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Responsible budget for future TASMANIA'S Treasurer, Michael Aird, said that the 2009-10 State Budget was a responsible budget prepared with a strong eye to the future."This is a balanced budget which takes decisive action to address the dramatic impact of the global financial crisis while ensuring that we are well positioned for the future," Mr Aird said. "We are not prepared to lose the gains of recent years and we are not prepared to be distracted from our task. "By 2012-13 Tasmania will be the only State or Territory that is net debt free and with a budget surplus," Mr Aird said. "There is still much work to be done but, in challenging times, we are laying a strong foundation for the future. "The 2009-10 Budget proves yet again the Government's commitment to supporting jobs and building new infrastructure. "Supporting the jobs of Tasmanians is the number one priority of this Government in the good times and the bad. "This budget allocates a record AU$746 million for infrastructure investment in 2009-10 which is estimated to support 6000 Tasmanian jobs. "Hundreds of millions of dollars will also be invested in Tasmania as part of the National Broadband Network project in Tasmania. "This initiative will see Tasmanian broadband lead the nation. "This is about supporting Tasmanian jobs today, through investing in the projects that are building the Tasmania of tomorrow. Mr Aird said that the 2009-10 budget also included a number of other important initiatives which would support Tasmanian jobs. "We will be providing a new payroll tax rebate that will be payable where a business creates new jobs between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 and maintains them at least until June 2011. "Not only will this initiative support jobs, but it will also be of particular benefit to small businesses approaching the payroll tax threshold. "Treasury estimates that this initiative could support up to 500 jobs. "The Government is also committed to supporting jobs in our regional areas. "The State Government will pay the interest costs of any borrowings which local government undertakes to build new infrastructure in our regional areas. "I am pleased to announce that the West Coast Council will be the first Council to benefit from this initiative with assistance provided to undertake important projects identified by the West Coast Economic Development Group. "The State Government has always been a strong supporter of the tourism industry. "This Budget continues to support tourism jobs by quarantining government tourism and marketing expenditure from budget savings measures. "This Government is committed to improving Tasmania's ambulance and patient transport services. "Today I announce that the State Government will allocate an additional AU$48 million to fund these vital services over the next four years." Mr Aird said that the 2009-10 Budget delivered on the Government's commitment to quarantine frontline services. "Now is not the time to be cutting these vital services to the Tasmanian community. "We will continue to implement major reforms in disability services, family support services, primary and clinical health services and alcohol and drug support. "We will also be continuing to implement the most far-reaching package of reforms to education in Tasmania's history. "The global financial crisis has had a dramatic impact on the State Budget with the State facing the loss of AU$1.5 billion in GST revenues and state taxation receipts. "No Tasmanian Government has ever had to deal with such a dramatic reduction in budget receipts. "In this budget the State Government delivers AU$760 million in savings over the next four years. Key elements of Budget
The Budget also provides
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