The independent economist, Saul Eslake, has described the State Budget as a missed opportunity to address urgent fiscal challenges.
Mr Eslake conducted a review of the state’s finances last year after a request from the government by Jacqui Lambie Network MPs and is currently providing advice on a proposal to privatise some public assets.
Speaking on Tasmania Mornings, Mr Eslake tells Mel Bush that the government has kicked the can down the road on difficult decisions regarding taxation, cost-cutting, and the privatisation of public assets.
“There are lots of things the government could do if it wanted to pay for the spending it wants to undertake, as opposed to putting it on the tab, which is what they’ve been doing for the last 11 years,” he said.