In Their Own Words

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Peg Putt MHA
GREENS OPPOSITION LEADER
Friday, 29 APRIL 2005
STATEMENT ON RESIGNATION OF KEN BACON FROM PARLIAMENT
The Tasmanian Greens today acknowledged the resignation from Parliament on the grounds of ill health of former Minister Ken Bacon, and wished him well for his retirement.
Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA said,
“I extend the best wishes of the Greens to Ken Bacon in his retirement.”
“We understand that Mr Bacon’s health problems were exacerbated by the stress of his Ministerial position to the degree that it has become necessary for him to seek a quieter life, and in retrospect it was unfortunate that he was expected to take on such a position.”
“The Greens will be keeping our focus on the need to fix longstanding deficiencies in Labor’s handling of the Parks and Heritage portfolio, and on the delivery of appropriate support to tourism in Tasmania,” said Ms Putt.
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Kim Booth MHA
Friday, 29 APRIL 2005
IMMEDIATLEY RELEASE WORKPLACE STANDARDS AERIAL SPRAYING INQUIRY REPORT
Or Has Government Something to Hide?
The Tasmanian Greens today called on the government to release immediately the report by Workplace Standards into the recent aerial spraying incident in the Lyall, which saw a forestry worker bathed in Atrazine.
Greens Opposition Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MHA today said that it was outrageous that the government had refused his request to release the report and questioned what the government was hiding.
“The Lyall spraying incident is a very serious matter and the public have a right to know what action the government will take over it,” Mr Booth said.
“To hide the truth from a Member of Parliament in this way is the behaviour one would expect from a dictatorship, not a modern democracy.”
“I am calling on the Minister to immediately make available the report by Workplace Standards into this incident,” said Mr Booth.
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Tim Morris MHA
Friday, 29 APRIL 2005
ADDITIONAL AMBULANCES REQUIRED
Response Times at Risk of Blowing Out
The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Government to provide an additional ambulance and with full crewing in each of Launceston and Hobart to ensure that the Tasmanian Ambulance Service is able to meet the increasing demand for its service without compromising staff safety or response times.
Greens Health and Human Services spokesperson Tim Morris said that the increasing incidence of outer urban ambulance crews being required to provide backup for the main metropolitan stations indicated the need to provide an additional ambulance and crew.
“Recently an ambulance from New Norfolk apparently had to attend a call out in Huonville because it was the closest available ambulance,” Mr Morris said.
“I have been told that on two occasions last weekend an ambulance from the Kingston station was required to sit on the roadside as backup for the Hobart station.”
“In the past year the Health and Community Services Union received 1300 reports of ambulance officers having to miss meal breaks because there were no alternative crews available to relieve them during scheduled meal breaks.”
“This indicates that there is a growing demand for the ambulances, this was also supported by the Tasmanian Ambulance Service in evidence to the Community Development Committee a couple of years ago when they acknowledged that the demand for ambulance transport was growing at about 5% annually.”
“There has not been any increase in the capacity of the Hobart and Launceston stations in recent times whilst demand is continuing to increase, logically this puts stress on officers and eventually leads to increased waiting times for an ambulance to attend emergencies.”
“The Greens acknowledge that the Government has increased the capability of the service in the North West, now it is time to do the same in the North and the South of the State by providing an additional ambulance and full crew for both the Hobart and Launceston stations,” said Mr Morris.
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Nick McKim MHA
Friday, 29 APRIL 2005
GIDDINGS MUST CLARIFY CONFUSION OVER NEXT STAGE OF GAS ROLLOUT
As Powerco Contradicts Government
The Tasmanian Greens today called on Economic Development Minister Lara Giddings to rule out any secret deal between the Government and Powerco over the next stage of the gas distribution rollout.
Greens Opposition Energy spokesperson Nick McKim MHA said that Powerco yesterday said that they expected to build the next phase of the gas network in 2007, which flatly contradicted Ms Giddings’ assertions that no decision had been made.
“Secrecy and deal making with corporate mates are hallmarks of this Government, and Ms Giddings must explain how Powerco came to have an expectation that they would roll out the next stage of the gas network,” Mr McKim said.
“Ms Giddings must clarify what negotiations have occurred about the next stage, and whether there has been a MOU signed, or any other agreement or commitment made by the Government to Powerco.”
“The Government’s original decision to choose Powerco was shrouded in controversy, and Tasmanians are entitled to full disclosure of any deals made.”
“Given the massive taxpayer subsidies which will be required for the next stage of the rollout, probity and accountability must be maintained.”
“This problem continues the appalling management of the gas rollout, which has been bungled from day one by the Government.”
“Tasmanians will pay too much for gas as a direct result of this Government’s inability to manage major projects,” said Mr McKim.

