The release of 2023 Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) has revealed Tasmania is once again taking home the undesirable title of most digitally disadvantaged state in the country for the sixth time since 2016.

TasCOSS, along with key organisations involved in the delivery of services to children and young people, strongly support the Memorandum of Advice issued by the Commissioner for Children and Young People (CCYP) Tasmania today which calls on the Tasmanian Government to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Tasmania to at least 14, among other welcome recommendations.

Tasmanians have been bracing themselves for another large increase in electricity prices following the 11.8% increase in prices last year, and the announcement of a 9.51% increase from 1 July will be the final straw for many household budgets already at breaking point.

TasCOSS welcomes the funding injection of $200,000 from Aurora Energy for the Energy Hardship Fund, which will directly help Tasmanians who are struggling to pay their energy bills.

Minister for Energy, Guy Barnett, has today acknowledged that he reported incorrect data when he claimed that energy debt in Tasmania ‘has nearly halved’ in Budget Estimates earlier this week. 

Minister for Energy, Hon Guy Barnett MP, has repeated several misleading claims in Budget Estimates hearings that demonstrate a lack of understanding of the severe impact that skyrocketing electricity prices are having on Tasmanian household budgets and energy debt.

Read TasCOSS and the network of community services industry peaks Budget responses.

While the Government has openly acknowledged this was going to be a tough Budget, even in challenging economic times, the goal of every budget must be to ensure all Tasmanians can afford the basics. However, this Budget fails to do this.