Have the Engos sold out their principles ...
Peter McGlone Director Tasmanian Conservation Trust
20.05.12 1:40 pm
Alan Lesheim graphic
... the broader conservation movement and Tasmania’s forests? “This media statement by all signatory groups confirms our fears that the ENGO’s are willing to bargain away anything to get a deal regardless of how weak it is. “With so many compromises and so many essential elements missing, the environmental benefits of the impending forests deal, in terms of new reserves, may be surpassed by the environmental losses. “These ENGOs may accept peace in the forests at any cost but the TCT will not
Tasmanian Forests Reference Group of Signatories, 18 May 2012 MR
19.05.12 4:09 am
Tasmanian Forests Reference Group of Signatories Clear space and commitment needed for forest negotiations to progress..
• FIAT
• Markets for Change
• Peter Henning, in Comments: One thing needs to be put to rest in this whole pathetic charade however, and that is that those who have been excluded are simply “oppositional”. That is a lie and continues to be a lie. The fact is that those in the process don’t want “social” voices to be included. They don’t want to hear those who look at the holistic picture of social-environmental-economic, because they’re not interested in delivering on that combination.
Related ...
• Nick McKim: “Like Labor and the Liberals, the Greens took a commitment to the 2010 election that we would not block supply, and that remains our position.” There is no way that the Greens will allow a failed GBE to use these funds to continue to drain the taxpayer’s purse under a business-as-usual model,” said Mr McKim.
• Gordon Bradbury, in Comments: I fully agree with the IGA participants call for some space and trust. All the commentators here seem to presume that a failed IGA will deliver a better outcome for Tasmania, than anything that the IGA can deliver. I find that idea difficult to understand. Given what little there is left to negoatiate over, a successful IGA will be a bitter pill for all to swallow. That is the very nature of negotiation - giving something up to achieve a greater outcome. As Prof West said, a successfull IGA will mean that everyone loses something; but a failed IGA will mean everyone loses everything!!
Jarvis Cocker
18.05.12 6:10 am
Image: here
It will get nastier. Not Greek nasty, but still what economists describe as a truly fuck-awful position for an economy to be in. Consider the implications of a credit downgrade from ratings agencies should Tasmania face years of deficits, and growing debt. As far as I can read, that’s the outlook, unless some GST fairy suddenly appears and gives Tasmania an extra $1 billion every year. Still, if the fluff distributed to the media today is a guide, then all we need do is trust our Government. I wish we could.
Tasmania is in the grip of some sort of political intellectual vacuum. Most economists understand that the private sector creates, sustains and grows economies. But having read the Budget papers in their entirety, it seems the concept of industry development has shrunk to a sycophantic, incestuous cycle between Government, the public service and a handful of favored business mates. The only businesses in Tasmania to get help from the Government are the few Giddings groupies ready for a photo shoot at the drop of a hat.
• Download, the CPSU Members’ Budget Update ...
• Nick McKim: Greens’ historic double-win for animal welfare ...
• Dr Eric Woehler, Australian Coastal Society, Jess Feehely, Environmental Defenders Office: Coastal Alliance Commends Funding for Coastal Protection Framework
Failed Forestry gets another $110 million. McKim: Wind up money. Giddings: A ‘contingency’ measure
ABC Online. MRs
18.05.12 5:24 am
Forestry chief Bob Gordon with his minister, Deputy Premier Bryan Green
The Tasmanian Government will spend $110 million over four years bailing out Forestry Tasmania as it determines how the Government business enterprise should look in the future.
• Budget response, Nick McKim: The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the injection of flexibility into the State Budget’s fiscal strategy, which will allow Health, Education and the Department of Police and Emergency Services to be quarantined from further budget cuts, and will see $120 million returned to Health through reduced savings targets. Specific Greens’ initiatives funded in the State Budget 2012-13 ...
• TFGA: It’s a kick in the teeth
• Wilkie in to bat for Tassie health in Hobart meeting ...
• TCT welcomes funding for implementation of the Cat Management Act
• Tasmanian Small Business Council: Tassie’ Budget has some productive outcomes
• Tasmanians For Reform: Budget fails to deliver relief through reform of local government
• TCCI: The TCCI has expressed serious concerns at the continuing deficit funding of the State Budget, a net debt position and the failure of the State Government to address the issue of unfunded superannuation liability.
• tom de kadt, in Comments: Here’s why every green should celebrate this payment - it’s the down-payment on FT’s dissolution. It owes everyone money, and this is the Govt balancing the books before it’s smashed up. It’s money to wind it up, not prop it up. Honest. Watch this space… FT won’t exist this time next year.
