State's Balance Sheet Under the Microscope
Thursday 30 September 2021, The Examiner They say a week is a long time in politics and that is never more true than in Budget Estimates week. Estimates is when members of Parliament have an opportunity to grill or at the very least get answers to a variety of questions relating to the budget. A topical issue would be the AFL. I am sure many people watched the grand final and it was great to see Melbourne win a premiership after a 57 year drought, none more than former AFL
Question without notice - Healthy Tasmania Strategic Plans
Wednesday 22 September 2021 Ms ARMITAGE question to DEPUTY LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Ms PALMER [2.55 p.m.] Regarding the Healthy Tasmania Five Year Strategic Plan which is due to expire this year can the Deputy Leader please advise: (1) When the next strategic plan is due to be released? (2) Whether, per the existing plan's targets, the Tasmanian smoking rate was reduced to 10 per cent in 2020? (3) Whether, per the existing plan's target
Defamation Amendment Bill 2021 (No. 34)
Wednesday 22 September 2021 [4.37 p.m.] Ms (ARMITAGE Launceston) - Thank you, Madam Deputy President. Firstly, I would also like to thank the Leader and the Deputy Leader for the briefings this morning. As usual they were very informative and I really appreciated the two page sheet. It really was good. It was actually very handy to have while we were listening to the briefing. This bill deals with some quite uncontroversial, but nonetheless important, amendments to the Ta
Question without notice - Road Safety - Wire Rope Barriers
Wednesday 22 September 2021 Ms ARMITAGE question to DEPUTY LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Ms PALMER [2.38 p.m.] Deputy Leader, noting that wire rope barriers on roads have high ongoing maintenance costs, can the Deputy Leader please advise: (1) The annual maintenance budget for inspection, maintenance and replacement of posts, checking and/or replacing cables, post caps or any other system componentry? (2) Is the maintenance budget sufficient to
Children, Young Persons & Their Families Amendment Bill 2021 (No. 28)
Wednesday 22 September 2021, Second Reading Speech [11.37 a.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I rise briefly to comment in support of this bill and the objectives which it seeks to achieve. The bill, as we know, seeks to strengthen the legal authority for Tasmania to participate in the national child safety data linkage initiative, known as Connect for Safety. The Connect for Safety system improves access within and between jurisdictions to material required for
Question without notice: Taxi licences & Ubers
Tuesday 21 September 2021 Ms ARMITAGE question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT Regarding the allocation and management of taxi licences in the state: (1) Does the Government acknowledge there are marked differences between the regulatory requirements on rideshare operators (for example Uber) compared to taxis licensed in Tasmania? (2) Can the Leader please advise the rationale behind the 24 taxi areas in this state? (3) Would th
Question without notice: COVID-19 vaccinations for years 11 & 12 students
Tuesday 21 September 2021 Ms ARMITAGE question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT [2.35 p.m.] Mr President, I realise the situation may have changed since I raised the issue. Regarding a media release from the Minister for Health issued on 22 August 2021 it had been advised that a COVID-19 vaccination clinic would be organised for years 11 and 12 students from Elizabeth College, which can also be accessed by year 11 and 12 students at Ogilvie
Special Interest Matter - Launceston Hazara Afghan Community
Tuesday 21 September 2021 [11.20 a.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, today I speak about the incredible Hazara community in Launceston and the vibrant, wonderful people who are part of it. I wrote an opinion editorial about this issue for The Examiner recently and the importance of it bears repeating in this place. We have all been touched in the past weeks and months by the tragedies that have unfolded in Afghanistan. Following the withdrawal of American militar