OverwatchTasmania

Calm Urged Over School Experiment Shock: Welfare of School Community Must be Priority

Posted on 09. Sep, 2010 by Editor.

Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Member for Braddon

The Tasmanian Greens today urged calm following revelations that a single finger-picking lancet had been used to test 18 students during a secondary school class experiment, but also said that every precaution must be taken to ensure that this scenario never arises again.

Greens Education spokesperson Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP said that the immediate priority had to be the welfare of the students involved, and that all effort must go into looking after the school community.

“This distressing situation will be difficult for all those involved, and we urge calm while the blood-tests are undertaken and students and their families wait for those results,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“There will be a period of time before the results of the blood tests, which the students have now undergone post the class experiment, are available, and this does not need to be made any more stressful than necessary for those students, their families, and teachers.”

“The Greens expect that all necessary resources including counselling and retraining will be made available to the school community, and that every precaution is put in place to ensure that this situation never occurs again in a Tasmanian school.”

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Tarkine Focus on Threatened Species Day

Posted on 08. Sep, 2010 by Editor.

Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Member for Braddon

The Tasmanian Greens today said that the declaration of a Tarkine National Park would be a fantastic way to mark National Threatened Species day, as well as actually taking meaningful action that will benefit some of the state’s most endangered, vulnerable and rare species including the Tasmanian Devil, the Wedge-tailed Eagle, unique burrowing crayfish, and giant freshwater lobster.

Greens Member for Braddon, Paul ‘Basil’  O’Halloran MP, said that the state’s north-west was perfectly situated to play a key role in addressing threatened species loss, especially in the case of the endangered Tasmanian Devil.

“The Tarkine Region in the north-west is recognised as the only part of Tasmania free of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), and by protecting this crucial habitat region as a National Park would go a long way to securing this iconic species,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“A Tarkine National Park would also provide sanctuary to the Spotted-tail Quoll, recognised as being  at risk due to continued habitat removal and fragmentation, which is found throughout the Tarkine region particularly along the coast.” [1]

“The Wedge-Tailed Eagle also makes its home in the north-west, and it is widely recognised that protection of its breeding habitat is critical for the survival of this majestic bird. Again, a Tarkine National Park has an important role to play.”

“The Giant Freshwater Lobster occurs in the Arthur River catchment in the north west, but this iconic species faces the ongoing threat posed by roading disturbance of its waterways, as well as poaching.”

“Habitat retention and protection is vital in the struggle to restore healthy and viable species populations and remove them from the dubious honour of being listed on the Threatened Species roll-call.” 

“As a haven for a threatened species, an appropriately resourced Tarkine National Park has a crucial role to play for conservation and biodiversity management in this state.”

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Threatened Species Day Highlights Needed Action

Posted on 08. Sep, 2010 by Editor.

Tim Morris MP
Acting Leader

The Tasmanian Greens today marked National Threatened Species Day by calling for a Feral Species unit to be established to provide a dedicated focus targeting the ongoing loss of the state’s native species, and also the removal of the exemptions provided the forestry industry which allow a threatened species to be taken without a permit.

Greens Acting Leader Tim Morris MP said that more endemic native fauna and flora species risk ending up on the Threatened Species list unless decisive action is taken to invest in threat mitigation measures, which are applied rigorously and consistently across the state.

Mr Morris also said that the protection of habitat is a crucial mechanism to protect the state’s natural biodiversity, pointing out that the creation of a Tarkine National Park would provide much needed protection for species including the Tasmanian Devil, the burrowing crayfish and the giant fresh-water lobster.

“The Auditor-General’s  Special Report into the Management of Threatened Species last year found that of the  674 species listed as threatened only 18% had a completed listing statement as required under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (TSPA), and only 20% had a recovery plan,” Mr Morris said.

“Similarly the Report found that the state has not invested in the development of a comprehensive list detailing the important habitats of threatened species, which is desperately needed in order to secure the ongoing viability of our endangered, vulnerable and rare species.”

