Media Release – 4 November 2025 Member for Murchison, Hon Ruth Forrest MLC expressed her disappointment by rejection of accountability reforms despite widespread concern over State’s finances A Bill to establish enhanced parliamentary oversight of Tasmania’s deteriorating budget position has failed to secure support, despite members publicly expressing deep concern about the State’s unprecedented debt […]
There comes a time when life changing decisions need to be made. Do I continue as I have, drawing attention as best as I am able, to the shortcomings of government policies from both sides of the political fence, or do I, if the chance arose, accept a role where I may have greater input […]
There’s a sliver of hope—just a glimmer—that when the dust settles on this election, the battered survivors might finally face up to the fiscal mess Tasmania is in. But it’s a long shot. Because right now, neither major party seems to grasp the depth of the hole we’re in, let alone how to climb out […]
Read More… from If you want to get to SurplusTown, would you start from here?
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 headline number represents the entire Group, including electricity retailer Momentum Energy and Aurora Energy Tamar Valley (AETV), which operates a gas-fired plant for backup power. […]
Read More… from Hydro Tasmania Group: A Closer Look at the Numbers
You can listen to my latest interview with Ryk Goddard here: […]
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. The reasons given for this, not surprising downgrade when considered in light of the state budget before us, included a number of real issues.Tasmania’s net […]
Read More… from Moody’s Downgrades Tasmania’s Credit Rating to Aa3
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 creative accounting. The numbers simply don’t add up. When examining Homes Tasmania’s performance as reported in the 2024/25 Annual Report, isn’t just disappointing performance against […]
Read More… from Tasmania’s Housing Crisis: When the Numbers Don’t Add Up
Legislative Council, Wednesday 12 November 2025 Ms FORREST (Murchison) – Mr President, I rise to speak in support of the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Amendment Bill 2025. I understand the urgency and the nature of it and the briefings this morning to go through it in more rigorous detail. This is not merely […]
Read More… from Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Amendment Bill 2025
Legislative Council, Wednesday 12 November 2025 Ms FORREST (Murchison) – Mr President, when the Treasurer, Mr Eric Abetz, rose to deliver the 2025 26 state Budget on 6 November, his opening line promised brightness and optimism. He said Tasmania’s future continues to be bright, setting a tone of confidence and realistic optimism about the state’s […]
Read More… from MOTION – Noting Budget Papers 2025-26 and Appropriation Bills (No. 1 and No. 2)
You can listen to my interview on ABC Hobart’s Drive program here: […]
Read More… from ABC Hobart Drive – Public Accounts Committee Interim Report
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 agencies put you on negative watch simultaneously that’s a financial fire alarm. The Treasurer wants you focused on General Government debt reaching $10.4 billion, characterising […]
Read More… from Tasmania’s Budget: Smoke, Mirrors, and a $20 Billion Debt Mountain
Legislative Council, 11 November 2025 Today in Special Interest Matters I spoke about the Burnie Musical Society’s production of Come from Away. You can view the speech here: […]
The 2025-26 State Budget promises a bright future while delivering accounting tricks, unrealistic assumptions, and a debt trajectory heading toward $20 billion.
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Read More… from Tasmania’s Budget Crisis: Behind the Accounting Illusions
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 on a distinction between operational and capital expenditure, and a moral argument about intergenerational equity. These are serious economic principles that deserve serious consideration. But […]
Read More… from Operational vs Capital expenditure – a Treasurer’s fiscal and moral assessment
Legislative Council, Wednesday 5 November 2025 Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT, Mr VINCENT Aknowledging that motorcycle crashes are at record levels across Australia, the Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia (MRAA) has been lobbying to make entry‑level rider training and testing more accessible and affordable. Noting that it is vital that all motorcycle […]
