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 South, 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 South include:

Health and mental health:

$170.4 million for the Royal Hobart Hospital continued redevelopment, including $6.6 million to build, equip and staff a second Angiography suite at the Royal Hobart Hospital;
$30 million for the next stage of the Kingston Health Centre;
$4.9 million for the Glenorchy Ambulance Station;
$2 million to commence the master plan for Stage 3 of the RHH redevelopment, the St John’s Park precinct;
$8.5 million to delivery 27 extra mental health beds, with 15 new beds at St John’s Park and 12 new beds at the recently completed Peacock Centre;
$9.3 million to complete the Eating Disorders Treatment Centre at St John’s Park and progress eating disorder community treatment sites in the North and North-West;
$930,000 to boost Holyoake’s Gottawanna program for alcohol and drug addition counselling and support;
Continued funding for the PACER program, which has assisted over 1800 Tasmanians experiencing acute mental health care remain in the community;
$600,000 to progress regional aero medical infrastructure, including helipads at St Helens and Dover.

Education:

$19.7 million for the $21.6 million for the Hobart City Partners School Project;
$18.3 million of the $19 million revitalisation of Cosgrove High School;
$14.9 million for $15.1 million major redevelopment at Cambridge Primary School;
$6.07 million for the $6.4 million Lauderdale Primary School redevelopment;
$63.6 million to progress the new $74 million Brighton High School;
$8.5 million to continue the $22 million upgrade of Sorell School;
$8 million towards a new multi sports facility to be built at Bayview Secondary College;
$1.6 million to continue the $2 million Bothwell District School (Agriculture in Schools) upgrade.
$430,000 to complete the $1.5 million Springfield Gardens Primary School extension;
Classroom upgrades at Rosetta Primary School, Risdon Vale Primary School, Dodges Ferry Primary School and East Derwent Primary School as part of the $10 million contemporary classrooms program;
Completion of the Kingborough and Sorell Child Family Learning Centre. as part of our $28 million investment.

Infrastructure:

$522 million towards the $786 million new Bridgewater Bridge;
$130 million in upgrades to improve the safety and amenity of the Tasman Bridge;
$24.2 million towards the construction of a Transit Lane on the Southern Outlet and improvements to Davey and Macquarie Streets as part of the $217.8 million Greater Hobart Traffic Solution;
$48.6 million towards the On-road Traffic Information Signs and Northern Transit Corridor activation;
$40.4 million towards the $55 million duplication of the South Arm Highway between Pass Road and south of Rokeby;
$18.7 million towards a $50 million upgrade to the Arthur Highway;
$1 million to upgrade Glenora Road in the Derwent Valley;
$2.05 million for the Mt Field National Park to create a new arrival concourse;
$1.65 million for the revitalisation of the Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen;
$244.5 million to complete the $349.5 million South-East Traffic Solution including the Midway Point and Sorell Causeway duplications and the duplication of the Tasman Highway between the Hobart Airport interchange and the Midway Point Causeway;
$52.5 million towards the $60 million Algona Road Interchange and duplication of the Kingston Bypass;
$4.7 million towards the $5 million road safety upgrades to the Cygnet township;
$5.5 million for a new slip lane at the Huntingfield roundabout;
$11.36 million towards a $129.8 million program of upgrades to Southern region roads;
$21.7 million to the Channel Highway bypass of Huonville (Huon Link Road);
$2.59 million to support the Bruny Island ferry service;
$1.6 million for the continuation of the Cape Bruny project to improve vehicle access and car parking facilities with upgrades to day use areas;
$3.15 million to support Stage 2 of the Cockle Creek Gateway project.

Investing in the community:

$930,000 over three years to continue the Collingwood Magpies Super Netball team playing in Hobart each year;
$3.9 million to support the successful Taste of Summer festival;

Investing in the East Coast:

$1.15 million towards the $4.5 million upgrades to Binalong Bay Road;
$47 million towards the $131.3 million series of projects to upgrade the Great Eastern Drive (Tasman Highway);
$14 million for the Freycinet National Park New Visitor Gateway;
$5.15 million for the $7.2 million Freycinet Tourism Icons Project;
$200,000 over two years for the continuation of the east coast Rock Lobster translocation;
$625,000 for improved Boat and Trailer Parking for recreational fishers for Burns Bay in St Helens;
$6.8 million for construction of the new St Helens Police Station;
$900,000 for urgent repairs and critical maintenance to the Maria Island Jetty.

Helping our most vulnerable:

$45 million to assist Southern households and businesses with energy relief;
$1.5 million to trial the innovative new Affordable Rentals Initiative;
$28 million over four years to continue to provide Safe Spaces, including in Hobart;
$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 South are an important part of our plan to build Tasmania’s future.”

BUILDING TASMANIA’S FUTURE IN THE SOUTH