“Habitat loss, and invasion by pests and diseases, are the main risks that our wildlife face.  The Greens urge that a dedicated Feral Species Unit is established as a priority to develop and implement plans to target the 72 identified pests that have been categorised as posing a high or extreme risk to our wildlife.”

“We urgently need to also revise current legislation which allows the forest industry to ‘take’ a threatened species without a permit, as there is no good reason for one sector to be ‘exempt’ from responsibilities towards threatened species than any other.”

“By the 2011 National Threatened Species Day, Tasmania should be aiming to have 100% completion of listing statements and recovery plans, as well as a comprehensive assessment of significant habitat completed, and a consistent approach across all sectors regarding the protection of threatened species,” Mr Morris said.

Reference: Auditor-General Special Report No. 78, Management of Threatened Species, March 2009.

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Forestry Tasmania Loses $8 Million While Damaging Tasmanian Brand, and Timber Resource

Posted on 08. Sep, 2010 by Editor.

Kim Booth MP
Greens Forests spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today described Forestry Tasmania’s latest loss, of nearly $8 million for the 2009-10 financial year, as an appalling indictment on a rogue Government Business Enterprise that has prioritised the profits of woodchippers while damaging Tasmania’s timber resource and brand, and losing millions of dollars of public money on a regular basis.

Greens Forests spokesperson Kim Booth MP said instead of wasting taxpayer’s money continually propping up a rogue GBE that is overseeing a failing woodchip-based industry, it is time that Labor reformed Forestry Tasmania and redirected public funds into real priorities such as hospitals, schools and public infrastructure.

Mr Booth also said that Forestry Tasmania currently appears to be seeking a social licence for its activities via megaphone diplomacy with the community, and called on the GBE to publicly abandon mooted plans to become a woodchipper in its own right, and to contact community groups and begin a process of real dialogue instead of barking out demands through the media.

“Once again Forestry Tasmania has managed to lose millions of public dollars while overseeing a huge free resource, and it is high time that Labor reformed this rogue GBE to start managing our forests for a fair return to the public purse which will allow for a the proper allocation of public funds into health, education and infrastructure,” said Mr Booth.

“It is obvious that Forestry Tasmania’s high-volume low-price export model has not only wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, it is interfering in the market by giving away wood at rates under which no other supplier can survive.”

“This eight million dollar loss means that eight million dollars will now have to be pulled away from real priorities in order to prop-up a rogue agency that has driven Tasmania’s forestry sector to its knees.”

“If Forestry Tasmania wants social acceptance of its activities it needs to stop interfering in the market, back away from the obvious intention to become a woodchipper in its own right, and start talking to the community and stakeholders about the best way to move beyond the current failed focus on woodchipping,” said Mr Booth.

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Market Rejection of Hormone Growth Promotants is Welcome

Posted on 08. Sep, 2010 by Editor.

Kim Booth MP
Greens Forests spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the decision by Coles Supermarkets to cease selling beef that has been treated with Hormone Growth Promotants (HGPs) from November this year, a decision that confirms the Greens’ long-held belief that HGP-free meat is better for human and animal health while also providing a marketing edge for producers.

Greens Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MP said Tasmania is the only state of Australia that has banned the use of HGPs in cattle, but this marketing advantage has been undermined by Labor’s inability to implement a paddock-to-plate certification system to prove state-of-origin and authenticity of HGP-free status.

Mr Booth also noted that Coles themselves acknowledge widespread consumer concerns about additives and animal welfare, and that Coles are now prepared to pay more for HGP-free beef than that sourced from cattle treated with HGPs because they believe the meat is of a better quality.

“The decision by Coles Supermarkets to ban the sale of beef raised using HGPs due to widespread consumer concerns is confirmation that Tasmania’s ban on the use of HGPs in beef has enhanced our brand, and gives impetus to calls on Labor to implement a paddock-to-plate certification system to prove state-of-origin and HGP-free authenticity,” said Mr Booth.

