Tasmania
I did most of my education in Tasmania and, after spending almost 34 years on what Tasmanians call ‘the mainland’, returned to Tasmania in December 2014. Both while I was living away, and since returning, I’ve maintained a keen interest in the progress (or, at times, lack of it) of Australia’s smallest state. The pieces here represent some of my efforts to advocate for policies which, in my opinion, would result in a stronger Tasmanian economy and improved living standards for Tasmanians.
Project Marinus – in Tasmania’s Interest, and Australia’s
News, Tasmania | 22nd June 2026A report setting out the case for Project Marinus, a proposed 750MW submarine cable connecting Tasmania and mainland Australia, and the associated North-West Transmission Developments project, commissioned by Clean Energy Tasmania, a sub-commitee of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
A ‘deep dive’ into the 2026-27 Tasmanian State Budget with Labor’s Shane Broad
Economic Policies, News, Tasmania | 26th May 2026Saul unpicked the 2026-27 State Budget in more detail in this podcast with the Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Resources, Building & Construction and Consumer Affairs, Dr Shane Broad MP, which can be watched here: #29 Saul Eslake | The BroadCast With Shane Broad – YouTube
Tasmania’s 2026-27 State Budget – A Briefing for Members of Tasmania’s Upper House
Economic Policies, Tasmania | 26th May 2026Saul provided a briefing on Tasmania’s 2026-27 State Budget to Members of Tasmania’s Legislative Council (the Upper House of the Tasmanian Parliament) on 26th May 2026:
The 2026-27 Tasmanian State Budget
Economic Policies, Tasmania | 21st May 2026For the first time in a decade, the 2026-27 Tasmanian State Budget presents a somewhat better picture of the outlook for Tasmania’s public finances than its predecessor. That’s largely due to windfall revenue gains, particularly from the Federal Government in the form of upward revisions to Tasmania’s share of revenue from the GST and specific […]
Tasmania’s “Interim” 2025-26 Budget – An Opportunity Missed to Start the Task of Budget Repair
Economic Policies, Tasmania | 6th November 2025My take on today’s Tasmanian “interim” 2025-26 Budget presented by Treasurer Eric Abetz. I see it as a missed opportunity to ‘get on’ with the task of ‘budget repair’, which as the Tasmanian Treasury has been pointing out since 2019, only gets harder the longer it is put off.
Tasmania’s Economy and Public Finances – a pre-Budget Update
Tasmania | 4th November 2025Ahead of the presentation of an ‘interim Budget’ for the 2025-26 financial year by new Treasurer Eric Abetz on Thursday 6th November, here is a set of charts depicting the performance of Tasmania’s economy relative to the rest of Australia, and the condition of Tasmania’s public finances. It’s not pretty.
Tasmania’s Productivity Challenge
Tasmania | 28th October 2025Saul Eslake’s presentation to a Workshop for staff at the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics at the University of Tasmania on 28th October 2025.
The importance of agriculture to Tasmania’s economy
Commodities, Tasmania | 21st August 2025Agriculture accounts for a significantly larger proportion of economic activity and employment in Tasmania than in any other state or territory. And it’s something that Tasmania is good at: agriculture is one of only five industries where labour productivity in Tasmania is higher than the corresponding national industry average. That’s also reflected in the relatively […]