June 14 was always going to be the test of whether the state government would be able to put the money where their mouth was.
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Only three months earlier the Liberals had been returned to government following the election.
Many pledges were made in the lead up to March 4.
Primarily the election was won thanks to performance over the past four years as well as a focus on health, education and infrastructure investment.
This campaigning wasn’t a new concept.
Health, education and infrastructure will always be key election issues at both federal and state levels.
In Tasmania, particularly in the North, the past four years have been focused on the recruitment of professionals, improving the function of the Tasmanian Health Service, debate around the age of sending a child to school, and the commitment to extending high schools from grade 10 to grade 12.
Therefore there were no true surprises in the budget.
What was said in the election has been budgeted – albeit over the next four years and longer for some of the longer term projects like the Launceston General Hospital redevelopment and the Northern Prison.
And those key areas, the ones that cop the most criticism – received the largest slice of the pie.
Expenses by purpose showed 29.8 per cent for health and 26.5 per cent for education.
One surprise in the budget was the reveal that the state government had agreed to progress Calvary’s unsolicited proposal for a co-located adjacent hospital to the LGH.
Calvery, and now the state government, are of the belief that a co-located hospital would improve health facilities for the North.
This is why the multi-million dollar investment is a fantastic plan for Northern Tasmania.
The benefits will be endless – in particular attracting and accessing health professionals.
While it’s yet to be budgeted, the partnership was welcome news.
With a record spend on infrastructure over the next four years, there will be great optimism with 9300 jobs expected from the investment.
Overall, Northern Tasmanians should be happy with the level of investment and the opportunities they will create.