[12.37 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I thank the Leader as well, and Mandy and Will and all the staff. It has been a pretty hard week for the Leader. To the member for Rosevears who fell off the wagon last night in his non-drinking year - he had a whisky. Mr Finch - Two. Ms ARMITAGE - Two whiskies - Mr Finch - A fairly generous two, I might add. Ms ARMITAGE - One bottle was almost empty, so I think you had to go to the second. I wish the member all the best in retirement. Who knows? It might not be this year. Depending on when the election is, you might be back here in August, so we might still see you. I am not sure whether it is commiserations to Carole. She will cer
[7.53 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I thank the Government and the OPC, particularly Robyn Webb, for the briefings we have received today. The briefing made the bill and its clauses clearer and I feel very comfortable voting to pass this bill. It is good to see that all sides of parliament in the other place passed this bill without argument. It received tripartite support, as the bill ensures continuity of the government services and provides provisions in order that the Government can support Tasmanians suffering hardship as a result of the COVID-19 virus. We are told, and the member for Murchison mentioned, that these provisions are acting as a Henry VIII clause reflecti
[3.48 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I support the member for Rosevears, only because I am totally confused. I am hearing one thing from the Leader and another from the member from Rosevears, who has apparently spoken to at least four of the five landowners. Mrs Hiscutt - I read out a letter from last month. Ms ARMITAGE - With respect, Mr President, the letter the Leader read was previous to them understanding what the offer was. Mrs Hiscutt - I do not believe so. They indicated in that letter – Ms ARMITAGE - I ask the Leader: did they know that it was 75 per cent? Mr PRESIDENT - Can we keep the debate to the reason for the adjournment? Ms ARMITAGE - It is to do with the re
Ms ARMITAGE question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT The current Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program report indicates that Hobart has the highest city use of the opioid oxycodone, which has a very high potential for addiction. Although oxycodone can be legally prescribed and consumed and wastewater analysis cannot distinguish between legal and recreational use, I note that Tasmania is one of the few jurisdictions in the country to offer the anti-opioid overdose drug naloxone only through pharmacies and not community health providers. Will the honourable leader please advise - (1) Do the Department of Heal
[5.22 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I really feel this legislation has been covered, but I will just briefly echo the words that have already been said. We certainly are in difficult times. I support this bill and the other bills that are coming up. As mentioned by the member for Windermere, it is certainly not easy for many people in the community. While I have been sitting here, I sent an email to the Premier. As we speak, I have had a request from someone in the community making face masks to try to help health workers. They are looking for funding to launder them. So many different things going on. It is a continually moveable feast. As the member for Windermere said, w
[11.12 a.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, today I speak about a stalwart of the Launceston community and a friend of mine, Toni Maloney, a person who has contributed so much to the Tasmanian not-for-profit and medical research sectors. Toni was born in The Netherlands and emigrated with her family to Indonesia after the World War II, arriving in Australia not long after in 1950. Educated in New South Wales, Toni became a Queen's Guide and worked with handicapped children early in her career. She went on to train as a secretary, then went to work for the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board. In 1962, Toni moved to Tasmania and was appointed private secretary to the managers of Mye
Click here to read Premier Gutwein's 2020 State of the State address. [3.25 p.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, a lot has happened since the Premier's State of the State address. The coronavirus has taken a terrible toll on our state with the cancellation, temporary closing or postponement of MONA, Targa, Supercars, weekend and weekday events from bowls to AFL, Agfest, swimming pools, Relay for Life, theatre, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, TMAG and many others, including our wonderful harvest market each Saturday morning in Launceston. It is certainly a difficult time for our state. It is hoped people, while many are self-isolating, will remember to shop locally and holida
[11.42 a.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I speak briefly on the bill as I do not have any real concerns. I have listened to the member for McIntyre and while I understand what she is saying, I think land tax has always been an issue - we have all fought for constituents not to have to pay land tax. Ms Rattray - To no avail. Ms ARMITAGE - To no avail because it is simply the way it works, unfortunately. It is not a retrospectivity issue; it is just the way that it is with land tax. Ms Forrest - It is giving effect to a policy intent that was supposed to be there at the outset. Ms ARMITAGE - It is not something we can do anything about. I do not really see that it has any bearing
Mrs Armitage to ask the Honourable Leader of the Government — With regard to the tendering and hiring practices of TasWater’s Capital Development Office (CDO): (1) (a) What are the CDO’s engineering workforce needs and how does it plan to recruit and develop this workforce; (b) What information does the CDO have on the numbers of engineers needed as it relates to the operations of TasWater; (c) Are there any diversity objectives including targets or quotas; and (d) What is the primary source of qualified engineers for the CDO from local employers or from interstate? (2) (a) Does the CDO take steps to engage local, Tasmanian-based engineers and engineering firms in their recruitment processes
Ms ARMITAGE question to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION, Ms HOWLETT Ms ARMITAGE Could the minister please advise the current situation with regard to sporting groups and codes in view of the coronavirus? Ms HOWLETT Mr President, I thank the member for Launceston for her question. While the impact of the coronavirus continues to unfold, a number of sporting events have already been cancelled. While this is very disappointing for many men and women and the junior participants of these sports, the primary consideration must be health and safety. By way of an update, based on this latest advice - and it is changing every 10 minutes - the following events and competitions have been postponed or
Ms ARMITAGE - Mr President, today I am speaking about one of Hobart's oldest and smallest working tall ships, the sailing vessel Rhona H or SV Rhona H, to which it is commonly abbreviated. In the interests of full disclosure, the Rhona H was for over 20 years in the possession of my husband, meaning I know it very well, and I understand its authenticity and just how much it means to people. Since the sale of the vessel, I have become its patron. The 52-foot gaff-rigged fishing vessel was originally built for Frere Youl of Symmons Plains in 1942, and was sold around 1946 to Max Hardy, a Stanley fisherman, who helped promote the crayfish industry in north-west Tasmania around that time. The Rh
Ms ARMITAGE question to the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Mrs Hiscutt - 1. How many ENT surgeons are currently providing specialist services - (a) in the north-west (b) in Laurnceston (c) in Hobart? 2. Of the total number of ENT specialists, how many are - (a) expected to retire across the three regions in the near future; and (b) is it expected that two overseas trained surgeons at the Lauriceston General Hospital will be leaving? 3. What specific plans are in place and what action is the Government taking to address issues surrounding recruitment and retention of ENT specialists in Tasmania considering there has not been any ENT specialist trainees in Tasmania for 1
Ms ARMITAGE question to the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Mrs Hiscutt - With regard to cameras installed at traffic intersections, given the obvious benefits for recording and retaining footage from traffic monitoring cameras, including for the purposes of assisting police investigations, as well as planning for traffic infrastructure and road user safety, what are the reasons for the Department of State Growth not recording and retaining footage from traffic monitoring cameras? Ms Hiscutt -The Department of State Growth has advised that it operates and maintains traffic monitoring cameras at various locations for the purpose of managing the State Road Network. These c