• Big Sim, in Comments: Just re-read McKim’s statement and I am at a loss at how he can pretty much crow about the Greens achievements in this budget. Reminds me of his “victory” speech on election night: talk about delusions of grandeur. The ALP and the forestry industry have played the Greens for suckers from day one: give them a combination of pie in the sky and poisoned chalice ministries and tell them to keep their noses out of forestry in return for a plastic bag ban and a whole lot of similarly half arsed carrots. While 110 million goes towards wrecking instead of building the state, instead of frontline services et etc What about the forests FFS? Why do you think so many of us voted for you? Your time to have any influence in government is fast running out and then it will be all over for at least a decade: probably longer if you continue to ignore your core vote. For God’s sake do something besides blow hot air.
• Jenny Webber’s outrage ...
• Vica Bayley: Forestry Tas budget allocation reinforces case for reform ...
• Nick McKim: This is wind up money ...
• What Lara and Bryan say ...
• Neil Smith, in Comments: Interesting stuff, Lara. Clear as mud. “The Premier, Lara Giddings, today stressed that $110 million contained in yesterday’s Budget and Forward Estimates was a contingency measure”. Contingency? Contingent on what? Do they only get the money if they can’t make a profit? Why is that funny? “The contingency provision of $35 million in the coming financial year and $25 million over the forward estimates is based on independent advice from URS about what might be required under a “do nothing” scenario”. Lara, are you intending then to “do nothing”? Why do nothing? Why not do something constructive instead? Like shrink the industry to something approximating its actual relevance in today’s world? As suggested by your (yes, your) IGA, which you supposedly still support? “As a Government we have legal obligations to our Government Business Enterprises and the support for Forestry Tasmania is in line with those obligations,” Ms Giddings said. Legal obligations? Please elaborate ...
• Mike Adams at the zoo ...
Green light for Tasmania’s next tourism icons
James Cretan, John Dabner, Luke Martin MR
18.05.12 3:04 am
Tourism Operators say the funding allocated in yesterday’s State Budget to complete the Three Capes Track, Tarkine Road, and Tasmania Museum & Art Gallery Redevelopment, gives the green light for three future icons of Tasmanian Tourism.
Forestry: the sobering conclusions. Farming: the glittering future
Jan Davis' Tasmanian Country column today. ABC pic of Jan Davis
18.05.12 2:34 am
Jonathan West
“My fear is that if we don’t reach an agreement, the forestry-processing industry’s death spiral will accelerate. All parts of the industry have entered a process of collapse; this is no longer a ‘risk’, it’s happening now: woodchip export is essentially closed (the only remaining exporter is in deep difficulty and the only facility with sufficient scale, Triabunna, is in the hands of the greens); the pulp mill is on life support at best; the veneer mills are losing customers, losing money, phasing down, and only waiting for the outcome of the IGA to decide whether to close entirely; almost all forest contractors have applied for exit assistance; the major sawmillers are shedding jobs and looking for exits; and Forestry Tasmania is haemorrhaging cash and fighting for survival. “The forestry industry in Tasmania is now uninvestable. No one in their right mind would wager their money there, other than for political games. “Many will get hurt by this, through no fault of their own. But the biggest threat is a flow on that makes Tasmania as a whole uninvestable …”
Budget Crunch. Power Aid. Four school terms
ABC Online
17.05.12 6:12 am
Image: J
• Power Aid The public sector union’s expecting more pain today. However, the government’s revealed it will spend $48 million to reduce power bills and increase concessions.
• Four School Terms The way has been cleared for Tasmanian public schools to switch to four terms next year.
• Keep up-to-date with the range of breaking stories and opinions on Budget Day by using the Tasmanian Times’ NEWS Dropdown (top nav bar). NEWS gives you the Australian and World Google news-wrap. Breaking News in the Dropdown the latest in your area’s browser. And use the Dropdown to keep abreast of the daily breaking stories from around the world …
• And, Watch the Pollies deliver the Budget here
• Barry Prismall, The Examiner: Challen tells of state cash drain He said the Tasmanian government fiscal strategy did not include a specific target for funding its $5.3 billion unfunded superannuation liabilities. In the past it has done so.
• Tasmanian Times’ forensic finance analyst John Lawrence warned of the parlous state of Tasmanian finances in this critique, State of the State: What your mother didn’t tell you, graph by graph; an article based on his address to The Tasmanian Branch of the Economic Society of Australia, in Challen’s former HQ, the Treasury building. And in earlier analyses, here. He particularly highighted the problem of unfunded superannuation ... and for a pithy take on the state of the state, how about Jarvis Cocker’s report this time last year: Not the GFC: 12 years of Labor neglect, Stupid
• Leonard Colquhoun, in Comments: Re four-term school years, in general, knowledgeable, well-trained & committed teachers can do four terms just as well as three, and ignorant and/or untrained clock-watchers will do just as badly. It’s just a minor administrative adjustment, which needs a bit of synching with the timing of other State’s terms. What our school-children (and their parents) do need is that our schools are 95% staffed by the above-mentioned “knowledgeable, well-trained & committed teachers” - now that would be nice. What about that, Minister McKim?