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Nick McKim MHA
Friday, 29 APRIL 2005
GAY MARRIAGE CAMPAIGN GOES NATIONAL
The Tasmanian Greens today announced that the campaign for gay marriage would move to the national stage with a major public forum on the issue in Sydney on Sunday featuring Nick McKim MHA, Rodney Croome and NSW Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon.
Greens Opposition Justice spokesperson Nick McKim MHA said that the Greens Parliamentarians around Australia are at the forefront of campaigning for progressive social reforms and a more tolerant and accepting society.
“With the Spanish Congress this week passing legislation confirming the right of gay and lesbian people to marry, it is timely that the Greens campaign for gay marriage in Australia moves to the national stage,” Mr McKim said.
“Gay marriage is a fundamental human rights issue which demands a national debate, just like that which is occurring right around the western world as we speak.”
Mr McKim said that he is still hopeful that the Tasmanian House of Assembly would vote to refer the Greens Same Sex Marriage Bill 2005 to a Parliamentary Committee for a full public Inquiry.
“A vote against a Tasmanian Parliamentary Inquiry into gay marriage would be a vote against public debate,” said Mr McKim.

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Kim Booth MHA
Friday, 29 APRIL 2005
TAMAR CHOKES
While Government Makes Like Ostrich and Buries Head in Mud
The Tasmanian Greens said today that rusting hulks moored at Kings Wharf, on the Tamar River, were in danger of becoming permanently embedded in the growing silt bed and highlighted the need for a comprehensive catchment to the coast management plan to stop further siltation.
Greens Opposition spokesperson on Primary Industries and Water Kim Booth MHA said today that the state of the Tamar River is a national disgrace and that it was way past time that the government pulled its head out of the mud and did something about it.
“These rusting hulks are in danger of becoming a permanent part of the river bank as the silt around them builds up daily,” said Mr Booth.
“From the wheat silos to the Synchro Lift, a couple of hundred thousand tonnes of silt have choked the river and made the area virtually unusable.”
“The narrowing of the channel, coupled with wash from vessels, is putting pressure on the western bank, which is undercutting and collapsing as well as allowing blowouts from the silt ponds”.
“Home point is also hopelessly silted up, with the dredge bogged in mud at low tide, and the rest of the river is choking on mud and filth which of course poses a serious flood risk to Launceston.“
“It is way past time that the government stopped making like an Ostrich, pulled its head out of the mud and came up with a real strategy to get rid of the accumulated mud and stop any more coming downstream,” said Mr Booth.
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RENE HIDDING, MHA
Leader of the State Opposition
Friday April 29, 2005

Labor must re-employ track workers if its excuse for massive National Park and Overland Track fee rises is worth anything

Opposition Leader Rene Hidding today demanded the State Labor Government reverse its decision to halve the number of trackworkers in the Parks and Wildlife Service, saying it was the very least the arrogant Labor Government could do now that it is slugging Tasmanians like never before to visit their own national parks.

Mr Hidding said the State Government’s decision late last year to halve the number of track workers from 20 to 10 was inexcusable given the massively increased revenue it looks set to reap courtesy of massive hikes to National Park entry fees, and the steep $100 fee for Tasmanians wanting to walk the Overland Track.

“The State Liberals have strongly criticised these back-door taxes which will undoubtedly serve to price Tasmanians out of their own national parks,” Mr Hidding said.

“The State Labor Government has consistently responded by saying that the extra money raised would be used for track maintenance.

“But all the evidence suggests otherwise.

“Late last year, the State Government effectively sacked half of Tasmania’s track workers, predictably blaming the Federal Government, and ignoring the fact that it has not only jacked up National Park Entry fees, but is also sitting on a $400 million warchest.

“In light of the additional revenue-raising the State Labor Government seems intent on reaping through the ridiculously expensive $100 fee for Tasmanians to walk the Overland Track, it must at once commit to re-employing these track workers.”

The comments come amid growing evidence that track maintenance is deteriorating, rather than improving.

Sources in the Parks and Wildlife Service have claimed that there has been very little track maintenance carried out anywhere in Tasmania in the last 12 months, with the exception being the day walk area at Lake St Clair.

