Articles
Steve Biddulph. Pics:*. First published Wednesday May 22
25.05.13 9:30 am
The Third World War will not be fought with guns. It’s the battle for the earth, not its ownership this time, but its existence. Who would have thought that of all the shortages our profligate living would lead to, it would be the very coolness and calmness of our planet’s skies.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Editor's Choice | Opinion | History | SocietyPremier Giddings: Sign up to Gonski now
Harriet Binet Communications Officer AEU Tas Branch
25.05.13 9:00 am
“The huge turnout, the biggest for a public education event of its type in Tasmania, showed the depth and breadth of support for a new system of funding that, for the first time, would deliver resources to each child according to need.”
A critical issue about conflict of interest and the independence of CMW
Isla MacGregor, Tasmanian Public and Environmental Health Network. THMTT
25.05.13 5:56 am
There continues to be a conflicted relationship between CMW and the MMG mine in terms of shared infrastructure and therefore transparency is critical in the current controversy over the lead in drinking water in Rosebery.
• Earlier, Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania (THMTT): Rosebery reservoirs must be sealed and more water monitoring needed
And Saturday,
• Tim Morris: EPA taking far too long to address fish odour, TT Media here
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Health | History | Legal | Society
Our cry from the heart ... the pictures
Geraldine de Burgh-Day, Sheffield. First published Monday May 20
24.05.13 4:15 am
... who do we turn to now? Years ago, the Lemonthyme area of Tasmania became known for the protests to wholesale logging. Well right now, TODAY in fact, the loggers are clear felling and trashing the Lemonthyme. Yes, it was selectively logged with bullocks years ago, and so it qualifies for clear felling now, under the agreement you signed off on.
• The Lemonthyme, The Pictures: Is this the road to the future?
• Pete Godfrey, in Comments: Once again we see in these pictures perfectly good straight immature trees that will be cut down and wasted. What ever happened to forest management, why are such forests being clearfelled wasting 20 or more years of growth and destroying the potential sawlogs that are growing in amongst the larger trees.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | Opinion | History | Society‘Not an election budget’, state goes further into debt. Reaction ...
ABC's Zoe Edwards and Fiona Blackwood. First published Thursday May 23
24.05.13 3:30 am
The budget contains no new taxes and no increases in existing taxes. There are also none of the big public service job cuts of the past. Instead, the Government has decided to let the state go further into net debt as it prepares for the election.
• Courtesy of TT’s John Lawrence there is The wisdom of Billy’s Blog which Lara’s finance advisers could read ...
• Tom Ellison, TT May 6: It’s no secret. Tasmania’s economy is buggered. Not to mention the wisdom on TT of John Lawrence and Jarvis Cocker
• What Nick, Jan, Mary, Retailers etc say, TT Media here
• Peter McGlone, Tasmanian Conservation Trust: State Budget most environmentally unfriendly in memory The Tasmanian Conservation Trust welcomes the increased funding for the Tasmanian Planning Commission and funding to continue the Botanical Gardens Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre, but ranks this state budget as the most environmentally unfriendly in memory. ‘Contrary to Nick McKim’s claims that there had been a gradual greening of the state’s financial priorities this is the most environmentally unfriendly state budget which I can recall’, said TCT Director Peter McGlone.
Meanwhile ...
• Ford Australia to close Broadmeadows and Geelong plants, 1,200 jobs to go
Jan Davis' Tasmanian Country column today
24.05.13 3:00 am
I have queried in this space before why it is so vital that Australia has to have a domestic car industry. Other countries, including New Zealand, survive very well, thank you, on imports; cars they could never produce without massive government subsidies, like we do in Australia.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Opinion | SocietyLeigh Sales, ABC 7.30
24.05.13 2:00 am
Hazel Hawke, ex-wife of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, has passed away at 83 after a long fight with Alzheimer’s and her close friend Wendy McCarthy joins us to reflect on her life.
Politics | National | TributeHealth status of West Coast residents needs answers
Isla MacGregor, Tasmanian Public and Environmental Health Network MR. *Pic
23.05.13 4:17 am
The above statistics speak for themselves. There certainly is a need for a thorough public health investigation on the West Coast to help understand the causes of these health statistics and how these critical public health issues can be better addressed.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Health | History | SocietyPrison head’s complaints tabled in Parliament
ABC political reporter Zoe Edwards. ABC pic
23.05.13 4:05 am
Mr Greenberry says he felt bullied, and if this is the way the public service operates in Tasmania, he wants nothing to do with it.
