Launceston General Hospital - Credentialing of Medical Specialists Ms Armitage (Launceston) question to Acting Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Mrs Hiscutt. Mr Deputy President, I may need to seek your indulgence because this question has a fairly long preamble. The Launceston General Hospital Emergency Department has many vacancies for specialist positions, with the Tasmanian Health Service - THS - having engaged a recruitment agency at considerable cost. The agency has come up with some well‑qualified emergency physicians from the United Kingdom and the United States of America. With the normal course of events, these doctors should get their specialist qualifications
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Mr President, I thank the Acting Leader for the briefing because it cleared up a few issues surrounding this bill. I understand the intent of the bill. I am not sure it is going to be as easy to deal with issues when the bill becomes law as it may be to put on paper. We know how hard issues with trees or views can be. I know more than most about trees, having had a huge tree fall across my house. I am well aware of the issues with neighbouring trees and the difficulties one can have. When it comes to the clause, it needs to be clearer. I mentioned retrospectivity in the briefings. Clause 7 states - Subject to this section …/ … the plant has caused, is causing
Third reading negatived
AYES 5 Mr Armstrong Mr Dean (Teller) Mr Hall Mrs Hiscutt Ms Rattray NOES 7 Ms Armitage Mr Farrell Mr Finch (Teller) Ms Forrest Mr Gaffney Ms Lovell Mr Valentine PAIR Dr Goodwin Mr Willie Third reading negatived.
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Mr President, I rise to speak very briefly on a matter that has come to my attention today that I would like to bring to the notice of the House. It is to do with the Tamar Valley Power Station. You probably will have noticed in the media yesterday, as time runs out for a renegotiation of Tasmania's gas supply contract, the threat by the Energy minister that parties may be forced to arbitration if contract deadlines are not met. I have been advised today Hydro Tasmania may be considering using liquefied natural gas, LNG, in the Tamar Valley Power Station and the LNG would be supplied by ship as per the gas shipped overseas. I understand the reason behind
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Mr President, I support the bill and anything that generates jobs, certainly in the building industry. It also applies to the apprentices rebate bill we had earlier. If more builders are having more work, they can employ more apprentices. Getting people into trades is a good thing. It is all very well for us to be looking at university and other areas, but we need trades as well. I cannot sit down though without mentioning that I believe it is discriminatory that we do not give it to first homebuyers. I do not agree that applying money to first homebuyers increases housing stock. Having been in real estate, people do not look at homes for sale and think, 'Gosh, I c
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Mr President, most of this matter has been covered and particularly well by the member for Mersey. I am not fond of retrospectivity, but I understand that the councils acted in good faith and have certainly not been underhand in trying to take rates from an area where they thought they should not. Can the Government state with conviction that those people have already instituted court proceedings will not be affected in any way as a result of this legislation? That they will be able to proceed with their case as if this new legislation has not been introduced? That is a rather important matter we need to have on the record. I too have contacted councils in my el