After inheriting a state budget completely free of debt, the Treasurer's Annual Financial Report released today shows Tasmania's debt is now higher than at any point this century.
Net debt is now $1.3 billion and Tasmania has almost nothing to show for it. Our hospitals are in crisis, our education results are going backwards and a record number of Tasmanians are waiting a record amount of time for housing.
The report also shows the Treasurer recklessly approved $123 million of spending on government advertising, consultants and travel - a massive 50 per cent increase under the Liberals.
Now, with the Liberals fully committed to building an unbudgeted $750 million stadium in Hobart, Tasmania's debt is only going to grow at a time when interest rates are rising rapidly.
Not only will Labor be left to fix the Liberals' budget mess-just like we did in the 2000s, and just like the Federal Government is having to do now-but Tasmanians will be paying for the Liberals' reckless budget management for years to come.
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Treasurer
