While health has historically been the biggest drain on the State Budget, this year’s winners are education and infrastructure.

The highlights are:

Health:
$8.1 billion over the next four years, representing nearly 32 per cent of the entire State Budget. Over six years the funding will support 298 new beds, 802 more nurses,158 additional doctors, 128 more allied health professionals and 182 additional support staff.

Education:
$7.1 billion over the next four years – a $349 million increase from last year’s Budget and includes $145 million in recurrent funding which allows for an additional 358 new staff including 250 new teachers; and $179 million in education infrastructure across Department of Education and TasTAFE facilities.

Infrastructure:
$3.6 billion including $304.9 million for rail infrastructure, $294 million on the new Bridgewater Bridge, $111.7 million to keep upgrading the Midland Highway, $83 million towards an urban congestion fund, $58 million specifically to support tourist roads and $292 million to renew roads. Tourism: $20 million Regional Tourism Attraction Loan Scheme to provide low interest loans of up to $1 million for businesses to undertake projects to grow their local visitor economy and $1.2 million in a new Business Events Attraction Fund to bring major national and international business events to Tasmania.

Business:
Continuing the payroll tax rebate scheme and small business grants until June 2021 to support the employment of around 4,500 young Tasmanians as apprentices and trainees. $4.1 million partnership with the TCCI and TasCOSS to address barriers to work, $4.4 million for the Tasmanian Trade Strategy to further boost Tasmanian exports and jobs and $2.8 million to develop Tasmania’s first Defence Industry Strategy.