“The Greens have always said that HGP-free meat was not only better for human and animal health, it would be a marketing boon for the state’s meat industry, but unfortunately there is currently no way to provide certification of authenticity for Tasmanian HGP-free beef.”

“This situation highlights the need for brand protection, promotion and verification.”

“For many years now the Greens have kept up the pressure on Labor to not only maintain Tasmania’s HGP-free status, but to protect that valuable branding edge by providing paddock-to-plate certification to prove HGP-authenticity, and this decision by Coles increases that need for authentication,” said Mr Booth.

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Forestry Tasmania’s Creative Accounting Exposed by Savage Devaluation

Posted on 03. Sep, 2010 by Editor.

Kim Booth MP
Greens Forests spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today said the savage devaluation of Forestry Tasmania’s assets by the independent James W Sewall Company, which has slashed almost 50% from the enterprise’s asset value, has exposed Forestry Tasmania’s historical penchant for creative accounting, in order to artificially inflate its value and importance to Tasmania’s economy.

Greens Forest spokesperson Kim Booth MP said the revaluation means that the 1.4 million hectares of forest being managed by Forestry Tasmania is now apparently worth less than the Hobart Airport, which was sold for $350 million.

Mr Booth also pointed out that the valuation by Sewall is based on much higher prices than those currently being achieved by Forestry Tasmania, meaning that the real devaluation is likely to be considerably higher than  the $300 million that has been carved off Forestry’s value.

“Forestry Tasmania are renowned for creative accounting, for including costs as revenue, and for over-valuing their own activities, and the independent James W Sewall Company has exposed them through a savage devaluation of almost 50% ,” said Mr Booth.

“This devaluation means that Forestry Tasmania’s entire forest estate is apparently worth less than the Hobart Airport.”

“This is an appalling result for Forestry Tasmania and has been directly caused by the staggeringly low value that Forestry has achieved through its destructive obsession with low-value woodchips.”

“It is way past time that this rogue agency explained how it has managed to reduce the value of Tasmania’s entire production forest estate to less than half of the value of the public subsidies that have been sucked up by the forest sector over the last 10 years alone.”

“Alarmingly, Sewall’s analysis is based on much higher wood values than are currently achievable. If Sewall had based this valuation on the recent deals brokered by Forestry Tasmania to send pine logs to China for free, and to sell woodchips at less than $6 per tonne in royalties, this valuation would be even lower than it is now,” said Mr Booth.

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Historic Milestone Achieved in 12-Year Campaign for Parliamentary Reform

Posted on 03. Sep, 2010 by Editor.

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP hailed as a historic achievement the signing today of an agreement between the three political Leaders to formalise a collaborative approach to restoring the number of MPs in the House of Assembly.

Mr McKim said that the agreement is a demonstration of the benefits of a power-sharing Parliament and a collaborative approach to politics.

“This signed agreement is a major milestone in the Greens’ 12 year campaign to restore the numbers of the House of Assembly, and restore a functioning Parliament for Tasmanians,” Mr McKim said.

“It is testimony to the opportunities presented by power-sharing Parliaments, and a commitment to working together to deliver progressive outcomes for the community.”

“I sincerely thank David and Will for their constructive and collaborative approach, and I look forward to working with them to progress this issue to a resolution,” Mr McKim said.

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Agreement for Parliamentary Reform

Posted on 02. Sep, 2010 by Editor.

Agreement for Parliamentary Reform (337KB) signed by Premier David Bartlett, Greens Leader Nick McKim and Liberal Leader Will Hodgman 3 September 2010

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Ongoing Chemical Contamination of Tasmania’s Waterways Must Be Addressed

Posted on 02. Sep, 2010 by Editor.