No contracts for track upgrades or maintenance have apparently been let for a considerable period of time.

In Strahan, it is understood that one of the Parks workers left two weeks ago and will not be replaced.

Meanwhile, the State Liberals have been informed that on the Melaleuca and Cox’s Bight track, there are building materials which have been left sitting by the track. It is understood the tools were put down and the materials abandoned over 12 months ago when contracts expired or were not renewed.

Mr Hidding said the Tasmanian community was already outraged by the massively increased entry fees for National Parks and walking the Overland Track without the excuse offered by the State Labor Government for doing so appearing to not be acted upon.

“If the State Labor Government genuinely is interested in undertaking the track maintenance it said would be possible as a result of these new fees, it will commit today to returning the number of Parks and Wildlife Service track workers to at least a complement of 20.

“To do anything less with expose what the State Liberals have always feared that the State Labor Government is only interested in more backdoor taxes to further enlarge its $400 million warchest to spend at the next election.”
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WILL HODGMAN, MHA
Deputy Leader of the State Opposition
Liberal Spokesman for the Royal Hobart Hospital
Friday April 29, 2005
Lennon Government must listen to
concerns of ambulance officers
Deputy Leader of the State Opposition, Will Hodgman said he was concerned about matters raised today by the State’s ambulance officers over lack of staffing and resourcing of the Tasmanian Ambulance Service.

Mr Hodgman said that all Tasmanians should have access to a properly resourced ambulance service that can respond to emergency situations within reasonable times.

“Any suggestion that Tasmanians can be waiting for up to an hour for an ambulance to arrive in a potentially life threatening situation is unacceptable,” Mr Hodgman said.

“It is imperative that the State Government adequately resources the Ambulance Service with an appropriate level of ambulance officers and resources so that there is no community fear about response times.

“In particular the Lennon Government should pay attention to the increased workload of the Ambulance Service over recent years which is estimated to gone up 5%. Ambulance officers are concerned that resourcing levels have not matched this significant increase in work.

“And whilst the workload of ambulance officers has been increasing, many ambulance officers have been quite concerned at being unable to take part in re-accreditation training due to a lack of funding,” Mr Hodgman said.

Mr Hodgman said that the Australian Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services, released in January this year, showed that of all States and Territories in Australia, Tasmania had the longest response times.

“Anything less than listening to the concerns of our ambulance officers would be an abrogation of the Lennon Labor Government’s duty to maintain a well-resourced ambulance service,” Mr Hodgman said.

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WILL HODGMAN MHA
Deputy LeMICHAEL HODGMAN, QC MHA
Her Majesty’s Shadow Attorney General
Friday April 29, 2005
Labor condemned for failure on paedophile register: Tasmania now the only State not tracking sex offender movements
Shadow Attorney General Michael Hodgman today condemned the State Labor Government for its appalling failure to establish a paedophile register to link in with a national database.

It is now two and a half years since all State and Territory Governments agreed to establish a sex offenders register, which was supposed to be up and running by mid 2004.

The register is designed to enable police to keep tabs on paedophiles, and their movements between States and Territories, for a period after their release from jail, as paedophilia is an extremely high-risk recidivist offence.

But while all other States and Territories now have their registers up and running, Tasmania still has not kept its end of the bargain.

Mr Hodgman said the delay in establishing a State-based paedophile register to link in with a national database was inexcusable.

“This arrogant and incompetent Attorney General has had two and a half years to develop a sex offenders register, but she still has not even presented the necessary legislation to State Parliament.

“All other States and Territories have been able to implement legislation for a sex offenders database and it is a disgrace that in Tasmania we are still waiting.

“As it stands, as the only State in the nation not keeping tabs on paedophiles via a database linked into the national register, paedophiles could well seek out Tasmania as a haven for their appalling activities.

“They know that in other States, their movements will be monitored by police.

“But not in Tasmania due to Labor’s appalling failure to treat this issue with the seriousness that it deserves.”

Mr Hodgman said the State Labor Government’s failure to treat paedophilia with the seriousness it deserved was also evidenced by the fact that it took many years to implement a sex offenders rehabilitation program at Risdon Prison – and when it finally acted, it provided rehabilitation for just a fraction of sex offenders who are in jail.

“The sex offenders treatment program which caters for just 12 prisoners at any one time is a pathetic half-baked measure.

