Tasmania's financial position on track to become worst in the country over next three years, Saul Eslake's independent review finds

Tasmania's financial position is on track to "become worse than that of any other state or territory over the next three years", and the deterioration is "entirely attributable" to state government policy, an independent review of the state's finances has found. Economist Saul Eslake's review has warned against slashing the budget — instead calling for higher taxes — but admits returning to a sustainable position will be a "substantial" and "politically challenging" task. Mr Eslake found an over-reliance on economic growth, with the deterioration in the financial position "entirely attributable" to the state government's policy decisions. "Returning Tasmania's public finances to a sustainable position — and no less importantly, keeping them there — represents a substantial and, the review readily acknowledges, politically challenging, task," Mr Eslake wrote. Jacqui Lambie Network MP Rebekah Pentland said Mr Eslake's review showed "the current budget trajectory has Tasmania heading off a cliff".