As Parliament returns following the release of the state budget, Labor and the Greens are gearing up to tell Tasmanians what projects and policies they would back if they were in government.
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Opposition Leader Bryan Green will deliver his budget reply on Tuesday, which will include a committment to sustainable transport, tourism, and the college system.
Labor has announced $8 million to improve the Overland Track infrastructure, and $15 million to revitalise the Cradle Mountain visitor centre.
The Cradle Mountain funds were also pledged by the government in last week’s budget.
“Labor will invest in income-generating projects, delivering more funds to manage our National Parks,” Labor tourism spokesman Scott Bacon said.
“This is an opportunity to dramatically enhance the quality of the visitor experience by revitalising the current network of huts and visitor services,” he said.
Labor has said it would put a halt on the extension of years 11 and 12 at high schools across the state, saying it does not want to abandon the college system.
It has also unveiled a $60 million public transport policy, which includes $4 million to upgrade services in the centres of Launceston and Burnie.
The Greens will deliver an alternative budget which the party says will aim to set Tasmania up for the future with funding for building climate resilience and energy self sufficiency.
“Last summer, regional communities and the Tasmanian wilderness felt the harsh impacts of climate change,” Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said.
“A centrepiece of the Greens alternative budget is a substantial investment in remote firefighting capacity and into the Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure communities and the state’s protected areas are better prepared in the future,” she said.
The Greens would also allocate $10 million to “clean up the stinking mess of the state’s ailing water and sewerage infrastructure”.
Liberal Bass MHA Sarah Courtney said Labor was attempting to avoid scrutiny by not delivering a full alternative budget.
“Over the past two years they’ve already racked up nearly $1.5 billion in promises which they’ve yet to clarify whether they still stand behind – such as their pledge to unwind our savings measures from the 2014 budget,” Ms Courtney said.