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Budget 2022-23
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SUPPORTING TASMANIANS WHERE IT MATTERS MOST

Jeremy Rockliff MP, Premier

The 2022-23 State Budget is a budget that is strengthening Tasmania’s future by investing significantly in helping our most vulnerable Tasmanians.

We know that we need to invest where it matters most, in the areas that Tasmanians care about, and the Budget invests across a range of priority areas to deliver for all Tasmanians, especially those doing it tough.

We know that housing is a key issue affecting Tasmanians, and the Budget locks in about $538 million across the 2022-23 Budget and Forward Estimates into social and affordable housing and homelessness initiatives, with $204 million this year alone.

This will result in 1,169 homes being delivered by June 2023, as part of our 10-year $1.5 billion housing package that will result in 10,000 new homes being built by 2032.

We are also investing $16 million to construct two new supported accommodation facilities for older Tasmanians in the North and North West, and $3 million for modular youth housing for 16-24-year-olds at four sites across the State.

This is the most comprehensive and ambitious affordable housing strategy in this State’s history and will alleviate the pressures being seen in our housing market, while giving more Tasmanians access to safe and secure housing.

The Budget also locks in additional funding to reduce the digital divide and support our disadvantaged children and young people, with an additional $3.9 million invested to give students access to more devices such as laptops, tablets and dongles - ensuring families who are unable to provide this technology can support their child’s learning at home.

We are also easing the cost of living for those who need it, with the Budget providing over $305 million in concessions to support vulnerable Tasmanians in meeting the cost of water, electricity and council rates.

This includes $39.1 million over four years in concessions for water and sewerage bills, $79.2 million in Council Rate Remissions for eligible pensioners, and electricity concessions of $185.8 million over the next four years to assist eligible concession card customers manage their electricity bills.

Additionally, we are investing $150,000 for Reclink to support disadvantaged youth into sport, $300,000 for a food relief place-based pilot, and a further $170,000 to deliver the Bike Collective Program in Risdon Vale and the Huon, to give young people a place to grow and develop life skills.

And, as announced by the Attorney-General, the Budget invests $4.3 million to implement the recommendations from the independent review into the Public Trustee, conducted by Damian Bugg AM QC, along with an additional $4.3 million to deliver a new Community Service Obligation for the Public Trustee.

This will help the Public Trustee to improve the processes and systems to meet its statutory obligations, ensuring the community can have confidence in this vital service.

Other important investments to help our most vulnerable include:

  • Supporting Tasmanians leaving mental health inpatient care with $255,000 over three years for five homes to support the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative;
  • Ensuring the safety of children and helping to prevent them from entering statutory care with $4.2 million to support the Intensive Family Engagement Service (IFES);
  • Safeguarding our volunteers in local communities, with $440,000 for the extension of Volunteering Tasmania’s Safeguarding Volunteering Project;
  • Helping victim-survivors of family and sexual violence with $12.5 million while developing Tasmania’s Third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan;
  • Supporting young people involved with youth justice with $1.3 million to continue work on Tasmania’s Youth Justice Reform Transition Plan; and
  • Delivering a new therapeutic youth justice facility, with $40 million to replace the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

This is a Government with integrity and heart.

Tasmanians’ priorities are our priorities, which is why this Budget invests significantly in our most vulnerable to ensure every Tasmanian can benefit from our strong and robust economy.