Tasmania's New Agency: Building Tasmania

0:00In Sydney today, March 3rd, Tasmania's government plans to abolish the Department of State Growth and replace it with a new agency called Building Tasmania. Officials say this will save more than a quarter of a billion dollars while speeding up housing and infrastructure projects. The original department started in 2014 and covered wide areas like transport, energy, arts, sport, economic growth, and tourism reporting. Building Tasmania will handle infrastructure delivery and the State Housing Authority, answering only to the Infrastructure Minister. Premier Jeremy Rockliffe shared the news in his annual State of the State's speech to open parliament this year. He wants the changes to give projects moving faster across the state. Labor opposition leaders criticized the plan, calling it a pointless reshuffle that ignores big problems like the budget shortfall, health system, strains, and housing shortages. The overhaul targets cutting 250 full-time jobs or a quarter of the workforce which currently

1:02has over 1,000 employees. A separate group for tourism, events, and creative industries is also in the works. As the State eyes its budget next month with no new taxes planned, amid rising debt warnings. Support for this episode comes from our sponsor, see the description. Your favorite podcast, music, or sleep sounds coming from your pillow. No ear buds, no distractions. Just listen and relax. S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com.