Opinion
Ruth’s opinion pieces and editorials on political, economic, and social issues facing Tasmania.
Hybrid Budget buys time but at what cost to a State struggling with its leadership
Tasmanian needs a real budget, not a stopgap, to guide our future. The test of leadership is not how long you can delay hard decisions, but whether you have the…
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MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 4
This is my fourth post focu sing on the Marinus Whole of State Business Case. It is focused on risk, uncertainty, the need for subsidies and the impact on Tasmanians…
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MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC)- Number 3
This is the third post in a series of posts to break down some of the information publicly available in the heavily redacted Marinus Whole of State Business Case. This…
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MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 2
Over coming days I will post a number of updates breaking down some of the information provided in the publicly released (and heavily redacted) Whole of State Business Case -…
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MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Update 1
Over coming days I will post a number of updates breaking down some of the information provided in the publicly released (and heavily redacted) Whole of State Business Case -…
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INDEPENDENCE MATTERS Fiscal crisis demands collaboration, evidence-based solutions, and honest accounting
THERE comes a time when you have to decide: keep calling out failures from the sidelines, or step forward to help fix them. After two decades of parliamentary service, I…
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Tassie’s polls a distraction to more pressing issue the huge bills we face on Marinus Link decision
A multibillion-dollar risk to a small state under financial strain has greater benefits for the mainland than Tasmania, writes Ruth Forrest As Tasmanians headed to the polls at the weekend,…
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If you want to get to SurplusTown, would you start from here?
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…
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Tasmania’s 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…
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Serious matters that must be discussed during this election
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…
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Obscured spending decisions undermine public trust in the budget figures
There is a critical need for budget honesty and transparency, writes Ruth Forrest In any democracy, clear, honest budgeting is the foundation of public trust. The Tasmanian government’s 2025-26 Budget,…
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Tasmanians Deserve the Truth
What we’ve witnessed in the Tasmanian Parliament this week is deeply disappointing — not only in tone and conduct, but in its complete failure to address the very real, urgent…
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Newest Posts
- Why I decided to accept the position of Treasurer if Tasmania has a Labor Minority government
- Tassie’s polls a distraction to more pressing issue the huge bills we face on Marinus Link decision
- If you want to get to SurplusTown, would you start from here?
- Tasmania’s Pre-Election Budget Warning
- Hybrid Budget buys time but at what cost to a State struggling with its leadership
- MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 4
- ABC Mornings – 25-26 Budget
- MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC)- Number 3
- MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 2
- MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Update 1