PBOs supply non-partisan advice to non-government MPs on Budget issues and policy costings.
It’s time Tasmania had a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), a small independent team of experts employed to advise non-government MPs about the state’s finances, about how the government spends your money.
Victoria and the federal governments are already well served by PBOs.
Because it’s the job of parliaments to make sure public money is spent wisely.
But in Tasmania that job can’t be done properly without a PBO.
The Government has access to the full support of the public service to help it cost policies and shape a Budget.
But non-government MPs – especially the crossbench – have nothing like that kind of support. In no way is it a level playing field.
So, Parliament’s ability to properly scrutinise government decisions is severely weakened.
That’s why I believe it’s time for a PBO to supply non-partisan advice on budget issues and policy costings.
PBOs have proven their worth by helping MPs test ideas, analyse spending, and hold governments to account. They’ve made parliaments stronger, and public debate more informed.
Tasmania could benefit from the same.
A Tasmanian PBO doesn’t have to be large or expensive. A small permanent team could operate year-round, providing advice and costings when needed.
During election periods, the office could scale up temporarily to allow all parties and independents to have their policies fairly costed – improving transparency and accountability for voters.
Tasmanians deserve a Parliament that can meaningfully scrutinise how public money is spent.
They deserve to know whether policies are affordable, responsible, and fair.
A PBO would help provide those answers and raise the standard of debate in our state.
This idea also comes with expert backing. In his recent Independent Review of Tasmania’s State Finances, respected economist Saul Eslake recommended that our state follow the federal and Victorian examples and establish a PBO.
We cannot afford to leave Parliament under-resourced while expecting it to properly check the work of government. Without the right tools and advice, we risk poor decisions, wasted money, and a lack of trust in the system.
Let’s change that. Let’s give Parliament the expert support it needs. Let’s make public finances clearer, more responsible, and more accountable—because more than ever we need to be sure the government can manage the budget in the public interest.
A well-designed PBO would be good for democracy, good for public confidence, and good for Tasmania’s future.