Free Captain Watson Hobart protest
Sea Shepherd MR, via Jon Sumby
17.05.12 5:36 am
Free Captain Watson Hobart protest: Friday 18th 10.00am. German Consulate - 143 Hampden Road, Battery Point TAS. “In our efforts to defend the lives of whales, dolphins, seals, sharks, and fish we have made some powerful enemies, most notably the government of Japan. It is no coincidence that the extradition request by Costa Rica was issued the same month (October 2011) as the Japanese whaling (ICR) lawsuit against Sea Shepherd was initiated. The extradition request was in reference to a complaint from Costa Rican fishermen who I caught poaching in Guatemalan waters. The fishermen were not injured and their boat was not damaged. The incident was fully documented for the film Sharkwater. Interpol originally denied this extradition order and deemed it as politically motivated. Therefore the question must be asked why Germany is now taking into account accusations made by illegal poachers.”- Captain Paul Watson
Feathering nests or furthering Tassie ... ? GetUp’s banned ad
John Lawrence
16.05.12 4:44 am
There can be little doubt that pokie revenue has enabled FH to run high profile marketing promotional campaigns that have had spin-off benefits for the Tasmanian tourism industry. Apart from the obvious questions about the equity of gambling taxes and the social harm inflicted, has the implicit subsidy which I suspect to be roughly $10 million per annum by virtue of its monopoly licenses, produced an optimal return for the Tasmanian tourism industry, rather than merely feathering the nests of a few interstate shareholders? It would indeed be interesting to compare the levels of assistance including implicit assistance given to say Saffire, Barnbougle and MONA (all added as tourist drawcards at roughly the same time) with the outcomes produced by those businesses?
• Pat Caplice, in Comments: Mr Lawrence your knowledge of facts, dates and the money trail is superb. 2018, not, as my memory allowed me 2023, must be getting uncomfortably close for the Farrell family and their banker, ANZ. For these, nothing positive can happen while The Greens are in shared power.
• Mercury, Thursday: ‘Pokie reforms slash jobs’
• GetUp: Have you seen our banned ad? It’s all over the news: the TV ad GetUp members funded calling on Woolworths and Coles to make their poker machines safer, has been blocked by Channels Ten, Seven and Nine.
Greens the only movers as Labor and Liberal vote stagnates
EMRS
15.05.12 5:00 am
Image: J
New polling figures released today reveal the primary votes for the Australian Labor Party and the Greens are on level footing (both at 17 per cent) across the State, with the Liberal Party primary vote at 38 per cent; however, it is the undecided vote of 25 per cent that will be a major concern to all parties.
• Mary Massina ...
• Nick McKim ...
John Hawkins, Chudleigh
15.05.12 4:17 am
Toad hunting ... how John Hawkins saw his joust with Greg Hall ...
People do not “whistle-blow” as per Nigel Burch’s story, because to do so means loss of a job, and worse. People I suspect can be “bought” so as to be silenced, or alternatively – like Nigel Burch – pilloried. It is the person, not the system who is attacked, with a vengeance that can be scary. Tasmanians are easily “heavied” into silence unless one is prepared to be a public figure which most are not. Maintaining the silence supports the current system, think literacy, think logging, and think corruption.
Alderman Philip Cocker Hobart City Council
15.05.12 4:12 am
Do we really think that Tasmania can afford to send an extra $600 million dollars out of the State every year in a decade’s time?
Power: this vital decision ...
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader Tuesday, 15 May 2012
15.05.12 4:10 am
The status quo is not an option, reform is needed, and the Greens will be assessing the two options now released publicly against a clear-cut set of principles.
• What the Premier, Deputy Prmier say ...
• Meanwhile, in Germany ...
• Shaun, in Comments: Industry “reforms” to date have clearly not resulted in lower prices - we’d need about a 40% drop “overnight” just to get back to the same price in real terms that we used to pay with the HEC. Now, I don’t think anyone expects this latest round of reforms to produce anywhere near a 40% drop - we’ll be lucky to see even 4%.
Walker Corp still shirking debt
Tim Morris MP Greens Planning Spokesperson Tuesday, 15 May 2012 MR
15.05.12 4:05 am
Pic: Thomas Moore
It’s about time the Minister set the example for other developers who put forward inappropriate development proposals by making Walker Corp pay their outstanding debt to the Tasmanian taxpayers.
