The Tasmanian Government will retain a number of major state-owned enterprises, while continuing to assess whether others could be sold, Treasurer Guy Barnett has confirmed.
Outlined in today’s budget speech, the entities remaining in public hands include the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority, Tascorp, Tasracing, TasRail, Entura, the Public Trustee, TT-Line and Hydro Tasmania.
Barnett said these organisations will remain under “stronger governance arrangements”, while others are still under review.
Sustainable Timber Tasmania, the Motor Accidents Insurance Board, Aurora Energy, Metro Tasmania, Tasmanian Irrigation, TasNetworks and TasPorts will continue to be thoroughly assessed.
The assessment is part of what Barnett described as “the biggest reform of government-owned businesses in decades”.
“This will ensure that government businesses engage with business and community to deliver services to Tasmanians at the lowest sustainable cost while also growing our economy,” he said.
“It will also consider which businesses may best serve Tasmanians outside of government ownership.”
Conducted with the assistance of economist Saul Eslake, the review has already led the government to scrap an earlier proposal to merge TasRail, TT-Line and TasPorts.
TT-Line will not be sold and Hydro Tasmania remains off the table for any future divestment.
Barnett said that selling some businesses and surplus Crown land could unlock “growth opportunities for private investment” and allow the government to “invest more in essential services”.
“It will also mean the state returns to surplus sooner and pays down debt. That will be the decision of parliament,” he said.
