Public sector pay freeze bill passes first hurdle in Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government has been accused of breaking a promise after the controversial public sector pay freeze passed Parliament's Lower House overnight.

The Government had promised parliamentary debate on its proposed one-year pay freeze would not be guillotined.

The debate began late on Wednesday and last night the Government ordered a vote shortly before midnight.

Opposition Leader Bryan Green questioned Government backbencher Mark Shelton why it could not go longer.

"Are you going to turn into a pumpkin Mr Shelton, or something?" he asked.

Premier Will Hodgman said the decision was in response to the Opposition avoiding meaningful debate, including lengthy discussion on the bill's title.

"What was promised from the so-called Leader of the Opposition was that there'd be no filibustering," he said.

Mr Green rejected the assertion and said the debate was legitimate.

"No, we are not going to cop it, and I don't give a, I don't give a proverbial rats whether you're upset about it or not, because we are making a strong point on behalf of the people of Tasmania, who believe in what we believe in and that's fairness and equity," he said.

Greens MP Cassy O'Connor said the limit on debate was a broken promise from the Premier.

"Here we are, because you want to 'go-nigh-nighs', you want to get home before midnight and you've gagged debate on this bill, and we actually have got to the guts of the bill," she said.

Government maintains pay freeze essential

Treasurer Peter Gutwein told Parliament the pay pause was necessary.

"We've looked at options in regard to other revenue streams, but still, the budget repair task is massive," he said.

"The deficits that you left are massive. And so as part of the budget repair, what we're proposing is, rather than cutting deeper, that we put a pause in place.

"That we put a pause in place and in the first year we provide an additional $30 million savings across government, rising to nearly $50 million a year which would be carried across the forward estimates.

"The pay pause and the additional revenues, they are about budget repair."

"They're not about paying for promises, they were clearly outlined, how we would do that, before the election, Madam Speaker."

Parliamentary theatrics take centre stage

Debate took on a theatrical element through Labor's Madeleine Ogilvie, who evoked Shakespeare.

"This mandate that I do not see before me, is truly, like Yorick, the dead jester from Hamlet," she said.

"It's been exhumed like WorkChoices from the grave, and will through pay freeze shambles undoubtedly haunt this Government across its term.

"They (the Government) would have us believe there is some sort of emergency that means each public sector employee ought to have their wages clipped.

"And the arguments for this are strained and hollow. Because there is a budget problem and it's easily fixed, my fine feathered friends - cut out the promises.

"Not so quick my gang of thieves, the only ones not living within your means are you, my light-fingered street urchins."

Government accused of mishandling unions

Labor's Michelle O'Byrne told Parliament the Government mucked up its dealings with unions on the proposal.

"Why didn't you just go in and talk to them, and say 'here's our economic position, here are the challenges, how do we work this through, here's an option, we're looking at maybe capping salaries, we're looking at maybe deferring some entitlements, what can we genuinely talk about that would make a difference?'" she said.

"Do you honestly believe they wouldn't have sat down and talked with you?

"Because if you do, I don't know where you've been, because the union movement has always acted in an appropriate way in terms of those negotiations.

"They can be a bit tough, they can be a bit intense, but they're also genuine, because they do want to take care of their workers."

Greens predict Upper House rejection

Ms O'Connor predicted the bill would be rejected by the independent-dominated Upper House.

"You are going to have an impossible job on your hands selling this cow pat, you cannot put a shine on a cow pat and this bill absolutely is a cow pat, Mr Deputy Speaker," she said.

"I would be staggered if the Upper House passes this legislation in this form because the Upper House, along with every public sector worker in Tasmania will also be feeling like they've been conned.

"Don't come into this place with a piece of legislation pretending it is temporary and necessary when it is patently not."

Mr Green promised to reverse the legislation if he was elected Premier.

"We know by the smug look on the Treasurer's face ... they know exactly what they're doing when it comes to this legislation and how ideological it is," he said.

"This is all about ideology. And it's been driven and embedded within your Government by the right-wing think tank, the HR Nicholls Society."

The bill will be tabled in the Upper House later today.