Our Plan for Tasmania

We have a plan to get Australia back on track and address our nation’s cost of living crisis.

Tasmanians have worked hard to build a reputation across the globe for pristine products of the highest quality. From wine to seafood to tourism, Tasmania’s industries need a government in Canberra that gets them, and backs them.

The Coalition will stand up for local jobs, local communities and local families. We will fight for the future of Tasmania’s tourism sector, our local farmers, our forestry industry, our fisheries and local infrastructure.

When a government gets its priorities wrong, its policies go wrong, and things go wrong for the Australian people. The Albanese Labor Government has spent three years prioritising a divisive $450 million Voice referendum and the agendas of Greens activists and militant CFMEU bosses instead of addressing the cost of living crisis facing Tasmanians.

The alternative to a strong Dutton Government is a weak minority Albanese Labor Government held hostage by the Australian Greens, whom they will need to rely on for support. 

Tasmanians know there are few things worse for local jobs and local families than a Labor-Greens Government focused on appeasing activists rather than a government standing up for local jobs and local families.

Hard working Tasmanians should expect to be appreciated by their federal government. They pay taxes and export quality products around the world. Unfortunately, as the salmon farmers of Macquarie Harbour can attest, that’s not what they have experienced from the Albanese Labor Government.

They have experienced a government that has spent two years negotiating with the Greens on ‘nature positive’ laws that are designed to delay and block Tasmania’s forestry, fishing and mining projects. That means fewer jobs and business opportunities in Tasmania today, and for future generations.

Tasmania is special and unique. Tasmanians needs a government in Canberra that understands Tasmania and is making decisions that are good for Tasmanians. A Dutton Government in Canberra will work together with Tasmania’s Liberal Government to support and deliver for Tasmanians.

A Dutton Coalition Government will:

• Provide $65 million to fix the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme
• Commit $80 million to funding the duplication of the Bass Highway between Launceston and Deloraine
• Allocate $37 million to improve Launceston and Flinders Island airports
• Commit $150 million to the South-East Irrigation Scheme
• Deliver $750 million for Tasmania’s hospitals for 2025-26, which is an increase of $90 million from 2024-25
• Establish Urgent Care Clinics in Burnie and Sorrell
• Provide $8 million for the Burnie Health Hub
• Provide lasting certainty to the salmon industry
• Establish new Permanent Timber Production Zones
• Support Australian timber manufacturing 

Helping Tasmanian Families

Peter Dutton and the Coalition know that Tasmanian families are struggling with the cost of living crisis. A Dutton Government will deliver low inflation, cheaper energy, affordable housing, safer communities and better healthcare.

We will make important investments in Tasmania to support local jobs, local families, our timber and forestry sector, our salmon producers, our farmers, our tourism operators and our local community groups. 

We will provide $65 million to fix the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, providing a 33 per cent increase in funding for the scheme.

Unlike Labor and the Greens, we will guarantee the future of Tasmania’s mining, forestry and salmon industries. These industries have thrived in Tasmania for generations, but Labor and the Greens have sought to target these sectors with excessive regulation and ‘green tape’. 

Peter Dutton will also provide immediate relief to Tasmanian families by slashing the petrol and diesel excise in half by 25c a litre. This will save a household with one vehicle filling up once a week around $14 or over $700 a year, with two vehicle households saving approximately $28 a week or around $1500 a year. Labor will not cut fuel excise because they are chasing preferences from the Australian Greens.

We will also assist young Tasmanian families in their quest to enter the housing market, by allowing first home buyers to access up to $50,000 from their superannuation to put towards a home deposit.

The Coalition will invest an extra $9.4 billion in Medicare nationwide, including additional funding for mental health. We will establish new urgent care clinics in both Burnie and Sorell and invest $8 million to support the new Burnie Health Hub.

Labor and the Greens have also given activist groups millions of taxpayers’ dollars to attack these sectors – a Dutton Government will reverse this appalling use of your money by defunding the Environmental Defenders Office.

The Coalition will also stand against Labor’s plans to set up an “Environmental Protection Authority”, which will not protect the environment but instead drive up the cost of housing and energy.

Tasmanians need a Dutton Government which understands the needs of local families, small businesses and communities, not a Labor Government which is busy chasing approval from Greens activists on the mainland.