Politics | State | Economy | Legal | SocietyBuilding a strong, prosperous Tasmania
The Hon Tony Abbott MHR, Leader of the Opposition, The Tasmanian Liberal Senate team. Pic: of Tony Abbott
23.05.13 2:53 am
The Discussion Paper has identified 12 possible policy measures to strengthen the Tasmanian economy that are in addition to those already announced as part of the Coalition’s Real Solutions Plan. The release of the Coalition’s Discussion Paper: Building a Strong, Prosperous Tasmania comes on top of existing announcements to provide $400 million to get the duplication of the Midland Highway between Hobart and Launceston done; a commitment to protect the Tasmanian GST share from any detrimental changes; and our commitment to scrap the carbon tax.
Download, Building a Strong, Prosperous Tasmania ...
Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | History | SocietyThe Telegraph
22.05.13 11:00 am
Brown v Adair, Crean in Sarawak ...
Bob Brown, The Bob Brown Foundation MR. Pic: of Taib and dams
22.05.13 10:56 am
At least 9 more dams area proposed by the Sarawak state government of Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for corruption after amassing a fortune of billions of dollars while in office. “Hydro Tasmania’s senior officers are addressing this conference of the world’s biggest dam builders on ‘sustainability’ while the indigenous people of Sarawak are protesting outside and while HT has 4 consultants working on these megadams which international organizations have condemned as involving gross corruption,” Brown said.
Meanwhile, in New Matilda:
• Investment, Sarawak style
• Sarawak leaders protest Australian role in dam
Forest deal ‘greenmails’ the green groups
Bob Brown
22.05.13 5:00 am
The deal designed to end years of protest in the forests of Tasmania hamstrings green groups, barring them from future protest. It is a dangerous precedent. Now, despite the ‘peace deal’, and freshly charged with ‘compensation’, the loggers want more. Beginning on Bruny Island. But while loggers have the incentive, environmentalists have the disincentive. If locals organise a ‘substantial protest’ (one which impedes logging) over these three coupes, it will license the Legislative Council to vote down national park status for other high conservation value forests across Tasmania — from the Tarkine in the island’s northwest to the Blue Tier in the northeast and Wellington Range behind Hobart’s Mt Wellington. As an extra penalty, the minimum amount of sawlogs to be cut from native forests under the agreement could be trebled. This is greenmail.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | Opinion | History | Legal | SocietyA myth driven by the woodchip industry
Kim Booth MP Greens Forestry Spokesperson MR Tuesday, 21 May 2013
22.05.13 4:44 am
During Question Time today, Greens Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP called on the Forestry Minister Bryan Green MP to review the current log grading system, which had consigned countless hundreds-of-thousands of tonnes of high quality timber to the woodchipper or to whole log export. “The results so far show that reject blackwood and eucalypt logs have been yielding very high recovery rates of both select and furniture grade timber,” Mr Booth said. “One rejected blackwood log yielded a stunningly high 59% recovery rate, which is almost unheard of.” “This trial has proven, beyond doubt, that the alleged shortage of eucalypt sawlog and blackwood is nothing more than a myth driven by the woodchip industry for its own financial benefit.”
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | History | SocietyWelfare agencies report increasing demand
ABC
22.05.13 4:30 am
“Our resources are already at capacity and we have no ability to be able to extend our services.” Tony Reidy from TasCOSS says the State Government needs to step up.
Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | Health | Personal | SocietyPokies: Woeful arguments of Bacon and Rockliff
Helen Burnet, Put People Before Pokies, Tasmania! MR
22.05.13 4:16 am
Spokesperson Helen Burnet criticised the position of members of the House who voted down reform, particularly the Liberals in the House who had effectively changed their position from 2009, when they supported a $1 bet limit per spin. … “It was extremely unsatisfactory to hear the woeful arguments put by both Labor Minister for Finance & Gaming, Scott Bacon, and Liberal Jeremy Rockliff, against the introduction of a $1 bet limit on pokies.
• What Kim Booth, ACL say, TT Media here
Politics | State | Economy | Opinion | History | Legal | Personal | SocietyFSC meets TAP: A Citizen’s Report
Karl Stevens, A Citizens Report. *Pic
22.05.13 4:00 am
Some members of Timber Workers for Forests had come up from Hobart and members of the Western Rivers Trust were present. FSC was also represented by ‘Jonno’ from Friends of the Earth who is on the FSC Australia grievance committee. I don’t believe in all this ‘behind closed doors’ rubbish that Tasmania is obsessed with so here goes:
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | Opinion | History | Legal | SocietySecrecy over Rosebery dust data needs to end
Isla MacGregor, Tasmanian Public and Environmental Health Network. Pic* First published Tuesday May 22
22.05.13 2:30 am
Why is it that the DHHS/EPA 2008-2010 investigations were unable to conduct any tests on atmospheric deposition in Rosebery, including isotopic testing, or publicly release any of the data provided to them by MMG on their own dust monitoring data required under their licensing agreement? How simple would that be?
