SUCCESS! – The operation to inject some Budget Accountability into the Government via my motion today (9/4/25) was a success. I’m happy to report the patient (the Government) – albeit a reluctant patient – will be in better economic health thanks to my motion being passed by a greater number of concerned others in the House of Assembly.
The patient though – which unfortunately for itself voted unsuccessfully against my Budget Accountability treatment – is not out of the woods, lacking insight into its dire predicament and must continue its course of accountability which the minority parliament is happy to administer.
Motion on Budget Accountability – Wednesday 9 April 2025
Ms Johnston moved that the House
1. Orders the Treasurer to make a statement to the House within 30 days of the release of a Budget Paper or Revised Estimate Report detailing the actions it will take in the following 12 months to meet the targets over the forward estimates, should the Budget Papers and/or the Revised Estimates Report show the Government has not met or will not meet one or more of its fiscal targets during any of the financial years for which Forward Estimates are provided.
2. Calls on the Treasurer to fund within the 2025/2026 Budget the establishment of a parliamentary budget office.
3. As a matter of urgency, calls on the Treasurer to table in the House a bill to amend the Charter of Budget Responsibility Act in accordance with the recommendations contained in the Eslake Report “Independent Review of Tasmania’s State Finances”.
4. Calls on the Government to implement by the end of 2025 the recommendations from the Integrity Commission Paper 2: Grant Commitments in Election Campaigns to ensure election commitments of public money are efficient, effective, economical and ethical.