ROSEMARY ARMITAGE MLC

Thursday 10 September 2026 [4.33 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Thank you, Mr President. I thank the previous speakers. It's been very informative and I've shortened my speech considerably. I thank the honourable Leader for bringing forward the bill and I rise just to make a few remarks. As we've seen, posting and boasting is an issue which has accompanied the increased use of technology. These days, most people have a device in their pocket with which they have the poten

Thursday 10 September 2026 [12.09 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Thank you, Mr President. I thank the honourable minister as well for bringing this forward and for the briefings that we've had. It was really good to have so many briefings, just to clear up different issues. The bill contains a number of technical amendments which could have wider implications for local planning bodies and councils, and does seek, in my opinion, to vest additional powers into the minister.

Wednesday 9 September 2026 [3.09 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Thank you, Mr President, and I rise to make a few short comments on this bill. As others have said, the Land Use Planning Approvals Act 1993 is a very large, complex and comprehensive piece of legislation. Given the nature of land use and planning in Tasmania, these laws necessarily need quite a lot of attention and amendments. No-one's disputing the need for ongoing updating and change and resultant technica

Wednesday 9 September 2026 New Launceston Bus Interchange - Government Funding Ms ARMITAGE question to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT, Mr VINCENT [2.36 p.m.] Regarding the 2024 election promise for $12 million in funding for a new bus interchange in Launceston, - (1) Can the honourable minister please advise why the government has withdrawn funding and support for this project? Was it always contingent on the proposed Paterson Street car park redevel

Tuesday 8 September 2026 Ms ARMITAGE question to LEADER for the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Ms RATTRAY [2.42 p.m.] By way of background, the Public Works Committee approved the construction of a new replacement kitchen, including a bakery, at the Risden Prison Complex. This was at an estimated cost of $18.77 million for the project in total and commissioning was to occur in December 2025. Can the honourable Leader please advise: (1) What was the total cost

Tuesday 8 September 2026 Office of the Custodial Inspector - Custody: Reception to Release Inspection Report 2025 - Consideration and Noting Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I move - That the Office of the Custodial Inspector's Custody: Reception to Release Inspection Report 2025 be considered and noted. Mr President, I thank members for their patience for bringing on this motion. It's been on the notice paper for some time, which I hope has given everyone a good

Tuesday 8 September 2026 [12.54 p.m.] Mr EDMUNDS (Pembroke) - Mr President, I move‑ That the Council: (1) Notes that seven well-known Hobart hospitality venues - Cargo Bar, Jack Greene, Post Street Social, Observatory Bar, Republic Bar, Franklin Wharf Restaurant and Bar and Franklin Wharf Function Centre - closed after the Pub Banc Group entered voluntary administration; (2) Further notes that more than 80 Tasmanian workers were stood down as a result; (

Thursday 3 September 2026 [5.24 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - I thank the honourable Leader for bringing forward the bill. The bill seeks to implement and legislate recommendations made by the commission of inquiry, which we all know was a watershed moment in Tasmanian policy and law. As part of its role, the commission of inquiry considered the role of oversight bodies, noting potential gaps in a reportable conduct scheme for some departments and organisations. It was t

Thursday 3 September 2026 Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I thank the honourable Leader for bringing this bill forward again and I note - Ms Rattray - It has taken a while to get to the Council. Ms ARMITAGE - Well, I'll be asking you about proclamations as well. I note that this is not the first time we've actually seen it. I know that certain circumstances have intervened, but I'm glad that we're finally getting the opportunity to examine the bill and implement

Wednesday 2 September 2026 Ms ARMITAGE question to MINISTER for SPORT, Mr DUIGAN [2.51 p.m.] Minister, while it is noted that Fairbrother has been awarded the contract to build the high-performance centre at Kingston for $105 million. Is this a fixed-price contract or is it cost‑plus given the rapidly escalating building costs? ANSWER Thank you, Mr President, and thank the member for Launceston for the question. It was great to be at Kingston on Monday. There were a cas

Wednesday 2 September 2026 [3.39 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I don't question the seriousness of Tasmania's housing crisis, nor do I question the sincerity of those who want to see more Tasmanians able to buy or rent a home. Those are worthy goals and, more often than not, urgent ones. But good intentions don't make bad legislation good. This bill asked the parliament to endorse a new tax without proving that it will solve the problem it claims to solve.

