Tasmanian Budget 2023-24

JEREMY ROCKLIFF MP, Premier

The 2023-24 Tasmanian Budget will build Tasmania’s future and deliver a strong, safe, and secure community.

It is a carefully considered Budget that prepares Tasmania for the future and ensures we are well positioned to weather economic headwinds.

For the North, the Budget delivers record investment in the things that Tasmanians care about like health, education, and helping our most vulnerable, while continuing to strengthen our economy, invest in important infrastructure, and ensure continuing jobs growth.

Significant investments in the North include:

Health and mental health:

$115.4 million to continue the redevelopment of the Launceston General Hospital including $83.7 million towards our $580 million Stage 2 plan;
$15 million for the construction of the new Launceston General Hospital helipad;
$9.4 million to continue the upgrade of the Kings Meadows Community Centre;
$6.8 million to continue the $10 million plan to build six new rural ambulance stations, including the Beaconsfield Station;
$5.6 millionto upgrade the Longford and Oatlands Ambulance Stations;
$3.5 million for the Midlands Multipurpose Health Centre upgrade at Oatlands.

Education:

$10.5 million to complete the $11 million Exeter High School major redevelopment;
$29.2 million to continue the $35.3 million new Legana Primary School;
Completion of the East Tamar Child and Family Learning Centre (CFLC) as part of the $28 million investment;
Classroom upgrades at South George Town Primary School, Mowbray Heights Primary School, Glen Dhu Primary School, Lilydale District School, Ringarooma Primary School, Campbell Town District School and Port Dalrymple Primary School, as part of the $10 million contemporary classrooms program across the State;
$1.9 million to complete the Campbell Town District School (Agriculture in Schools) upgrade.

Infrastructure:

$84 million for East and West Tamar Highway upgrades as part of the $420 million Roads of Strategic Importance - Northern Roads State 2 program;
$61.3 million to complete the $565 million 10-Year Midland Highway Action Plan;
$26.2 million toward the $75 million for the Launceston and Tamar Valley Traffic Vision including upgrades to Charles Street Bridge and planning for a new Tamar River crossing;
$3.4 million to upgrade and reopen the Glen Dhu Swimming Pool;
$30.6 million towards the $70 million Stage Two works on the Sideling section of the Tasman Highway;
Continuation of the $54.2 million Northern Roads package including the Batman Highway, Frankford Road and Birralee Road;
$27 million towards the $80 million project to upgrade Illawarra Road.

Investing in Flinders Island:

$1.1 million for Flinders Island camping upgrades and RV Access;
$30,000 towards the upgrades for the Flinders Island boat ramp;
Working closely with Flinders Island Aboriginal Association Incorporated to support Aboriginal and social housing, with 13 new dwellings already delivered on Flinders Island.

Investing in the northern community:

$2.51 millionto develop a Management Plan for the Ben Lomond National Park for year-round activities, which includes a feasibility study on snow making and track work;
$615,000 for Round 2 of the Regional Connectivity Program for Telstra for four new macro base stations at Deddington, Royal George, Lake Leake and Pelham;
$930,000 to continue the Collingwood Magpies Super Netball team playing in Launceston over three years;
$435,000 in extended core funding over three years, through to 2025-26, to continue Community Family Support Programs at Kentish House;
$1.1 million to support the Hawthorn Football Club to play in Launceston;
$27.5 million over two years to deliver the Northern Suburbs Recreational Hub in Mowbray;
$500,000 to ensure the Boags Visitor Centre experience is a strong tourism drawcard for the north, as well as funding for our world class wukalina Walk.

Helping our most vulnerable:

$45 million to assist Northern households and businesses with energy relief;
$1.5 million to trial the innovative new Affordable Rentals Initiative;
$7 million to continue to provide Safe Spaces, including in Launceston;
$600,000 to continue the Salvation Army Street Teams on Friday and Saturday nights in Launceston and Hobart;
Continuing to roll out our statewide, $1.5 billion plan to deliver 10,000 new affordable homes and units by 2032;
$88.9 million in rates remissions to assist eligible pensioners and other fixed or low income Tasmanians with their annual council rates bill;
$40.6 million in concessions to eligible customers to assist with their water and sewerage bill;
$18.1 million in taxi fare concessions and subsidies for eligible persons with permanent disabilities or medical conditions that significantly restrict their personal mobility;
Almost $1.4 million over the Budget and Forward Estimates to subsidise travel by pensioners on the Spirit of Tasmania;
Boosting and expanding the $50 million Energy Saver Loan Scheme to help households and small business to lower their power bills.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said: “This Budget is targeting every dollar to get things done and build a strong economy and a safe, caring community across the whole State,” the Premier said.

“These key investments across the North are an important part of our plan to build Tasmania’s future.”

BUILDING TASMANIA’S FUTURE IN THE NORTH