Infrastructure

An elected Dutton Government is committing $80 million to duplicate the 50km stretch of the Bass Highway to a consistent four lane dual highway between Launceston and Deloraine, including intersection upgrades and additional vehicle rest areas and overtaking lanes. This restores the $80 million in funding that Labor ripped away in 2023.  

This investment will be critical to realising the Tasmanian State Liberal Government’s 10-year Bass Highway Corridor strategy to duplicate the Bass Highway from Launceston to Devonport. The Bass Highway is a key freight link in Tasmania’s Northwest which provides a critical connection to ports, industries and the Northwest Coast community.

We are also committing to deliver $37 million to improve Launceston Airport and Flinders Island Airport, supporting growth in tourism, trade and the continuation of critical regional aviation services across the state’s north.

Launceston Airport is Tasmania’s northern gateway, and makes a significant contribution to the growing economy of the state, including by supporting hundreds of local jobs.

A Dutton Government will contribute $27 million towards the $100 million development of the airport to support the major upgrade of the airport terminal and airfield redevelopment, and includes $2 million towards the detailed business case for a new Freight and Logistics Hub.

We are also committing $10 million for the Flinders Island Airport upgrade – Stage 2 to resurface and reconstruct the runway.

This funding will address critical infrastructure needs at Flinders Island, significantly benefiting the community through increased connectivity with Tasmania and the mainland.

The Coalition will also commit $150 million to the South-East Irrigation Scheme. This will deliver improved water supply for more than 300 farmers and irrigators, even at the driest times of the year, and support farmers to enhance the region’s reputation for stone fruits, berries, high quality wine grapes, and fresh vegetables. This funding will underpin the region’s tourism appeal and provide a long-term sustainable contribution to the regional economy, along with supporting around 200 jobs during construction, and 468 in the long term.

A Dutton Government will invest $600 million over four years to establish a new nationwide Agriculture & Mining Roads Program, delivering targeted upgrades to roads in regional Australia necessary for transporting our quality agricultural produce and resources to markets.

The program will invest in sealing, widening and strengthening critical roads and highways, bridge replacement and strengthening, improving access for trucks, as well as flood immunity and resilience upgrades.

Fixing the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme

An elected Dutton Government will commit $65 million to support Tasmanian industry and address increased costs of travelling to and from Tasmania to the mainland. This is a 33 per cent increase in funding.

Peter Dutton and the Tasmanian Liberal team recognise the importance of Tasmanian businesses and farmers being able to sell their goods interstate and to the rest of the world. For many years, the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme has been an important mechanism to ensure that Tasmanians are not disadvantaged due to our state’s isolation, and has provided important opportunities for Tasmanian small businesses and farmers.

Tasmanian businesses have been struggling for too long with increasing costs of shipping goods and agricultural produce to the mainland, and the costs of bringing production inputs to the island.

Unfortunately the Albanese Government’s high inflation has undermined the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme by not keeping up with rising shipping costs, which has meant that fewer Tasmanian businesses have been able to access this assistance. Despite Labor having a Tasmanian Assistant Minister in charge of this scheme for much of their term, they have done nothing.

Peter Dutton and the Coalition will provide interim assistance to increase the support provided to Tasmanian farmers and businesses accessing the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme. This responds to industry’s request regarding the rising freight cost disadvantage and increased intermodal costs. This assistance will be available for north and south bound freight, as well as between Tasmania, Flinders and King islands.

A Dutton Government will also conduct an independent review of the Scheme, as recommended by the recent Senate Select Committee. This review will also consider the design and settings of the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme, which many Tasmanians use to access services on the mainland.

Protecting our salmon industry

A Dutton Government will secure the future of Australia’s salmon industry.

Unlike Labor, who subjected the Tasmanian salmon farming industry to an 18-month review process that placed its entire future in jeopardy, the Coalition will stand firm with the industry and end the uncertainty. 

We will change the laws to stop such a catastrophic process from ever happening again.

Tasmania’s salmon industry is a global leader, employing thousands of workers and contributing significantly to the state’s economy. It needs to be decisively supported, and deserves far better than lip service, quick political fixes and workarounds.

Nothing is certain with the Labor Party if they are re-elected. Labor remains bitterly divided over protections for salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.

