Opinion
Ruth’s opinion pieces and editorials on political, economic, and social issues facing Tasmania.
Hydro Tasmania: What the Numbers Show – A multi‑chapter analysis of operating performance, liquidity, structural risks, and public myths.
Over the next three weeks, I will be posting a new post daily, or thereabouts, related to how Hydro Tasmania actually earns money, how the National Electricity Market shapes its…
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IF THE PREMIER BELIEVES MARINUS WILL DELIVER $470M A YEAR, HE SHOULD PUBLISH MODELLING AND SHOW THE FLOWS
THE STATE GOVERNMENT’S NARRATIVE ON MARINUS LINK IS DRIFTING FURTHER FROM ECONOMIC REALITY Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s New Year message celebrates Tasmania’s economic strength and the confidence that underpins it. Confidence,…
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Hydro Tasmania: From Opportunistic Trader to Defensive Survivor
For nearly a century, Hydro Tasmania has been the fiscal workhorse of the state, underwriting services and cushioning budgets when other revenues faltered. That legacy is now under strain. Own‑source…
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Hydro Tasmania Group: A Closer Look at the Numbers
Introduction: Understanding Hydro Tasmania Recent headlines focused on Hydro Tasmania Group’s profit for 2024/25, which plummeted to just $7.5 million – a huge drop from the previous year. But that…
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Moody’s Downgrades Tasmania’s Credit Rating to Aa3
Moody’s Ratings has downgraded Tasmania’s credit rating from Aa2 to Aa3, citing a sharp and sustained increase in the state’s debt and interest burdens that has weakened Tasmania’s financial strength.…
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Tasmania’s Housing Crisis: When the Numbers Don’t Add Up
The Tasmanian Government proudly declares it’s on track to deliver 10,000 new affordable homes by 2032. Strip away the glossy headlines and what remains is a hollow boast built on…
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Tasmania’s Budget: Smoke, Mirrors, and a $20 Billion Debt Mountain
When Treasurer Eric Abetz delivered Tasmania’s 2025-26 State Budget promising “brightness and optimism,” both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s have not changed Tasmania’s outlook from Negative. When both credit rating…
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Tasmania’s Budget Crisis: Behind the Accounting Illusions
The 2025-26 State Budget promises a bright future while delivering accounting tricks, unrealistic assumptions, and a debt trajectory heading toward $20 billion. [...]Read More... from Tasmania’s Budget Crisis: Behind the…
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Operational vs Capital expenditure – a Treasurer’s fiscal and moral assessment
In a media interview this week, the Treasurer attempted to defend the government’s simultaneous pursuit of a $1+ billion stadium while cutting nearly 3,000 public sector positions. His defence rests…
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Beyond the Headlines: TasNetworks’ Deeper Financial Crisis
This update reflects on the financial position of TasNetworks and future challenges the company faces in the energy transition. [...]Read More... from Beyond the Headlines: TasNetworks’ Deeper Financial Crisis
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Hydro Tasmania’s Hidden Crisis
This update considers Hydro Tasmania's 2024/25 Annual Report - what did it tell us? [...]Read More... from Hydro Tasmania’s Hidden Crisis
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TTLine’s financial disaster: A short history
The unheralded lodgement of TTLine’s financial statements for the 24/25 year a little earlier than expected was a mixed blessing. On one hand it was pleasing to see the new…
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Newest Posts
- State Policies and Projects (Macquarie Point Precinct) Order 2025
- Parliament Misses Opportunity to Strengthen Budget Oversight as Fiscal Crisis Deepens
- Why I decided to accept the position of Treasurer if Tasmania has a Labor Minority government
- If you want to get to SurplusTown, would you start from here?
- Hydro Tasmania: What the Numbers Show – A multi‑chapter analysis of operating performance, liquidity, structural risks, and public myths.
- IF THE PREMIER BELIEVES MARINUS WILL DELIVER $470M A YEAR, HE SHOULD PUBLISH MODELLING AND SHOW THE FLOWS
- Hydro Tasmania: From Opportunistic Trader to Defensive Survivor
- ADJOURNMENT SPEECH – Christmas Greetings
- SENTENCING AMENDMENT (AGGRAVATING FACTORS) BILL 2025
- ABC Mornings with Leon Compton – 12 December 2025