MPs have resoundingly rejected a Greens bid to condemn public funding for the proposed Macquarie Point stadium.
Last week’s budget included $230m towards the project over the next four years.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor included a motion that “condemns the use of public moneys ... to fund a new stadium” in her budget reply.
It was defeated 21-2.
The Greens on Wednesday presented their alternative budget to the House of Assembly.
TAFE education and public transport would be free under a Green government, Ms O’Connor said.
It included $30m to bolster the Child Safety Service and increased funding for community organisations.
“The Greens prioritise investment in the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians, the safety of children, and homes for people over a $1bn stadium at Macquarie Point,” she said.
“Tasmanians deserve governments and elected representatives with their eyes focused on the future, prepared to make tough decisions – like making big corporations pay their fair share – in the public interest.”
The party’s alternative budget included more money for addressing the nursing shortage and preventive health, create an Alcohol and Drug Court, create a Transparency and Information Commissioner and a Political Advertising Commissioner.
It would save money by scrapping the Northern Prison, Tasracing and the office of the Co-Ordinator General, not build the Macquarie Point stadium, defund the V8 Supercars and would shelve $400m in road upgrades.
And there were taxes: increased royalties on mining and fish farming, a $1bn in tax on windfalls from rezoning, a reversal of land tax cuts and a new tax on vacant residences.
Treasurer Michael Ferguson gave the Greens an “A” for producing “an anti-jobs, anti-industry budget reply”.
“The Greens deserve some credit for putting their job-destroying agenda on full display – which would only lead to more bureaucrats, worse road safety outcomes, scare off investment and ultimately lead to an unsustainable budget position,” Mr Ferguson said.