Laws will almost certainly be changed or unpicked in a minority Labor-Greens Government. A renewed pursuit of their dangerous Nature Positive agenda and a Federal Environment Protection Authority could have devastating consequences for Tasmania.

We acknowledge the importance of protecting the Maugean Skate.

However, there must be a sensible, sustainable balance between the conservation of our precious and unique natural environments and safeguarding the economic and social future of communities. 

A Dutton Coalition Government will also immediately end the taxpayer funding and encouragement that Labor has provided to radical environmental activist groups, especially the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO). 

It is outrageous that Australian taxpayers are directly funding activists whose mission is specifically to disrupt and even end mining and other primary industry projects across Australia.

We will always stand with hardworking Tasmanians, backing policies that secure jobs, food production, and regional prosperity, not political games that put entire industries at risk. We unashamedly support Tasmania’s world-class salmon industry, and we won’t let it be shut down by activist-driven politics.

Supporting Tasmania’s Forestry Industry

Peter Dutton and the Coalition recognise the importance of the forestry industry in Tasmania.

Tasmania has a long history of producing high quality timber products which are exported domestically and overseas. Tasmania’s forestry industry supports over 5,700 direct and indirect jobs and contributes $1.2 billion to the Tasmanian economy. 

Labor has stood by as the Greens push for total industry shutdowns, despite Australia’s forestry sector being one of the most sustainable in the world.

The reckless closure of native forestry operations in Victoria and Western Australia is a warning sign Tasmania and New South Wales are next.

This will cost thousands of jobs, raise the price of timber products and force Australia to import wood from countries with far weaker environmental standards.

Our plan will ensure Tasmania’s forestry sector has certainty to grow, and remain strong, sustainable, and a key part of our nation’s future.

A Dutton Coalition Government will provide $40 million in matched grants to establish a new Timber Manufacturing Expansion Program to increase timber production capacity in our country. To be eligible, timber mills must utilise wood from their own state or territory and, as a result, create more jobs in regional communities.

A Dutton Government will not support any further bans on native forestry. We will work with States and Territories to establish Permanent Timber Production Zones, which will be set aside for ongoing access to timber resources in perpetuity, both native forests and plantations.

These zones have already been in use in Tasmania and are aimed at permitting ongoing timber harvesting in designated areas whilst also achieving more sustainable biodiversity outcomes.

The Coalition knows that forestry is practised in Australia at a higher standard than in any other country in the world. Governments need to grow this industry, and yet the Labor Party has instead been presiding over policies that threaten its future and are increasingly compelling Australians to import timber from overseas countries with far weaker environmental standards.

The Coalition completely rejects the approach to undermine and curtail our native forestry industry from parts of the Labor Party, the Greens, the Teals, and various environmental activist groups. These organisations continually, and illogically, seek to impose bans on various forestry activities – especially native forestry.

Disturbingly, the Labor candidate for Bass has candidly stated that she supports the ending of native forestry.

Bans and other actions purportedly aimed at stopping or reducing forestry activity in Australia on environmental grounds are completely counterproductive, as they only serve to divert this activity to areas of the world with lower environmental standards than ours.

There is a very clear choice at the election – a Coalition Government under Peter Dutton who will support the forestry industry, or a Labor Government beholden to the Greens and the Teals who will stifle the forestry sector in green tape.

Health

Under Labor, it has never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor across Tasmania.

Bulk billing rates in Tasmania have fallen under the Albanese Government from 78.3% to 70.1%, making it harder for Tasmanian families to see a doctor.

Peter Dutton and the Coalition will invest $9.4 billion in extra funding in Medicare nationwide. As part of this package, a Dutton Government will invest over $500 million to restore critical Medicare mental health funding, after Labor ripped away the affordable extra mental health support required by more than 372,000 Australians.

This will double the number of Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions that Australians can access, from 10 to 20, and on a permanent basis. This substantial investment will ensure that Australians in regional, rural and remote communities have affordable access to the mental health support they need.

A Dutton Government will provide $750 million for Tasmania’s hospitals for 2025-26, which is an increase of $90 million from 2024-25.

The Coalition will also establish a new urgent care clinic in both Burnie and Sorell to help alleviate pressure on hospital services in those communities. This will complement the five other urgent care clinics currently operating in Tasmania.