Wednesday 2 September 2026 [11.08 a.m.] Ms RATTRAY (McIntyre - Leader for the Government in the Legislative Council) - Mr President, I move - That the Legislative Council: (1) Notes that hundreds of people have been killed and remain missing and there is extensive destruction following devastating flash floods that struck communities in the border region between Nepal and Tibet. (2) Expresses profound sadness at the tragic loss of life and suffering expe

Tuesday 1 September 2026 [11.41 a.m.] Mr PRESIDENT - As the honourable member for Huon makes her way to the lectern, just to clarify for members the word in the title that may be considered unparliamentary in other forms, including interjections, that type of thing, as it's a formal title it is within parliamentary practice. So, feel free to use the title of the document in your contributions. Ms GLADE-WRIGHT (Huon) - Mr President, I move the motion in my name- That the C

Tuesday 1 September 2026 [6.29 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Thank you. Just a brief contribution. And I also thank the member for Montgomery for bringing this forward, and for all the work that he's actually done. And the briefing this morning, it was really great. So, for many years we've heard that the Central Coast area has missed out on a public holiday that other communities enjoy. And this simply isn't about having an extra day off; it's about recognising the commun

Tuesday 1 Sept 2026 [11.37 a.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Today I wish to shine a light on the incredible work being done by Rural Alive & Well Tasmania, otherwise known as RAW Tasmania, in our regional and rural communities, and the real impact they're having for the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians. RAW work statewide with 20 staff located around the state and embedded in the communities they work in. They truly understand the challenges and struggles people living in

Thursday 20 August 2026 Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Thank you, Mr President. Just make sure I have all my bits here. I believe I have. Mr President, I rise to make some brief remarks on this bill. While it contains minor, mainly minor and uncontroversial amendments, it's important that we, in this place, ensure that we provide proper context and input so it is properly understood why it's necessary. Firstly and importantly, this bill makes several amendments to the Crimina

Wednesday 19 August 2026 [11.23 a.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - I will briefly make some remarks on this bill as it's pretty well a universally welcomed and accepted bill, closing a very problematic loophole which currently exists in Tasmanian law. Phoenixing in the construction sector has significant and far-reaching consequences for consumers, businesses and creditors, as well as employees and subcontractors of these companies. It depletes people's savings; it ruins lives

Tuesday 18 August 2026 [9.24 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - I thank the honourable member for Rumney for bringing forward this bill. I believe it's an important debate for us to have. I'm very conscious of the fact that we're trying to make a very delicate and considered decision here. I thank everyone who briefed us - Joel from SDA and I think it was Olivia, Jayden and Matty who came in. That can't have been easy coming and facing all of us there. And for the first time th

Thursday 13 August 2026 [12.22 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Thank you, Mr President. I thank the honourable Leader for bringing forward this bill and for the briefings provided. This bill contains a number of commonsense measures to address and deter certain offences, and I know that it's the result of extensive consultation and research. Tasmanian roads are not as safe as they should be and I think many in this Chamber were part of a road safety committee that we had qui

Wednesday 12 August 2026 [5.18 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Thank you, Mr President. I'd like to acknowledge the member for Bass and also the minister for Police, who's only just left in the back of the Chamber. I thank the honourable Leader for bringing forward the bill and I welcome the opportunity to speak on it. I believe it's important that we provide on the record the emphasis our communities place on war memorials and why it's necessary to deter vandalism and prope

Tuesday 11 August 2026 [12.54 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I'll just give a little background on where this has come from. When I first came to this Chamber in 2011, I must admit I was really quite surprised that there were no time limits, having come from local government where we had five minutes and then, if you were really lucky, you got an extension of three minutes - so eight minutes in which to put forward your view, often on very complex planning mat

Tuesday 11 August 2026 Ms ARMITAGE question to LEADER for the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Ms RATTRAY [2.56 p.m.] Regarding the fire and malicious damage event at Ashley Youth Detention Centre in October 2025, have any charges been laid against any person involved, and if not, why not? ANSWER Just by way of explanation, because it's charges, it relates to the minister for Police. In respect to the incident at AYDC on 5 October 2025, three young people were c

Tuesday 11 August 2026 Mr President, I am very pleased to rise to speak today about a terrific business in Launceston, run with enthusiasm and heart. I am talking about the Bloom Coffee Van, run by young Entrepreneur Olivia Pedder. After finishing year twelve in November last year, Olivia purchased the Bloom Coffee van and got to work. Taking the experience she has gained working at other local Launceston businesses, Bluestone and Josef Chromy – where she still works part t