• Paul O’Halloran: Call for independent oversight of Rosebery investigation
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Health | SocietyWorld Heritage body advises against Labor nomination
Guy Barnett
22.05.13 2:15 am
• Examiner: World Heritage setback
• Colbeck: World heritage extension boundaries are still being drafted
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Economy | Environment | History | SocietyFederal Court extends injunction on Tarkine mine. Awards costs to applicant
Save the Tarkine Campaign Coordinator, Scott Jordan
21.05.13 2:53 am
The injunction will remain in effect until a final decision is made later in the year on the Federal Court challenge to the mine approval.
• Paul O’Halloran: Irregularities in Riley Creek Mine Approval
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Legal | SocietyCarla Johnson
21.05.13 2:20 am
ABC
21.05.13 2:15 am
Tasmanian politicians have thrown their support behind a nude swim event which was cancelled when police threatened to arrest participants. The ban has since been overturned ABC Radio says ...
• Leonard Colquhoun, in Comments: Comment 13’s “a degree of gravitas is needed” should get far wider and more serious notice from all MPs. We are just so-o-o-o-o over the [kissing bubs / pratfall / bit of teariness / aw shucks / I’m just like you - really! / G’day, mate] school of voter-politician interface (to use one of those very clever expressions).
Politics | Local | State | Health | Opinion | Legal | SocietyAustralin Marriage Equality National Convenor Rodney Croome
21.05.13 2:00 am
Marriage equality advocates have predicted other MPs will come out in support of marriage equality in the wake of former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd’s change of heart on the issue.
• Earlier: Rudd Challenges Gillard & Abbott to evolve on gay marriage
• Family Voice Australia: Rudd should do his science homework
Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | Opinion | Legal | Personal | SocietyHospital doctor numbers slashed by 120 after cuts
Martyn Goddard Health policy analysis and development. Pic*: Lara Giddings, Michelle O'Byrne. *Pic ...
20.05.13 10:00 am
We know from hospital data that in the southern region alone, which includes the Royal Hobart Hospital, the number of nurses by head-count went down by 115. ‘The number of clerks and administrators actually rose marginally over the period, by 15.
MORE HEALTH ...
• Aboriginal communities call for cotton pesticide review
Writers | Martyn Goddard | Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | Health | SocietySuzanne Cass Stop Tasmanian Animal Cruelty
20.05.13 9:45 am
Will Abbott and his sycophants also want to apologise to Egypt? Bahrain? Kuwait? Pakistan? Malaysia? And all the other countries to which Australia happily sends millions of innocent, gentle animals to be so heinously abused? Tony Abbott wants to make the all-but-meaningless ESCAS ‘more exporter friendly’, if that is indeed possible. … Jacob, the Australian bull filmed at an Egyptian slaughterhouse last month, spent his last horrific many minutes of life having his eyes stabbed and his leg tendons slashed. He had been forced into an appallingly cruel slaughter box, from which, in panic, he escaped, trying to run on three legs because one was already broken. His throat had been slashed and he ran with his head almost hanging off. Jacob was a gentle, Western Australian Brahman bull, who had done nothing wrong. He spent weeks on a Third World live export ship on his way to Egypt before facing this ultimate horror annd depravity.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Opinion | History | SocietyKay Seltitizas, Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania MR. Pic*
20.05.13 9:30 am
Rosebery residents Kay Seltitizas, Lindsay Phillips and Marsha Stejskal are calling on Premier Lara Giddings, Greens Minister Nick McKim and Mayor Darryl Gerrity to apologise to Rosebery residents who were previously attacked and vilified over the lead poisoning investigation from 2008-2010.
• Friday on Tasmanian Times: Rosebery lead poisoning: Health heads must roll
• Paul O’Halloran: Rosebery Water Concerns
Politics | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Health | SocietyDonald Graham*
20.05.13 4:30 am
Hydro Tasmania wants King Island to consider an industrial wind farm consisting of 200 x 3Mega Watt turbines. The proposed project, TasWind, would dwarf Australia’s largest wind farm by a further 50%; the biggest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere, costing $2Billion. The EPA’s disastrously low: “Substantially Commenced” bar at the vacant Gunns Pulp Mill site, has inspired confidence amongst our corrupt Tasmanian establishment that they can steamroll this major issue by avoiding due process.
