Hobart: 七月 2011

2011年7月2日星期六

Govt misses target to cut homeless rate

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中，找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件，或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中，找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件，或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Posted July 1, 2011 08:33:00

The Tasmanian Opposition has criticised the Government for failing to meet a promise to halve the state's homeless population.

In 2008, the State Government pledged to halve the number of homeless by the end of last year.

Liberal spokeswoman Jacquie Petrusma told budget estimates the Salvation Army is reporting an increase in demand from homeless people of more than 120 per cent.

She said the homeless population had grown from 1,400 to more than 3,000 in the past two years.

"You're talking about halving the rate of homelessness when it's obviously huge out there," she said.

Human Services Minister Cassy O'Connor says the state has 13,000 public housing properties, with a 98 per cent occupancy rate.

But she says there are more than 3,000 people on the waiting list.

"I share your and the Salvation Army's frustration around this."

The Minister says demand is growing because of the high cost of private rentals.

The Government is planning to complete five new housing projects by the end of the year.

Tags: homelessness, state-parliament, states-and-territories, tas, hobart-7000, launceston-7250

View the original article here

Senator's parting shot over defence role

Outgoing Tasmanian Liberal Senator Guy Barnett is pushing for the state to play a larger role in the defence sector.

Senator Barnett has fired a parting shot at the Federal Government, releasing a report he says is proof Tasmania is being neglected by the Department of Defence.

He says Hobart's port and the Australian Maritime College in Launceston are under-utilised by the defence forces.

Mr Barnett says only 208 of the nation's 80,000 Australian Defence Force employees are based in Tasmania.

He says the state's defence footprint has diminished but there are opportunities for growth.

"We have the deepest sea-water port in the southern hemisphere in Hobart, providing opportunities for the Royal Australian Navy," he said.

"We're missing out big time.

"One of the biggest opportunities in terms of the future clearly is the Scottsdale Defence facility. This could be massively expanded."

A Defence spokesman says the department has an ongoing investment program in Tasmania, including the planned multi-million-dollar upgrade of Scottsdale's nutrition research facility.

In the 2009-10 financial year, $50 million was spent on personnel, equipment and facilities.

Senator Barnett is one of two Tasmanian senators leaving Federal Parliament.

Labor's Kerry O'Brien has spent 15 years in the Senate, while Liberal Guy Barnett will leave after almost a decade.

He was defeated at the last election by former state MP, Lisa Singh.

She will be joined in the senate by unionist Anne Urquhart.

Tags: defence-forces, federal-state-issues, federal-parliament, tas, hobart-7000, scottsdale-7260

View the original article here

Regional police not safe from cuts

Tasmania's Police Minister has not ruled out cutting officers in regional areas.

After less than two months in the job, David O'Byrne has been forced cut about 40 officers next financial year.

The Police Commissioner Darren Hine says he is working with district commanders to decide where the jobs will come from, adding community safety will be taken into account.

"There'll be some impact but we're trying to minimise that," he said.

Police numbers could drop by up to 100 over four years but the Minister is yet to detail exact figures.

"There are a whole range of decisions that need to be made in the first 12 months so we're not able to get a number on that," Mr O'Byrne said.

The Police Department must find more than $57 million in savings over the next four years.

As part of cost-cutting measures, Tasmania Police will stop outsourcing speed camera operators.

Mr Hine says four contractors paid to set up and monitor speed cameras will stop by Friday.

"The strategy that we've been using, as in having unsworn people sitting out there with speed cameras, yes that did free up some police officers," he said.

"Obviously now we're going into tough economic times, that means we've got to move some police officers into speed cameras to do that function."

The deputy commissioner, Scott Tilyard told the hearing the number of random breath tests conducted will fall 16 per cent to 590 thousand in the coming financial year.

The amount of hours speed cameras spend on the road will drop by four per cent.

He says the changes aren't about saving costs but about better targeting.

Tasmanian police will continue to investigate unsolved crimes despite the abolition of the cold case unit.

Mr Hine has told the hearing that the six people employed in the unit will be deployed as part of cost-cutting measures to save $53.5 million over the next four years.

He could not detail how many cases the unit had solved since its creation in 2008, saying it has reviewed several cases which will be handed back to CIBs.

"They re-investigate as they would have done before and if there is a need to put a taskforce on some information that's come in relation to a serious, unsolved crime, then we'd put a taskforce in," he said.

Hobart's Police Academy will remain open despite Tasmania Police postponing its recruitment program.

Four officers will be redeployed as a result of the cost-saving measure.

Mr Hine told the hearing training of current police officers remains a priority.

