Federal government's big spend on Tasmanian roads to be heavily back-ended

In the 2021-22 federal budget, which Treasurer Josh Frydenberg handed down on Tuesday night, details of the timeline for the funding were revealed.

Just $96.2 million of the promised funding will be spent over the forward estimates on infrastructure projects across the state.

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In 2021-22, a mere $4 million will flow to Tasmania, while in '22-23 we will see $17.2 million contributed by Canberra. In '24-25, $20.3 million will be delivered and then $55.7 million in '24-25.

That means $226.4 million will still be outstanding by the time 2025 arrives.

In bringing down his second budget since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Frydenberg told the Federal Parliament that the focus of the budget was recovery.

"Jobs are coming back," he said. "The economy is coming back. Australia is coming back." "This budget will ensure we come back even stronger, securing Australia's recovery."

The government has committed $17.7 billion for aged care, after the damining findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. For the childcare sector, $1.7 billion has been locked in over the next three years, while a suite of measures to assist first home-buyers has also been introduced.

In addition to infrastructure funding, Tasmania is set to receive $6 million to promote itself as a winter tourism destination, as well as $89.3 million over four years to extend the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme and $13.9 million over two years for energy sector skills development program Energising Tasmania.

Furthermore, the federal government will contribute $10.7 million to establish Veteran Wellbeing Centres in Tasmania and South-East Queensland. The centres will be designed to assist veterans to access local services, including health and mental health services, community organisations and advocacy and wellbeing support.

Independent economist Saul Eslake said Tasmania would likely enjoy a disproportionate benefit from increased spending on aged care, due to the state's ageing population.

"There have been long waits for aged and home care packages," he said. "If they're going to speed them up, that's probably a good thing."

Mr Eslake said boosting funding for roads would give employers in the building and construction industry the confidence to take on more apprentices and buy more equipment, which he said would help stimulate the economy. But he said this didn't "excuse poorly chosen projects".

"There's nothing [in the budget] about busting Hobart [traffic] congestion," he said. "But, on the other hand, I suppose why would they because [the Liberals] are never going to win Clark or Franklin - the two Southern electorates haven't sent a Liberal member to parliament since 1990."

Tasmanian Labor senator Helen Polley said Tasmanians wanted a budget that was "heavy on delivery" but "this government hasn't actually delivered ... because they're all promise, no delivery".

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