An elected Dutton Coalition Government will also contribute $8 million to establish the Burnie Health Hub. This will form part of a $24 million investment, including funding from the state government and private sector.

The integrated health hub will incorporate a Medicare Urgent Care and GP clinic, a pharmacy open 7 days a week, state government health services and not for profit wrap-around services.

Investing in our local communities

The Coalition recognises the importance of investing in local community, sporting and recreational facilities, particularly in regional areas.

A Dutton Government will provide direct investment into building and upgrading sporting and community facilities, including:

• $5.4 million to upgrade Symmons Plains Raceway, Tasmania’s premier motorsport venue. This upgrade will include enhanced driver training amenities, the refurbishment of the function centre, a new digital flag point lighting system, a control tower upgrade and an improved media centre.
• $5 million to construct the Legana Basketball and Community Centre within the precinct of the new Legana Primary School to benefit young families, local basketball associations and the wider community.
• $2.25 million for the Sorell Community Cultural Precinct and Men’s shed relocation to facilitate a new cultural precinct which will feature performing arts facilities and support local historical groups. The new Men’s Shed site will enable more local men to come together to participate in grassroots projects, events and programs for the benefit of the community.
• $2.1 million towards the Inglis Riparian Restoration and Walking Track Upgrade in Wynyard to encourage outdoor recreation, upgrade a well utilised community asset to make it safer for people of all ages and abilities and restore an important habitat for the Tasmanian Azure kingfisher.
• $1.89 million to upgrade the Bicheno Surf Life Saving Club to promote greater community safety and ensure the club can cater to its growing membership and continue to provide essential life-saving services, foster community engagement and contribute to the economic and social fabric of the region.
• $1.4 million to upgrade the Fairway Park playground in Ulverstone, including new dinosaur play equipment and extended landscaping as well as a new fenced toddler play area. This will ensure families with young children have greater access to free options to facilitate a healthy and active lifestyle.

The Choice

“If you ask me ‘do you rule out governing in coalition with the Greens?’ the answer is NO! NO!”  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 31 March 2025.

Tasmanians cannot afford another three years of Labor.

This election will present a stark choice between a Dutton Coalition Government focused on alleviating the cost of living crisis and supporting local jobs and an Albanese Government beholden to the Australian Greens and inner city Teals.

The Albanese Government has wasted three years focusing on the wrong priorities instead of addressing the cost of living crisis facing Tasmanians.

The first 18 months of the Albanese Government was spent focused solely on promoting its highly divisive $450 million Voice referendum which sought to divide Australians by race.  Tasmanians overwhelmingly rejected this proposal, with 59% of our state voting ‘no’.

The Albanese Government also spent three years developing “nature positive” laws which will jeopardise our state’s agriculture, fishing, forestry and mining sectors, making them uncompetitive. These laws, accompanied by a new “Environmental Protection Authority” will see an increase in housing and energy costs. Tasmanian families cannot afford this. Labor will re-introduce these laws to Parliament after the election.

It has been clear for several months – a re-elected Albanese Government will be forced to rely on the Australian Greens and implement their extreme activist policies to form a second term government. 

A Labor-Greens Government would lead to a significant attack on Tasmania’s forestry, mining, agriculture and fisheries sectors. Greens activists will be empowered to continue to use taxpayers’ funds to support their attacks on local jobs. 

In contrast to the Albanese Government’s misguided priorities, a Dutton Coalition Government will focus its energies on alleviating the cost of living crisis for Australian and Tasmanian families.

We will alleviate the cost of living crisis by reducing government waste and focusing spending on front line services and cutting energy prices. We will also provide immediate relief to families by cutting the fuel excise, saving families 25c a litre for petrol and diesel.

Peter Dutton and his team will back Tasmanian farmers, our fisheries, our timber and forestry sector, our tourism operators and local families. We recognise the importance of these sectors in driving Tasmania forward.

We will fix the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, invest in important infrastructure across our state and prioritise local health services.

A vote for Labor is a vote for a minority government with the mainland Australian Greens intent on destroying our fisheries, forestry and mining sectors. 

A vote for Peter Dutton and the Coalition is a vote for local families, cost of living relief, less government waste, and ensuring the future of Tasmanian jobs in the forestry, agriculture, tourism, mining and fishery sectors.