"We haven't planned in our forward estimates to cut in-service training at all because it is imporat that we do continue to develop our peope," he said.

"We put a number of courses through there and so if you went down to the academy at this very moment you would find it full of people doing inpsectors' courses and various other courses as well.

"So the recruit training is a small part."

The Minister says a recruitment course will not be rescheduled in the "foreseeable future".

Mr Hine also told the hearing police are considering making organisers of profitable public events pay for security.

"We're not going to withdraw our services from a lot of these public events but we're just being mindful if we can do it more efficiently," he said.

A restriction of services could see organisers of large public events pay police or private security firms.

Mr Hine said police already charge for their services at sporting events like AFL games and Targa.

Mr Hine says the number of Tasmanians caught using a mobile phone while driving dropped by more than one-thousand in the past year.

More than 150 warnings have been given to drivers caught smoking in the car with a child on board.

Tags: the-budget, states-and-territories, police, tas, hobart-7000, launceston-7250

First posted June 29, 2011 12:02:00

View the original article here

Business confidence slumps

A survey shows small business confidence in Tasmania has plummeted to a two-year low.

The latest Sensis Business Index says confidence is diminishing because of the economic downturn, an exodus of people from the state and the state's small population.

The report's author, Christena Singh, says the Federal Government's carbon tax is also a concern.

"Overall, 50 per cent of Tasmanian small businesses said a carbon tax would have a negative impact on their business."

Robert Mallet from Tasmania's Small Business Council says a lack of faith in the Labor-Green Government was also driving uncertainty.

"They're seeing a lack of good quality policy that enables them to get in and do the business the way they really want to be able to do it," he said.

In a statement, Premier Lara Giddings said the tough state budget would help restore business confidence.

Tags: economic-trends, small-business, tas, hobart-7000, launceston-7250

View the original article here

Dumped coach swaps teams

Former North Hobart coach Clinton Brown has signed with Glenorchy, just days after he was dumped by the Demons.

Brown's tenure at North Hobart was cut short on Monday, following the club's fourth loss in five weeks.

After initially planning to play on with the Demons, Brown has now opted to see out the season with the Magpies.

He says it would have been too difficult to remain at North Hobart.

The Magpies play North Hobart this weekend and Brown's presence in black and white could have set up a sensational clash.

However, he has opted not to play out of respect for his former club.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, tas, glenorchy-7010, north-hobart-7000

First posted June 30, 2011 08:12:00

View the original article here

Rookie minister 'out of his depth'

Tasmania's Tourism Minister Scott Bacon has been accused of knowing nothing about his department.

The rookie Minister faced a tough day of questioning during budget estimates about his plans to turn Tasmania's tourism industry around.

He said the Three Capes Track on the Tasman Peninsula was a focus.

But when asked how the Tourism Department was involved, Mr Bacon admitted the project was being driven by Parks and Wildlife.

Greens MP Tim Morris became frustrated.

"You've just told the committee this is a major project for you and yet when I question you about it, you're actually not doing anything," he said.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman says the Minister is out of his depth.

"He had no idea as to basic detail to about his portfolio," he said.

Mr Bacon assured the committee Tourism Tasmania would promote the development when it was completed.

After just over a month in the job, Mr Bacon has been tasked with closing a tourism call centre in Launceston and sacking 24 employees from Tourism Tasmania.

Mr Bacon said the cuts would be finalised by December and most staff will be redeployed.

Mr Hodgman did not cut the junior Minister any slack.

"I've sat across this table from your father going back a few years but I tell you one thing he didn't do when he was Minister and that's rip the guts out of the budget."

"I'd like to explore the significant cuts you apply to your department," he said.

Tags: tourism, the-budget, states-and-territories, tas, hobart-7000, launceston-7250

First posted June 29, 2011 16:11:00

View the original article here

Minister quizzed on business class travel

The Primary Industries Minister has been grilled over his preference to fly business or economy class.

Bryan Green has told a budget estimates hearing that the Department of Primary and Industries and Water has cut its interstate travel bill by 30 per cent this financial year.

Just over $1 million has been spent on interstate travel and $59,000 on overseas travel.

Mr Green says 46 staff travelled overseas to places like the United States, Chile and Singapore.

Independent MLC Jim Wilkinson asked the Minister whether he flies economy class.

"Truth be known if it was your own money, that's how'd you'd travel isn't it?"

Mr Green says he flies economy on any distance under three hours and was at the back of a plane on a flight to Sydney only recently.

"As I was getting into my seat there was a guy who said 'god, the Government must be going bad'," he said.

Tags: the-budget, state-parliament, tas, hobart-7000, launceston-7250

View the original article here

Minister runs gauntlet of angry parents

Tasmania's Education Minister, Nick McKim, has been confronted by angry parents at one of the rural schools slated for closure.

