There’s a slither of hope, a small shaft on sunlight trying to shine on an otherwise bleak election battleground, that when the dusts settles, the survivors – I won’t call them victors at this stage – might help to build on what we’ve learned, to build a better future. It’s only a slither of hope […]
Read More… from Election Update No 15: The pathway to surplus
The Premier released his long awaited Fiscal Strategy yesterday. If credit ratings agencies stumble on a copy we’re bound to be downgraded. It doesn’t comply with the Act. There are no targets for each of the next four years as required. Only a cut and paste of recycled motherhood statements and objectives plagiarised from Saul […]
Read More… from Election Update number 14: The Liberal Fiscal Strategy
When Kerry Packer told a Parliamentary Committee back in 1991 that he did everything possible to ensure he paid a little tax as possible “….because as a government, I can tell you, you’re not spending it that well that we should be donating extra….” it made it even harder for governments to gain acceptance from […]
Read More… from Election Update number 13: Revenue: the taboo topic
If I’d known where the election campaign was to lead I would have titled these posts: Dispatches from the War Zone. For that’s what it has become. If one thing has become glaringly obvious since the election campaign began, it’s how totally unprepared and ill-equipped all participants are for the momentous task ahead to get […]
Read More… from Election Update number 12: Labor’s fiscal strategy and beyond
It’s official. The government will have to cobble together a new fiscal strategy by Thursday 3rd July. There was a fiscal strategy included in the proposed 25/26 Budget but those documents have now been thrown out with the rubbish. When I was writing Update number 8, I checked the Treasury website to see if the […]
Read More… from Election update number 11: PEFO what it means for the election campaign
The purpose of this update is to put the recently released Pre-Election Outlook (PEFO) report into context. What is the purpose of PEFO and why did Treasury issue it in the form it did? It is important to remember the PEFO is prepared by Treasury, not the government or the Treasurer. The current PEFO might […]
Read More… from Election update number 10: Pre-Election Budget Warning
Tasmania’s Treasury has just delivered what might be the most passive-aggressive pre-election financial report in State history. The Pre-Election Financial Outlook (PEFO) released in June 2025 is not only a warning – it’s a damning indictment of budgetary smoke and mirrors, political spin, and the kind of financial sleight of hand that would make a […]
Following the release of Treasury’s Pre Election Financial Outlook yesterday it is vital all Tasmanians understand the scale of the budget problem we have and what needs to be done. The starting point for Treasury’s Pre Election Financial Outlook (PEFO) report was the latest set of Budget figures. In this case it was the 24/25 Revised […]
Read More… from Election Update number 9: Pre Election Financial Outlook (PEFO)
This Opinion Piece is a summary of my Election Updates to date to fill a void in the mainstream media and public commentary on critical issues that should be considered and front and center of the election campaign. The Macquarie Point stadium debate is fast becoming Tasmania’s political Bermuda Triangle—swallowing scrutiny, sinking fiscal transparency, and […]
Read More… from Serious matters that must be discussed during this election
The rule of law and the strength of our institutions is what is supposed to help make us a civilised society. Developing a set of guardrails for responsible budgeting was perceived to be a missing link which was addressed by the Charter of Budget Responsibility Bill 2007. The then Premier, in his second reading speech […]
Read More… from Election Update number 8: Budget responsibility revisited
The Board of Marinus Link (MLPL) has recommended proceeding with the Marinus project and each of the three shareholders now need to make a decision before jointly convening to decide. The decision to proceed wasn’t unexpected. It would have been surprising if they had voted themselves out of a job. The Tasmanian government owns a […]
Read More… from Election update number 7: Marinus and caretaker government
Now that the major parties are on a unity ticket for the development of the Mac Point stadium there’s no incentive for them to raise peripheral issues, and anyone outside the tent who does so is jumped on by the majors as negative and misguided in what’s best for Tasmania. It is now recognised that […]
Read More… from Election update number 6: Stadium peripheral matters
