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 West, 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 West include:

Health and mental health:

$87.1 million for state-of-the-art health precincts at the North-West Regional Hospital and Mersey Community Hospitals, including a Mental Health Precinct at Burnie and new wards, clinics, beds and theatres spaces at the Mersey;
$3.44 million for the new Burnie Ambulance Station;
A new two-year pilot of a Mental Health Emergency Co-Response initiative in the North-West, with a customed model of care;
$9.2 million to continue improvements at the Acute Care facility at the North-West Regional Hospital;
$9.3 million towards an Eating Disorders Treatment Centre and to progress eating disorder treatment sites in the North and North-West;
$6.7 million to continue the $10 million plan to build six new rural ambulance stations, including Queenstown;
$100,000 to support the Pathway Shed in East Devonport.

Education:

$6.8 million for the Montello Primary School redevelopment;
$17 million to continue the $20 million Support School package, including the North-West Support School;
Completion of the West Ulverstone and Warratah-Wynyard Child and Family Learning Centres (CFLC), as part of our $28 million total investment;
Upgrading Havenview Primary School. as part of the $10 million contemporary classrooms program;
$400,000 to finalise the $20 million Kindergarten to Year 12 Penguin School.

Helping our most vulnerable:

$45 million to assist North West 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 Burnie;
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.

Infrastructure:

$25 million for the Devonport to Cradle Mountain Road upgrades;
Continuing the $50 million program of upgrades to North-West and West Coast roads;
$7 million towards the $10 million upgrade to the Stanley Highway;
$20 million towards the Bass Highway Safety and Freight Efficiency under the Roads of Strategic importance program;
$19 million to support the North West Coastal Pathway, including the Cooee to Wynyard section and the Don to Penguin section;
$16 million for the Old Surrey Road/Massey Greene Drive upgrade;
$60 million for the Bass Highway Marrawah to Wynyard upgrades;
$40 million for the $50 million upgrades for the Bass Highway between Deloraine and Devonport;
$80 million for Bass Highway Safety and Freight Efficiency upgrades;
$40 million for the Bass Highway Cooee to Wynyard road upgrade.

Investing in the West Coast and King Island;

$1.25 million to underpin the operation of our iconic West Coast Wilderness Railway, in addition to a $1 million support package for the region while the railway undergoes critical shutdown;
$222,000 in extended core funding for Phoenix Community House;
Support for the re-establishment of the Dolphin Tungsten Mine at Grassy;
$2.75 million to revitalise the ‘Edge of the World’ experience at the mouth of the Arthur River;
$35 million for the Murchison Highway corridor upgrade;
$15 million for the Lyell Highway upgrade between Queenstown and Strahan;
More than $200 million over the next six years to reinvigorate West Coast power stations through Hydro Tasmania.

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 West are an important part of our plan to build Tasmania’s future.”

BUILDING TASMANIA’S FUTURE IN THE NORTH WEST