[12.59 p.m.] Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Mr Deputy President, I support the bill. It is a good bill and it goes to an area that is becoming more prevalent now with these electronic cigarettes. I did not realise they were illegal because you see so many of them around. If you are not going to purchase them yourself, you do not know people cannot legally do it. I sought the Australian Medical Association's opinion of the use of e-cigarettes, which I now read into Hansard - E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that are designed to mimic smoking by emitting an aerosol (or vapour) to the user, typically containing propylene glycol or glycerol, with or without nicotine. The inhaled aerosol
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Madam Acting President, I thank the Government for the briefing this morning and the opportunity to speak to members of the department over the last few months and for their continued availability. It has been very good. They have been available all the time and we could go to them with any questions we had. They were always willing to be there, either on the other end of the phone or in person. I do not believe anyone can question the minister's belief that he was doing the right thing for young children. It is therefore very heartening to see that the Government has listened to the community and childcare centres, and is now willing to genuinely consult with
Ms Armitage asked the Acting Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council - With regard to Tasmania's gas supply contract - (1) What is the situation with regard to the renegotiation of the contract? (2) Can the Government confirm that Hydro Tasmania proposes to use liquefied natural gas -LNG - in the Tamar Valley Power Station? (3) (a) Will construction of any new infrastructure be required - for example, new tanks? (b) If so, what are the estimated costs of these upgrades? (4) Does the Government consider that domestic and commercial natural gas users in Tasmania will be negatively affected in any way should the contract not be renegotiated? Mrs Hiscutt replied - (1) The
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Madam Acting President, I support the bill. I have a few concerns with the make-up of the board. I had some concerns with the area of accreditation but after a few phone calls and some discussion over the lunch period, I no longer have those concerns. I am happy to go along with the changes in the current bill. I discussed the accreditation with a couple of general practitioners and also Tony Steven of the Australian Medical Association. Earlier on I thought these people surely needed to be accredited but in discussion they made it clear. I could quite understand because at one stage I had a constituent who was a volunteer. He was injured through no fault of
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Mr Deputy President, I took advice on this bill during the break and was advised that the previous act being from 1950 was significantly out of date and did not adequately represent what a contemporary museum and art gallery requires. The 2017 bill is a timely improvement. It has taken some time to develop, with good consultation between TMAG operations, the director, the trustees, Arts Tasmania and Department of State Growth, with all three supporting the act. The 2017 bill clarifies the governance of TMAG with a clear operational role for the trustees through the director. The state Government still owns the assets, including the buildings, infrastructure and
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Mr Deputy President, I certainly support this bill before us. It gives the police greater powers to do their work, as has been said by other honourable members, and sends the message that we will not put up with this type of thing. I know, going by local media, that in the past various outlaw groups relocated to Tasmania. Groups like that need to see that Tasmania's police unit will be tough. We certainly will not tolerate the fortification that has been going on. The member for Windermere probably recalls from when he was on local council, a couple of premises in his electorate had been well and truly fortified. It was incredible, in suburban streets. Some of
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Mr Deputy President, I am sure many people in this House and right around Tasmania have heard of the WD Booth Charitable Trust. They have not only heard about it, but many would have benefited from it. Today, I speak about the extraordinary Winifred Daphne 'Kim' Booth of Launceston. Mrs Booth was born on 22 October 1914 in London into the wealthy Denny family. She had quite a privileged upbringing and was known by her middle name, Daphne, to the family. Mrs Booth, then Miss Denny, received her education at a private boarding school in England and then spent a year at a finishing school in Switzerland. Her father, Bernard, was a partner in a stockbroking firm on
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Mr Deputy President, I move - That the Terms of Reference for the Select Committee appointed to inquire into and report upon the Tasmanian Government's proposal to take control of TasWater under State Government ownership be amended as follows - by leaving out all the words after 'report upon' and inserting instead 'the concept of ownership of TasWater by the Government with particular reference to - (1) The benefits, disadvantages and challenges associated with the Tasmanian Government's proposal to take control of TasWater; and (2) Any other matters incidental thereto.' And that - Mr Armstrong; Mr Farrell; Mr Finch; Mr Gaffney; Ms Rattray; Mr Valentine an
Ms Armitage (Launceston) - Mr Deputy President, I do not have a problem with the principle before us. Like other members, I had a little concern when we went into the nitty-gritty about 'comprising a representative' and going into detail there, but the word 'consider' takes some of that angst away. It truly is 'consider'. I understand it is a review committee, but I wonder about the ultimate responsibility or the decision-making, whether that rests with the committee or whether it is purely an advisory committee. Purely giving advice as opposed to decision-making, so the decision-making would still rest with the government of the day. This committee is purely looking at long-term strateg
Ms ARMITAGE question to ACTING LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT (1) Why is Momentum Energy, a division of Hydro Tasmania, selling retail peak power for 16 cents per kilowatt through Basslink to small $120-a-month residential interstate customers? (2) How is it possible to deliver Tasmanian power to mainland residents for 16 cents per kilowatt, even when they have gas hot water and gas heating that include Basslink fees, when Tasmanians pay over 60 per cent more at 26 cents, or nearly double the rate, at 31.5 cents on peak time of use option? (3) Who is subsidising Tasmanian-generated power purchased interstate for this to occur? (4) Will Tasmanians be able