The Glenora District High School is one of the 20 schools on the State Government's hit list.

The Minister arrived at the school for a tour, flanked by the Premier's security guard.

Mr McKim approached a group of about 20 protesting parents and residents waiting at the school gate.

He thanked them for coming and assured them no decision had yet been made and he would listen to their concerns.

But parents are angry they were not invited to join the minister during the visit.

They fear closing the high school will be the death of the community.

It is the second day of school visits by the Minister.

He has also meet the principal and School Associations at Warrane Primary School on Hobart's eastern.

On Wednesday he toured four southern schools at Dover, Sandy Bay, Franklin and Goodwood.

Mr McKim has dismissed Opposition claims that he is sneaking into schools.

Opposition spokesman, Michael Ferguson, says the minister gave schools less than 24 hours notice before arriving.

Mr McKim says he wants to see the schools for himself.

"We've notified schools and school associations of the time of my visit and we've said if you want to invite the media onto your school that's fine by me, if you don't that's fine by me too," he said.

"It's up to schools and schools have to be treated with respect through this process."

The Attorney-General has come under fire for not releasing the Solicitor-General's advice on refunding Federal money spent on schools it intends to close.

The Liberal's Matt Groom says it is in the public interest to disclose the advice which Mr McKim says backs his stand that the state does not have to repay the money.

The budget estimates hearing turned heated when Brian Wightman refused to release the information.

"The Minister said he would speak to me, and he did, and I'm saying if you would like that advice you'd need to speak to the Minister," he said.

Mr Groom responded: "Well I'm not asking the minister, I'm asking you."

"We'll you're not listening to me Mr Groom, if you want that advice you'd need to talk to the Minister," said Mr Wightman.

Meander Valley Council is frustrated at difficulties getting access to Mr McKim and government data about the planned school closures.

General Manager Greg Preece says his council emailed Mr McKim's office 10 days ago to arrange a meeting and ask him to extend the July 15th deadline for submissions.

The council wrote to the Minister again this week and has lodged a Right to Information request for schools data, after not receiving a response from the Education Department.

He says the deadline for submissions is too tight for schools to mount a proper fight.

"We just feel this is very inconsiderate for communities," he said.

"Most of the people involved in this, school associations and parents, they have children, they work and it is very very difficult to find the time to put into the effort needed on these quite detailed submissions."

Mr McKim has been contacted for comment.

More than 300 Franklin parents and residents attended a public meeting on Wednesday night to support the community school.

Karen Mavros, from the group Save Franklin Public School, says the community stands to lose if the school shuts down.

"There are businesses there that if they only have a few less people coming to their businesses they will have to close down," she said.

"But even more than that, Franklin Primary school is a school of choice and there are a lot of disgruntled parents who want to send their children to Franklin Primary School."

She said the meeting was a chance for parents to vent their anger.

"They're disgusted that the consultation process is so brief, that the consultation process has been completely put on the Parents and Friends Association, that the Parents and Friends have to make the submission to the Government without any aid," she said.

Tags: schools, primary-schools, the-budget, liberal-party, greens, people, tas, launceston-7250, warrane-7018

First posted June 30, 2011 10:10:00

View the original article here

Opposition pressure to keep schools open

The Federal Opposition is lobbying the Tasmanian Government to keep open 20 schools listed for closure.

Federal, state and local politicians have toured Collinsvale Primary, near Hobart, which is one of the schools listed for closure under budget cuts.

Opposition spokesman, Christopher Pyne, has criticised the Government for spending federal stimulus money on the schools earmarked for closure.

The Tasmanian Education Minister, Nick Mckim, says he has legal advice saying the State Government is not obliged to pay back the money.

Mr Pyne says Tasmania should have followed Queensland's lead.

"They waited to see which schools would be amalgamated with other schools and then they spent the money after that," he said.

"In Tasmania they rushed ahead willy-nilly and built the program in every school and I've written to Nick McKim asking him to show cause why the Federal government shouldn't ask for that money back.

"I can tell you that part of the contracts that the State Government signed with the Federal Government included a clause that if the schools were to be closed down the money should not be spent in those schools and if it was spent it should be paid back.

"So I'm fascinated with his legal advice," Mr Pyne said.

Mr McKim says he will soon visit all the schools facing the axe in an effort to rein in a more than $1 billion budget black hole.

A northern council has hired an economist to count the full cost of four possible schools closures in the district.

The Meander Valley Council has hired Dr Bruce Felmingham to assess the economic and social impact of the possible closures.