• Thursday: Where is Tassie’s Money, Mr Walker?
David O'Byrne, MP Minister for Economic Development
15.05.12 4:03 am
I was advised last Friday by DEDTA that an anomaly had been identified by the TCCI during an internal review of this grant funding and its expenditure - specifically, that some $130,000 from this grant funding may not have been used for the purposes stated in the grant deed,” Mr O’Byrne said. “Those indications have since been established as fact. Accordingly, the TCCI has now reimbursed the grant trust account to the full amount of $130,000.
• What the TCCI says ... it’s all change…
Dr Kevin Bonham. Pic: of Rob Valentine
14.05.12 5:00 am
… this is perhaps Labor’s fault. In their glory days the party formally held five of the fifteen seats, and informally held a sixth. Probably only two votes shy of the power to radically reform the Upper House, Labor missed the opportunity to at least give it a big enough shake to ensure that those who had obstructed reform would be accountable for so doing at their next elections. It will be a very long time indeed before the party again threatens to hold a majority in the Upper House, so it will have plenty of time to reflect on what might have been.
NewExaminer, Shock: Public servant collapses ...
Martin Gaylord Editor-in-chief New Examiner
14.05.12 4:59 am
A RIVERSIDE public servant who collapsed at her desk last week is expected to make a full recovery. 23-year-old Laura Pinnington was rushed to St Lukes hospital last Tuesday, where she was diagnosed with acute anxiety following an extended session on social media site Facebook.
Tasmania the Organic Isle: Ideas for a lasting future
Pete Godfrey
14.05.12 4:56 am
A response to Go back to the days of Electric Eric and The Emperor ... and Is Tasmania a failed state ... ?
Self-trained woodworker Pete Godfrey’s kitchen table
This is meant to be a discussion forum and there are many writers on the Times who have great ideas, so how about pooling them. With a lot of luck the right people can be found to move us from a Colonial Mining mentality to a vibrant place to live and work. It is up to you folk to join in the discussion and see what ideas come up. These are just a few ideas for starters ...
Get over it Mr Brooks, it’s called the Tarkine
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Member for Braddon Monday, 14 May 2012
14.05.12 4:55 am
Pic: Nicole Anderson
Liberals Threatening Tourism Investment Confidence
• Minister flags partial protection for Tarkine
• Christine Milne: Burke’s furphy misleads on Tarkine heritage values
• Paul O’Halloran: Minister must rule out taxpayer funding for mine road
• Paul O’Halloran: Brooks has a serious conflict of interest
• Paul O"Halloran: Minister refuses to rule out mine road subsidy
Farmers hail Midlands Water Scheme start
Jan Davis, TFGA CEO MR
14.05.12 4:55 am
“We know that what has been achieved in the Coal River valley is also possible here.”
David Cameron, Rebekah Brooks and the hazards of political friendships
Patrick Wintour, political editor, guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 May 2012
14.05.12 4:55 am
Meanwhile, Avaaz: There is evidence that Lachlan Murdoch might be breaking our laws and endangering our democracy. If tens of thousands of us add our names to a formal Avaaz complaint to be submitted to our media regulator today, we can build an unstoppable call for a full investigation of the Murdoch’s media monopolisation. Sign now ...
Today
• The Naked Emperors • Feathering nests or furthering Tassie ... ? GetUp’s banned ad • Without fear or favour • Legco: Labor crushed • Andrew Nikolic and The New Examiner. 48,000 visit New Examiner ...
• Mt Wellington public forum: Tuesday 22 May at 7.00pm, Baha’i Centre • WILKIE: ANOTHER COMMUNITY FACING A BATTLE AGAINST PHONE TOWERS • Poll shows Marriage Equality free vote is a “smart move” for Abbott • $4M TO BUILD ON NORTHERN SUBURB’S ARTS SCENE • Planners Applaud Liveable Cities Funding
• The Tasmanian Writers’ Centre news ... • HOBART BOOKSHOP: Famous Reporter 43 launch • PENGUIN CALLS FOR YOUR MANUSCRIPT - CHILDREN’S & YA • 2012 Bendigo Bank Material Girl art award winners • The Tasmanian Writers’ Centre
• Candlelight vigil following anniversary of Four Corners’ ‘A Bloody Business’ • Famous Reporter’s new issue offers much: Wed 30 May • HOBART COLLEGE: Le bateau de rêves • HOBART BOOKSHOP: Sophie Scott • Look into my eyes: TFGA Conference …
• The Magical Recycling Cuckoo Clock • Going Bush • Tough Boy • The TCCI • Up Periscope
Radio National broadcast live from the Sydney Writers Festival today, a discussion
on such matters. I suggest you…
