The management of the State Budget is the key government instrument for implementing economic policy.  Budgets need to be assessed on long term environmental, social and cultural impacts.

The Tasmanian Greens produce an Alternative Budget Statement each year where specific consideration is given to the integration of social and environmental objectives with economic priorities. This is the same approach we will take in government.

The Greens’ Alternative Budget Statement has demonstrated how we intend to realise our vision for a healthy, compassionate Tasmania, leading in sound economic management that incorporates environmental protection and social justice.

We will keep publicly owned assets and natural resources in public hands to pass on to the next generation. They are vital in ensuring the most economically efficient provision of public services and are important in meeting the needs of future generations. 

We advocate that resource rentals reflect the cost of depletion of non-renewable resources and ecosystem impacts.

The Greens believe that, for the best economic outcomes, budgets should remain balanced over the long economic cycles but that government borrowings should be used to build public infrastructure that will last for, and be available to, future generations.

Measures

Three Criteria for Budget Assessment: ensure that, when in government, a ‘triple bottom line’ principle of People, Place, Prosperity is adopted which measures all budget proposals against the requirements of social justice, ecological sustainability and economic wellbeing; develop a set of social, economic and environmental indicators that provide a report on Government, community and industry progress, and which provide criteria for measuring intergenerational equity planning; issue public reports on a quarterly basis on those indicators through the Treasurer, and require independent assessment of the reports by the Auditor-General

Resource Rentals: ensure payments which reflect the use of public resources and the loss of non-renewable assets; progressively withdraw state subsidies for environmentally damaging and job-shedding industries and divert incentives towards a clean, green and clever economy; require a dividend from government business enterprises based on a fair return on equity; investigate and implement pollution taxes

Stamp Duty:  abolish stamp duty on insurances in line with calls by consumer and taxpayer groups to benefit businesses, ordinary citizens, community groups, and to promote increased insurance coverage

Clean, Green and Clever Development:  support the transition to a clean, green and clever economy; support cradle-to-cradle practices by business;  support eco-effective technology, products and services;  support education and training, enabling Tasmanians to live sustainably

Government Practices:  judge government procurement against the principles of social justice, ecological sustainability, democratic processes and general economic security;  show government leadership in ethical purchasing; preference Tasmanian goods, services and imported products that are fair-trade certified;  meet the highest environmental standards by engaging in full recycling and energy efficiency