The Bracknell, Mole Creek, Westbury and Meander schools are all slated for closure.

The council's general manager, Greg Preece, says Dr Felmingham will present his initial results to the council by July 11th.

"We felt it was important to get someone with a great history of producing studies and reports from an economic base and Doctor Felmingham is one of the better known economists in the state," he said.

Tags: primary-schools, the-budget, tas, collinsvale-7012, meander-7304

First posted June 29, 2011 15:12:00

View the original article here

Towns prepare for next NBN phase

Stage two of the National Broadband Network has begun at Sorell in southern Tasmania.

The second stage also covers Triabunna, St Helens, Deloraine, George Town, South Hobart and Kingston Beach.

The Federal Government expects the network will be ready to use in seven more Tasmanian towns from next March.

The Opposition has questioned demand for the network, after half of the homes in stage one NBN areas joined up, but only 15 per cent actually used it.

Sorell Mayor Carmel Torenius hopes take up rates will be steady.

"There has been a good response from the community and, with something like this it's going to take time, but I'm very positive about it and I think we're sort of setting the scene for the rest of Tasmania and the rest of Australia," she said.

Deputy Premier Bryan Green says work will start shortly in Triabunna.

"This next stage will go past 11,000 homes, connecting them to high-speed broadband should they wish and sets those communities up for a very bright future when it comes to the newest technology."

Tags: federal-government, local-government, internet, tas, deloraine-7304, sorell-7172

View the original article here

Timber group holds off on peace deal

A major signatory to the forestry Statement of Principles says it will not sign the peace deal, but it will not walk away from the process yet.

Timber Communities Australia's spokesman Barry Chipman says his members do not want the deal released last week signed until pulp mill issues and certainty for the industry are addressed.

Mr Chipman says he will now raise the concerns with the State and Federal Governments.

"We're not walking away, we will stay with the process but again the issues that have always been important to our membership remain important and they remain as our goals," he said.

The Environment Minister has told a budget estimates hearing he still does not know how a possible deal peace deal will affect his department.

The in-principle agreement between the industry and environment players protects up to $430,000 extra hectares of native forest from logging.

Under questioning from the Opposition's Matt Groom, Brian Wightman said he could not put an estimate on the cost of the proposed deal.

Tags: forests, timber, tas, hobart-7000, launceston-7250

First posted June 30, 2011 12:20:00

View the original article here

Govt defends mill loan

The Tasmanian Government has defended the approval of a loan to a local company to buy Gunns' Triabunna woodchip mill.

The Government has provisionally approved the loan to help Fibre Plus fund the mill's purchase but several conditions must be met before the loan is finalised.

Economic Development Minister David O'Byrne told a budget estimates hearing Fibre Plus met two of his staff on June 7th, four days after first approaching his office for financial support.

The family-owned company then met department representatives who helped put a case together to take to the Tasmanian Economic Development Board.

Mr O'Byrne would not say why the Government approved the loan.

The Greens' Tim Morris asked Mr O'Byrne if he was satisfied Fibre Plus had a market.

"Can you inform me as to whether that market is one that involves woodchips or wood pellets?"

Mr O'Byrne said the board had made a rigorous assessment of the loan.

"I'm not going to speculate on market, or potential market or not."

Mr O'Byrne signed off on the board's recommendation to approve the loan last Wednesday.

It is understood the Premier and Treasurer Lara Giddings followed suit earlier this week.

Mr O'Byrne could not give detail on security being offered on the loan and said it would be inappropriate to detail the loan amount.

The owners of Fibre Plus say the loan makes up a small part of the undisclosed sale price of the mill.

Mr O'Byrne says it is not unusual for businesses to approach the Government for a loan.

"We get approaches virtually every day seeking government support."

Earlier this month, Gunns told the Australian stock exchange it expected to finalise the sale yesterday, depending on the 'satisfactory progress' of the forest peace deal.

Gunns would not not comment on the delay, or if there were any implications from missing the settlement date.

Resources Minister Bryan Green has come under fire for slashing funding to promote Tasmanian timber.

Only a day after calling for a halt to the forestry Statement of Principles, Legislative Councillors came face to face with Mr Green in budget estimates.

They questioned why $1 million has been cut from a timber promotion funds and some of the money channelled into the Statement of Principles process.

Independent MLC Paul Harriss says it is a blow to those in the industry already doing it tough.

"By far the largest player has made a commercial decision to go a different track but that doesn't mean to say that we ought hang everybody else out to dry in terms of such a small amount of dollars, in the scheme of things, to continue to promote what the vast majority of people in this state believe is a sustainable industry," he said.

Tags: states-and-territories, timber, tas, smithton-7330, triabunna-7190