Tasmania to continue to benefit from fund for retrenched workers in 2019-20 federal budget

The fund will be split between eight locations and aide workers who are facing retrenchment, or have been retrenched, so they can transition into new jobs. There will be $434.3 million dedicated to the fund over three years following next financial year.

A $25 million job and growth innovation fund for Tasmania will start from next financial year, according to budget papers.

The fund will run over three years with $75 million to be contributed to it in 2020-21 and $40 million in its final year.

There will be $6.8 million dedicated to regional employment trials but papers do not reveal whether Tasmania will be a beneficiary of the program.

Senator Richard Colbeck highlighted the budget had outlined a rise in education funding for Tasmanian schools from $454 million in 2019 to $629 million in 2029.

This includes a $30 million fund for upgrades to libraries, classrooms and play equipment, he said.

The federal government will continue to provide $2 million in literacy support each year over the forward estimates.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in his budget address said there would be $525 million invested to upgrade and modernise the vocational education and sector.

Braddon MHR Justine Keay said the budget failed to reverse $3 billion cuts to TAFE and apprenticeships made since the Liberals' first year in office which had cost 700 apprenticeships on the North-West.