Tasmania Greens party press release:
The Tasmanian Greens today responded to the State Budget by outlining a vision for Tasmania as a global leader in a carbon constrained world, investing in intergenerational infrastructure and skilling the Tasmanian work force in low emissions technology.
Greens Leader and Treasury spokesperson Nick McKim MP launched the Greens’ Sustainable Infrastructure Fund initiative during his Budget Reply speech, announcing that the entire funds generated by the sale of TOTE Tasmania would be quarantined to invest in projects that have intergenerational value for the Tasmanian community.
Mr McKim also reiterated the Fiscal Strategy that was launched in the Greens’ Alternative Budget Statement last week, which adopted a revised position of maintaining the State Budget in surplus on a six-year rolling average basis.
“In contrast to the Bartlett government, which has failed to position Tasmania to take responsibility for its own future in a carbon-constrained world and to generate its own well-being, the Greens are prepared to take responsibility for its own future instead of relying on federal funds,” Mr McKim said.
Launching the Sustainable Infrastructure Fund
“The Greens today announce that we would invest the entire funds generated by the sale of TOTE into a fund that would invest in building Tasmania for the future that we all know is coming.”
“The Greens’ Sustainable Infrastructure Fund would invest in projects that have intergenerational value, and will be useful for our children, and their children.”
“While the Bartlett government aims to use the TOTE a sale funds for pre-election pork barrelling, the Greens would quarantine that money for investment in the future.”
“Key social priorities that the Greens would prioritise funding from the Sustainable Infrastructure Fund are purchasing the rail network from Asciano, invigorating our cities, and invest in a future Hobart hospital fund.”
Mr McKim also announced that the Greens would redirect some government Budget allocations for roads into public transport and freight rail.
21st Century Transport Solutions: Redirect Road Funding into Public Transport and Rail
“For too long Tasmanian taxpayers’ money has been thrown at new roads while public transport and 21st century transport solutions have been underfunded or ignored completely.”
“The Greens would identify immediate savings of $5.4 million this year, and $100 million over the forward estimates, by deferring or not proceeding with some of Labor’s carbon intensive road projects.”
The Greens’ 21st Century Transport Solutions proposal would:
- Install seatbelts in every school bus in Tasmania, to make our children safer.
- Invest in Park and Ride facilities at Kingston, we can revolutionise transport into town for the people from the Southern suburbs and beyond.
- Invest in passenger light rail, proceeding with feasibility studies and construction in Hobart’s northern suburbs and along the north-west coast.
- Modernising Tasmania’s bus fleet.
- Cycling infrastructure
