Tasmanians can feel satiated with this year’s federal budget.
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We will reap the benefits of national funding that will flow into our regional areas.
We also have a few treats just for ourselves – our roads and transport infrastructure will receive almost $1 billion.
Our Launceston and Burnie University of Tasmania campuses will receive funding for an extra 1000 sub-bachelor places.
Before the budget was released, we knew the Scottsdale irrigation scheme would be the benefactor of $25.3 million.
Funding for the Launceston City Deal continued, and it included $47.5 million for the clean-up of the Tamar River.
An income tax cut will see a bit more money in the pockets of average Tasmanians workers, too, dubbed called the “burger and milkshake” break. Why? Because that’s how much workers can expect to afford a week with the extra funds.
Regardless of cheeky catch phrases, Tasmania has not fared too badly at all in Scott Morrison’s third delivery.
We’re being fattened up. A federal election is looming, and it’s time for the federal Liberals to show some support to their state counterparts.
The state election wasn’t the fully blue whitewash that everyone was expecting. Tasmania remains brimming with marginal seats, ripe for the buying.
While last year’s budget was bread and drippings, this year’s budget was a serve of Sunday roast. No dessert, but. They don’t want us getting too comfortable – we must be left wanting more.
Those outside the Liberal’s team found some holes in the wash up for Tasmania. Bass Labor MHR Ross Hart said the Bass Highway’s promised $400 million was nothing but a “slush fund”.
Justine Keay used her last 24 hours as Braddon’s federal representative to point out the budget contained $270 million in cuts to funding for TAFE and apprentices.
Greens senator Nick McKim, TasCOSS chief executive Kym Goodes and economist Saul Eslake all highlighted their disappointment that the budget held no further funding for affordable housing.
Each Tasmanian, depending on their situation, will see different shades of light and dark in the budget.
There is one thing that we cannot deny, and that’s that we’re being well fed before being lead to the polls.