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Tasmania's Premier Jeremy Rockliff has repeatedly said since taking office in April that he wanted to lead a government "with heart".
Some of that shows in the first budget he and Treasurer Michael Ferguson have handed down, particularly where it funds child safety, health, cost of living and housing.
Health, mental health and housing account for significant spending, but services have been unable to keep up with demand for years, meaning there is a long way to go if those areas are to be considered "winners".
For the first time, the budget includes a "gender budget statement".
Some areas have had funding increased, while others — although on the receiving end of government money — will still struggle to meet demand or satisfy needs.
Let's have a look at some of the winners and losers.
Loser: Education
According to the Australian Education Union, Tasmanian schools are at breaking point as they deal with staff shortages caused by COVID-19.
The union says addressing staff shortages, reducing class sizes and giving more support to new educators are needed.
The government will spend $69.7 million in 2022-23 – and a total of $250 million over four years — on school upgrades, and an extra $10 million in 2022-23 to enhance outdoor learning spaces.
The focus of the budget is on improving infrastructure and administration systems, which, while important, do not address the staffing issues.
Winner: Child safety
Horrifying stories of child sexual abuse have been emerging, particularly over the past few years.
An independent review of the child sexual abuse in public schools in Tasmania has been done and the commission of inquiry looking at the government's responses to child sexual abuse in state institutions — including schools — is underway.
The government will commit $36.4 million over four years to implement the recommendations of the Education Department review. Funding also includes:
- $2.6 million over four years for mandatory professional development for all Education Department staff in understanding, preventing and responding to child sexual abuse in schools
- $1.3 million over two years from 2022-23 to support children and young people affected by harmful sexual behaviours
- $3.8 million over four years to employ more psychologists and social workers in schools
- $2.6 million over three years to staff the Office of Safeguarding Children and Young People
- $760,000 over two years for the Teachers Registration Board to employ up to three full-time equivalent staff members
- An additional $2.2 million towards the government's response to the commission of inquiry
Neutral: Health
Health spending is continuing to increase, but so is demand for and the cost of providing healthcare.
In this year's budget, health spending will increase to $11.2 billion, accounting for 33.6 per cent of the budget's total operating expenditure — up from 28 per cent in 2013-14.
The main item in the health budget is a $150 million allocation over four years for digital health that will better connect Tasmania’s community health care centres and hospitals, making it easier for people to access healthcare where they need it.
There is funding for 11 new paramedics for the Huonville and Sorell ambulance stations, and an extra $50 million to continue the beds that were opened in December when travel restrictions eased.
There is $1.5 million allocated to support improved health outcomes for Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
While the extra funding will be welcomed, there is no denying the challenges facing the state's health system – responding to COVID-19, recruitment and retention of staff, and hospitals under strain.
Neutral: Mental health
Mental health services in Tasmania have struggled to keep up with demand for many years.
The budget includes funding for what Premier Jeremy Rockliff describes as "our long-term vision to transform the mental health system, alcohol and drug services, and boost preventative health measures".
The government is continuing to fund $45.2 million for reforms to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
The budget includes funding for community support options for people who are experiencing mental health distress, and to expand the pilot Emergency Mental Health Co-response model, which has supported 400 people in the south, to become a state-wide service.
Winner: Law and order
An additional 21 police officers are funded in the budget, and the entire police force will have its guns upgraded over the next three years, costing $760,000. There is an allocation of $10 million to replace Police Vessel Van Diemen.
The budgetconfirms $15.1 million for two multidisciplinary centres for victim-survivors of sexual and family violence.
Counsellors and police investigators will be available at the centres. There is also $4.9 million for Tasmania’s integrated response to family violence, the Safe at Home program.
Funding has also been announced to help reduce the backlog of criminal court cases, with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to receive an extra $125,000 a year for four years.
Winner: Roads and public transport
Roads and bridge upgrades are receiving $2.7 billion in this budget, including $731 million for the new $786 million Bridgewater bridge, and $633 million over the next four years for "roads of strategic importance". There is also $64 million for road safety projects.
There is $19 million allocated over four years to make the Bellerive-Hobart ferry service permanent, there is also funding for wharf upgrades at Bellerive.
Neutral: Housing
Demand for social housing remains high in Tasmania, with about 4,000 people on the social housing waiting list. Shelter Tasmania has called for a target for 10 per cent of homes to be affordable social rental housing with a yearly aim of delivering at least 1,000 new affordable homes.
In the budget, $538 million is allocated over four years for social and affordable housing and homelessness initiatives, with $204 million of that to be spent in 2022-23.
Construction Minister Guy Barnett says 1,169 homes will be built during the financial year. He says Tasmania's new housing authority, which will be responsible for building and acquiring those homes, is expected to be operating by October.
The budget includes $6.9 million to continue to provide Safe Space homeless shelters and the support staff who work in them, in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.
Funding has also been announced for crisis and transitional housing around the state.
Neutral: Sports, tourism and events
The budget provides $1.3 million for the AFL Team Taskforce and a stadium feasibility study as Tasmania continues its push for an AFL team. There is nothing for the stadium itself, despite the task force recommending it if Tasmania's bid is to be successful.
There is also funding for Tasmania to stage the Ironman 70.3 event in Hobart in February.
For tourism, there is an extra $10 million to help the tourism sector recover from COVID-19, and $2 million to support a direct Air New Zealand service between Hobart and Auckland.
The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery will receive an extra $1.3 million over four years.
Neutral: Environment
The budget provides $10 million over four years to support the work of the Environment Protection Authority which has been separated from the Natural Resources and Environment Department. The independent body will also receive an increase in funding of $2 million per year for its environmental assessment work.
Another $10 million over four years has been allocated to implement the government’s next climate change action plan.
Also costing $10 million over four years is a plan to replace the state's ageing fossil fuel boilers in schools, hospitals and jails.
A biosecurity strategy for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area will receive $3.3 million. The strategy will focus on invasive weeds, animals and diseases.
There is $1.3 million to support Tasmanian Aboriginal organisations undertake cultural burning on Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service-managed land.