Tas treasurer tight lipped on fed budget

Tasmania Treasurer Peter Gutwein is coy on what the state will receive when the federal budget is handed down on Tuesday.

Tasmania's Liberal treasurer is tight lipped on a state wish list from the federal budget, with long-awaited funds for a new cross-river bridge north of Hobart unlikely to be delivered.

Peter Gutwein hasn't outlined any specific project he wants to see receive Commonwealth funding when Scott Morrison hands down his budget on Tuesday.

Mr Gutwein has previously pledge to fight Canberra "tooth and nail" for a fair share of the GST under a proposed shake-up.

But that won't be addressed until an inquiry wraps up.

"The government will always work cooperatively with the federal government to ensure we receive our fair share," Mr Gutwein said in a statement.

A $535 million four-lane replacement for 70-year-old bridge that crosses the River Derwent at Bridgewater has for years been touted as a federal spend.

The project was recently listed as a national priority by Infrastructure Australia.

Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff told parliament federal money would be secured for the bridge under the next Commonwealth-state funding agreement, that commences mid-2019.

"I'm very confident funding for a new Bridgewater bridge will form part of the next funding agreement with our federal Liberal colleagues," he said on Thursday.

"It's a hugely important project for the region."

A tangible commitment to the 'city deal' for Hobart would also be welcomed.

On a visit to Tasmania in January two months before the state election, Mr Turnbull said Canberra would progress plans for light rail and a "world-leading" Antarctic research hub in Hobart but didn't allocate any funding.

The federal government in February pledged $17.5 million for a highway overpass near Kingston south of Hobart.


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Published 6 May 2018 1:04pm
Source: AAP


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