• Leigh Ewbank, Yes 2 Renewables community coordinator for Friends of the Earth, in Comments: In regards to claims made about wind farms adversely affecting property prices, the following article highlights research which shows otherwise ...
• Donald Graham, in Comments: If you are in any doubt about the health issues, go to Waterloo in SA and talk to the farmers around the wind farm. Then talk to the Mayor. Then go to Macarthur in West Victoria and talk to the farmers, and talk to the Mayor. Then download this ...
• Prof Simon Chapman, University of Sydney, in Comments: Here’s a link to my review of the history & distribution of health & noise complainants about all 52 Australian wind farms. Main findings ...
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Health | Opinion | SocietyCrikey: Sydney spinners sail to King Island for anti-turbine fight
Andrew Crook, Crikey senior journalist
20.05.13 4:25 am
Wells Haslem—the firm spun out of Jackson Wells last year by its principals, former Australian press gallery reporter Ben Haslem and ex-John Howard staffer John Wells—is supporting the No TasWind Farm Group in the sleepy Bass Strait community to scuttle a planned 200-turbine, 600-megawatt facility planned by Hydro Tasmania. Cashed-up pastoralists drafted in Haslem over concerns their multimillion-dollar properties would dive in value if the project proceeds.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Opinion | History | SocietyAusterity pitfalls and alternatives
John Lawrence, Tasfintalk Pic: of Wayne Swan
20.05.13 4:15 am
Nobel laureate Paul Krugman has just posted an informative overview of the austerity debate in a recent article How the Case for Austerity has Crumbled .
POLLS
• The Age: Gillard’s Budget boost
• mUmBRELLA: Newspapers continue print decline
Writers | John Lawrence | Politics | International | National | State | Economy | Opinion | History | SocietyRosebery lead poisoning: Health heads must roll
Isla MacGregor, Tasmanian Public and Environmental Health Network MRs. ABC. Pic* First published*
20.05.13 4:10 am
Friday: Rosebery is now the seventh town in Tasmania with drinking water supplies contaminated with toxic heavy metals. Five of the seven towns have been impacted on by local mines, Whitemark’s and Ringarooma’s water was sourced from areas near where mining has occurred. The seven towns with drinking water supplies contaminated with lead are Whitemark, Pioneer, Ringarooma, Avoca, Royal George, Rosebery and Gormanston. Royal George’s water is also contaminated with arsenic and cadmium and Avoca with cadmium also. These poisoned water results from Rosebery cast serious doubts over the rigour and integrity of the EPA’s 2008-2009 investigation in Rosebery, an investigation which was highly criticised by the Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania. The Department of Health has allowed public health to be put at risk, by failing to act upon high levels of toxic metals in seven towns’ drinking water supplies. Tasmania must now be viewed as a Third World state with over one third of Tasmanian towns failing to provide raw drinking water that meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Saturday: Last year the Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania also sent the laboratory results to Cradle Mountain Water and requested that they provide all households in Rosebery with a Domestic Reverse Osmosis water filtration system as these are the only filtration systems that can remove both soluble and insoluble metals from the drinking water in Rosebery. Again no reply was received from Cradle Mountain Water. It is inexcusable that Cradle Mountain Water has taken so long to determine that lead is in the drinking water supplies in Rosebery. It is totally unacceptable that Dr Roscoe Taylor has failed to protect public health and ensure the provision of safe drinking water in Rosebery and the other 6 towns in Tasmania now known to be contaminated with lead, arsenic or cadmium. The Premier Lara Giddings should stand Dr Roscoe Taylor down from his position as Chief Public Health Officer of Tasmania, said Isla MacGregor
• Isla MacGregor, in Comments: Matthew Groom on Southern Cross News last night backed TPEHN’s call for a full inquiry into unsafe drinking water in Tasmania. Matthew Groom said “I think it is absolutely critical that this is properly looked into. It is incumbent on the Government to ensure that Tasmania communities have safe and reliable drinking water. They should have confidence in the quality of their drinking water and it is incumbent on the Government to ensure that this happens.” TPEHN congratulates the Liberal Party for making a statement so promptly about this critical issue about public health of current and former Rosebery residents.
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