Premier Peter Gutwein is misleading Tasmanians when he tells them the Budget will be back in the black by 2024-25.
The simple fact is in 2024-25 Tasmania will be more than $3 billion in debt and borrowing another $420 million. It's what his own budget papers say.
Shadow Treasurer Shane Broad said Tasmanians would see through Peter Gutwein's shameful spin.
"Tasmanians aren't stupid, they know that if our debt is going up every year by hundreds of millions of dollars, we are definitely not back in the black," Dr Broad said.
"Premier Gutwein's Budget fantasy plan relies on borrowing money every year for four years, including $420 million in 2024-25 when we are all hoping COVID is well behind us.
"If he keeps going at that rate, Treasury tells us we will hit $30 billion in debt before we know it, ten times more than what we will have at the end of this four-year period.
"How can Mr Gutwein, who has now been Treasurer for over seven years, continue to put the state in this position?"
Dr Broad said Mr Gutwein continues to say everything is good, yet the state's finances were showing otherwise.
"This is Premier Gutwein's eighth Budget and Tasmanians have every right to ask where the state is headed under his watch.
"No more can the state rely on GST revenue, with the State and Federal Liberal Government's combining to leave Tasmania high and dry.
"This Budget has created more questions than answers, and after failing to mention debt in his speech yesterday it is time Mr Gutwein stopped avoiding the problems and started to address them."
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Treasurer
