellors is a great thing, we are very pleased”. [Mercury, 26 May 2016]
Hobart Chamber of Commerce, Bob Gozzi, Chairman:
“The Hobart Chamber of Commerce has described today’s State Budget as a responsible plan for the future that should promote economic growth while ensuring that Tasmania lives within its means.
“… the return to an operating surplus after seven years of deficits was a huge positive that should foster investment and development”.
“Business, like the community, will welcome the major boost in infrastructure spending of $535 million next financial year, and the total spend of $1.8 billion over the next four years”.
“The State Government is setting an example in efficiency by budgeting to hold down public sector wage increases by two percent, while at the same time boosting frontline services”.
“Mr Gozzi said overall, the Treasurer and the Government had done a good job of managing the State’s finances when confronted with the significant downturn in GST receipts from the Commonwealth and other challenges such as bushfire costs and the reduction in dividend payments from the electricity GBEs”.
“All things considered, this is a very solid budget and one that should see Tasmania’s economy continued on its slow but steady growth path”. [Media release, 26 May 2016]
“We… welcome the major boost to road and rail capital works. This should significantly improve transport and support employment”. [Mercury, 27 May 2016]
TasCOSS, Kym Goodes, Chief Executive:
On $20m for Child Protection Redesign: “Changes to child protection are welcome and focus on early intervention must be maintained”. [Sunday Examiner, 20 March 2016]
“Today’s State Budget demonstrates the Government’s renewed heart when it comes to Tasmania’s most vulnerable and is ready for the next step of establishing an overall vision to tackle our State’s most complex issues.
“The Government is starting to demonstrate the brave leadership we need to put in place a long term strategy of good public policy that will help bridge the gap between those Tasmanians who enjoy the fruits of our Apple Isle and those who struggle every day just to get by”.
“The Budget’s welcome initiatives are in the areas of affordable housing funding, child protection, family violence, the Public Guardian and community legal centres (CLCs)”.
Police Association of Tasmania, Pat Allen, President
“Certainly the Police Association of Tasmania is pleased that our ambition to rebuild Tasmania Police to its former level of officer numbers is continuing. We also thank the Treasurer Peter Gutwein for recognising the substandard condition of police housing throughout the State and providing the necessary funding to tackle that issue”. [Media release, 26 May 2016]
The Smith Family, Alison Standen, General Manager:
“We welcome this investment by the Tasmanian Government which will enable more of Tasmania’s disadvantaged young people to achieve long-term economic and social wellbeing”. [Media release, 26 May 2016]
Tasmanian State of State School Organisations, Ant Dry, President:
“President Ant Dry said the association was happy to see the State Government’s Gonski contribution in the Budget and was ‘encouraged by the other initiatives that they’re planning’. [Mercury, 27 May 2016]
TasICT, Will Kestin, Chief Executive:
“TasICT also welcomed the STEM cash. Seventy-five per cent of the jobs of the future are going to require STEM skills and yet at the moment 16 per cent of students are studying STEM”. [Mercury, 27 May 2016]
Tourism Industry Council (TICT) – Luke Martin, Chief Executive:
“We needed the Cradle Mountain commitment to get the ball rolling … “ [Examiner, 27 May 2017]
Tourism Industry Council (TICT), Daniel Leesong, Chairman:
On $15m Cradle Mountain Investment: “Today’s commitment by the Tasmanian Government to fund the public visitor infrastructure component of the Plan will encourage the Australian Government and the private sector to now get behind this game-changing project for north and north/west Tasmania.
On $6.3m on upgrading Great Eastern Drive: “The Great Eastern Drive has already captured the imagination of tourism operators and visitors to Tasmania as one of the great touring drives in Australia. It’s a fantastic initiative to bring the East Coast together behind a common purpose and to encourage visitors to explore the many destinations and attractions along the Coast”.
“Today’s announcements represent just the kind of areas governments should concentrate their investment to stimulate further growth and job creation in the Tourism Industry”. [Media release, 26 May 2016]
AMA Tasmania, Tim Greenaway, President:
“… said while the proportion of funds the Government spent on health was on par with other states, it needed to be higher because of the population being old, poorer and with higher rates of chronic disease”. [Mercury, 27 May 2016]
“AMA Tasmania has welcomed the $2.6 million in preventative health funding … We also welcome the investment in student and mental health”. [Examiner, 27 May 2016]
Saul Eslake
“Leading economist Saul Eslake said despite the surplus, the budget was in a worse position than projected this time last year due to less GST and less income from State-owned businesses. This underscores the wisdom of the Government’s decision last year to save most of the $620 million windfall it received from favourable movements in Tasmania’s GST share … it has sensibly allowed for a further deterioration in Tasmania’s share of GST revenues.” [Examiner, 27 May 2016]
Mercury – and Mercury Editorial
“Tasmanian Treasurer Peter Gutwein has put the state back in black for the first time in seven years”. [Mercury online, 26 May 2015]
Front page: “A measured, workmanlike document that delivers Tasmania its first surplus in seven years”. [Mercury, 27 May 2016]
“The boast of a State Budget being back in the black is one that very few Tasmanian Treasurers in recent memory have been able to contemplate, let alone realise”.