Tim Morris MP
Greens Water spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today called on Primary Industries Minister Bryan Green to explain why he told Parliament yesterday that detections of the herbicide MCPA in the Duck River were ‘well under’ the World Health Organisation guideline of 2 parts per billion (ppb), when in fact the readings were as high as 9.38 ppb.

Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that Minister Green seems to have absolutely no idea about the  significant issues related to the ongoing chemical contamination of Tasmania’s waterways, and his efforts yesterday to downplay a serious contamination event and defend a flawed regulatory system were deeply concerning for anyone who cares about cleaning up Tasmania’s waterways.

Mr Morris received a correction from Minister Bryan Green after raising this issue again today.

“At the end of Question Time today the Minister did acknowledge that he had got it wrong yesterday, and I thank him for his prompt correction. However, the Minister still has a long way to go to address properly the issue of chemical contamination in our waterways.”

Mr Morris also pointed out that the label requirements for the use of MCPA specify that it is not to be used in or near waterways, and that the used container is not even allowed to be disposed of in a waterway, yet under Labor’s flawed regulatory system this chemical is being regularly detected in the Duck River, as well as in a number of other Tasmanian waterways.

“When questioned about 42 positive detections of toxic chemicals in the Duck River, from 48 tests conducted during just one month, Minister Green provided the Parliament with misinformation as well as making it clear that he is not going to do anything about the problem. This is not good enough and the Greens will continue to hold this poor excuse for a Minister to account on this very serious issue,” said Mr Morris.

“The label requirements for MCPA make it quite clear that it is not be used in or near waterways, yet this toxic chemical is consistently appearing in the Duck River and the Minister is doing nothing about it.”

“The WHO health guideline for MCPA is indeed 2ppb, but one of the contamination events in the Duck River peaked at 9.38 ppb which is way about the health guideline, and yet the best the Minister can do is provide misinformation and defend the system that is allowing these events to continue,” said Mr Morris.

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Why Was Disqualification of Premier’s Greyhound Overturned?

Posted on 02. Sep, 2010 by Editor.

Kim Booth MP
Greens Racing spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today called on Racing Minister Bryan Green to explain why the disqualification of a greyhound owned in part by Premier David Bartlett was overturned following intervention from the Director of Racing Tony Murray.

Greens Racing spokesperson Kim Booth MP said the greyhound Toolong Terror was purchased by the Li’l Ricky syndicate, which includes David Bartlett, and subsequently won a race on the 2^nd of April 2009, but was then disqualified as the syndicate had not been registered with Racing Services Tasmania (RST), however that disqualification was overturned by the Director of Racing in what appears to have been an unprecedented intervention.

Mr Booth also queried the Minister about the identity of the members of the Li’l Ricky syndicate.

“Toolong Terror won its race on the 2^nd of April last year and was then quite correctly disqualified as the owning syndicate was not registered with RST as required, so why has the Director of Racing then intervened and overturned this disqualification?,” asked Mr Booth.

“The Rules of Racing were clearly broken by the Premier’s dog racing syndicate Li’l Ricky.”

“It is my understanding that there have been no other similar interventions by the Director, so why did he intervene in this case?”

“This matter goes right to the heart of the integrity of racing, as all participants are entitled to expect the highest standards of probity, accountability and equal treatment, free of political interference, nepotism or cronyism.”

“The greyhound racing steward properly disqualified Toolong Terror and yet, incredibly, the Director stepped in and interfered. The question on everyone’s lips is why?”

“Minister Green needs to investigate this issue and ensure that there has been no abuse or misuse of a position of authority in regards to the disqualification of Toolong Terror being overturned in what appears to be an unprecedented intervention from the Director of Racing,” said Mr Booth.

Transcript of Steward’s Inquiry into Toolong Terror 2 April 2009 (2.3MB)

Transcript of Steward’s Inquiry into Toolong Terror 15 April 2009 (1.33MB)

Letter from Chairman of Stewards to Solicitor General (1.69MB)

Greyhound Steward’s Report (1.05MB)

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