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 levels and fiscal trajectory.
The Budget Accountability and Oversight Committee Bill 2025 would have created a standing parliamentary committee to provide continuous scrutiny of fiscal sustainability and budget management – filling a critical gap in Tasmania’s accountability framework.
Ms Forrest expressed disappointment that members who have publicly raised concerns about the State’s finances ultimately chose to maintain the status quo.
“We are carrying levels of debt unprecedented in Tasmania’s history, with expenditure growth consistently outpacing revenue and no credible pathway back to surplus,” Ms Forrest said.
“This bill offered Parliament a transparent, accountable mechanism to scrutinize fiscal strategy on an ongoing basis – not just retrospectively. Members had a choice: support enhanced oversight or hope things improve on their own.
“The proposed amendments made crystal clear that this committee would make recommendations only – the government would remain entirely free to accept or reject them. This was about transparency and accountability, not constraint.”
The Bill would have required government to consider committee recommendations and respond publicly within three months – the bare minimum transparency any functional democracy should expect.
Key features of the rejected Bill:
- Continuous assessment of fiscal sustainability and adherence to sound fiscal management principles
- Complementary to the Public Accounts Committee’s retrospective work
- Advisory role with no power to bind government decisions
- Transparent, public reporting to Parliament
- Statutory review after 4-8 years to assess effectiveness
“Unlike the Treasurer’s Budget Review Panel, which operates entirely behind closed doors with no public scrutiny, this committee would have worked transparently in the public interest,” [Member name] said.
“Tasmanians deserve more than slogans about pathways to surplus. They deserve evidence that decisions are being tested against clear fiscal principles with independent scrutiny applied continuously, not just at election time.
“This was not about one party or one government – it was about creating an enduring mechanism to hold governments of any persuasion to account. That opportunity has now been lost.”
Hon Ruth Forrest MLC
Independent Member for Murchison