“It is a workmanlike document that aims to get the fundamentals right … it has at its heart a significant social conscience which seeks to support some of the most vulnerable in our society”. [Editorial, 27 May 2016]
Examiner:
On First Home Builders doubling: “the announcement will also prove a welcome shot in the arm to the State’s building industry”. [Examiner, 26 May 2016]
Front page: “An eye to the future … Treasurer Peter Gutwein has declared the budget is back on track, with funds flowing to services with a “firm eye to the future”.
“Peter Gutwein is the government’s budget beta blocker. The guy who stops a budget meltdown. He’s the safe pair of hands … his third budget keeps bringing home Paul Keating’s bacon. No tremors, no new taxes, no asset sales, no debt, no shocks, a steady return to budget surplus and well targeted spending”. [Opinion, Barry Prismall, 27 May 2016]
“A $30 million cash injection for the Northern Cities Project will be warmly welcomed by supporters of the University of Tasmania’s relocation plan for Inveresk”. [Editorial, 27 May 2016]
Advocate, Sean Ford
Front: “Budget Cash Splash – the North-West and West got plenty from Thursday’s state budget”.
“Certainly, the Government has not shied away from significant spending decisions, and seems to have got most of them right. It seems to have stuck pretty well to useful infrastructure, services and social spending measures, including in areas which should help grow jobs and investment. Put simply, there are not a lot of statues in this budget”. [Advocate, analysis by Sean Ford, 27 May 2016]
On new buses for Metro Tasmania: “North-West advanced manufacturers will get a chance to tender for $18 million worth of new buses for Metro Tasmania. Successful tenders would help cover the loss of work in the sector since Caterpillar ceased heavy equipment manufacturing in Burnie, and potentially lead to new markets on the mainland or overseas”. [Advocate Online, 26 May 2016]
The Australian:
“The third Hodgman Liberal budget demonstrates the benefit of fiscal restraint, the ability to spend on essential services and infrastructure”.
“It’s 2016-17 budget logo features a smart blue tartan design, as if to persuade Tasmanians subliminally that this is a careful, thrifty government that would warm the heart of the canniest Scot”.
“The Government, which in 2014 ended 16 years of Labor rule, deserves credit for pegging spending growth at 1.6 per cent in its first term, compared with revenue growth of 2.3 per cent”. [27 May 2016]
Burnie Mayor, Alderman Dow
“It is great to see there has been continued investment of infrastructure in the North of the state particularly with those major projects”.
On Northern Cities project “There is that additional $30 million that wasn’t in the budget before, we are very pleased to see that and obviously that firms up the State Government’s support for the project”.
On bus tender: “I think that presents a great opportunity”. [Advocate, 27 May 2016]
West Coast Mayor, Cr Vickers:
“As far as line items go, they are all good projects and we welcome the government initiatives. The continue support for the West Coast Wilderness Railway not only helps the West Coast, but the whole of Tasmania … the police housing is something that has urgently been needed for quite some time”. [Advocate, 27 May 2016]
Carers Tasmania, Janine Arnold, CEO
On $50,000 pa funding for Carers Tasmania: “In a challenging environment when the need for carers and care in the home is to critical … to receive the funding ongoing is amazing”. [Examiner, 26 May 2015]
Commissioner for Children, Mark Morrissey
On the $20m implementation of the Child Protection Redesign: “This is an exciting time for the future of child protection in Tasmania. This plan has the potential to provide a range of responses which will help to ensure each child receives a much more holistic approach to their care”. [Advocate, 16/5/2016]
Greens Leader, Cassy O’Connor:
On Child Protection Redesign: “This reform package is a response to a chronically, structurally, under-funded and sick system. So we need to all get behind it …”. [ABC, 15/3/16]
On $60m Affordable Housing “One of the most impressive parts of it is the $60 million that’s been set aside to increase social and affordable housing in Tasmania …” [Mercury, 27 May 2016]
AEU Tasmania, Helen Richardson, President:
“The Government’s funding commitment to Gonski will be well received by schools”. [Mercury, 27 May 2016]