“Every prisoner convicted of a sex offence should be required to participate in a sex offenders rehabilitation program during their term of imprisonment as a matter of course.

“But not under the Lennon Labor Government. Despite wallowing in money, it is penny-pinching on the important rehabilitation programs that are needed at the jail to address why the prisoner offended in the first place.

“Furthermore, the Attorney General still has not responded to calls for there to be treatment programs outside the prison to continue rehabilitation for sex offenders upon their release from jail.

“The Attorney General’s failure on these matters is nothing short of a disgrace.”
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Leader of the State Opposition
Thursday April 28, 2005
Launch of guide almost an affront to Custodial grandparents still waiting for Labor support
Deputy Opposition Leader Will Hodgman today slammed the State Labor Government’s disgraceful failure to respond to the plight of grandparents raising grandchildren.

It is now almost two years since the Joint Standing Committee on Community Development, chaired by Labor’s Lin Thorpe, handed down its report on Issues Relating to Custodial Grandparents, recommending a raft of changes to the way the State Labor Government deals with this valuable and disadvantaged sector of our community.

Two years on, and the State Labor Government is still paying lip-service to the vast majority of the these concerns.

Today, however, Labor launched a guide to existing services which custodial grandparents can access.

Mr Hodgman said the launch of the booklet was almost an affront to these struggling members of our community who have been battling for years to get the State Labor Government to act on their concerns.

These grandparents, who represent about 7 per cent of primary carers in Tasmania, welcomed the Standing Committee’s report and recommendations handed down in May 2003.

But any hopes they may have had of the State Labor Government acting to improve their situation have faded as the years pass by with virtually no action at all.

“The State Government has done nothing to address the appalling situation whereby these carers, who save the State Government a bucket-load in potential foster caring situations, receive the pitiful payment of just $14 a week, as well as a $150 annual allowance for essentials such as clothing or school levies.

“Incredibly, while this $150 allowance is paid in the South and the North, grandparents in the North West are not entitled to the payment.

“And where Labor has promised to act for example in the establishment of a kinship program pledged many months ago custodial grandparents are still waiting for the Labor Government to honour its word.”

Some of the recommendations of the inquiry included:

· That DHHS develop guidelines to ensure that eligible grandparents with parental responsibility for their grandchildren receive the same benefits as children in foster care (from $100 per week);
· That a system to provide initial support to grandparents assuming parenting responsibility for grandchildren be established;
· That a dedicated telephone hotline be established to provide information and advice to custodial grandparents;
· That financial support be provided for dedicated respite services appropriate to the needs of custodial grandparents;
· That an emergency fund be established to provide a one-off payment to grandparents who are unexpectedly confronted with the day to day care of their grandchildren to help them meet the cost of the immediate needs of their grandchildren; and
· That further research be undertaken to elicit the precise nature and extent of the problems facing custodial grandparents in order to better tailor assistance and support.

Mr Hodgman said there were a range of major difficulties confronting grandparents raising grandchildren and it was time the State Labor Government started to address them.

“Labor appears to be more interested in building up a $400 million election warchest than providing some of its windfall taxation and GST gains to alleviate areas of huge social and community need.

“The problems confronting custodial grandparents are just one example.

“The guide launched today is welcome, but it is a drop in the ocean compared with the many actions the State Labor Government knows is required to ease the burden on this struggling sector of our community.”
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JEREMY ROCKLIFF, MHA
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment
Thursday April 28, 2005
Japanese knotweed Labor fails again on biosecurity
Shadow Primary Industries, Water and Environment Minister Jeremy Rockliff today questioned the delays of the State Labor Government in acknowledging the threat posed by Japanese knotweed.

According to warnings from Australian weeds CRC and Victorian Keith Turnbull Institute researcher John Weiss, Tasmania has the largest infestations of Japanese knotweed of any state, with a strong threat of major spread.

“This is a major threat to Tasmania’s biosecurity that should have been stamped out years ago,” Mr Rockliff said.

“Why does it take interstate researchers to make our Minister aware of what we should already know?

“Why was this left for so long without action?

“Reports that a family tried for 30 years to eradicate the plant, show that Japanese knotweed is a tough weed which is causing serious problems to remove, even penetrating through hard surfaces such as roads.

“The report that this weed has the potential to colonise the wetter areas of the lower third of the state, begs the question as to why nothing has been done to arrest its spread prior to the advice coming from a mainland researcher.

“The researcher’s warnings of a threat to Tasmania’s biosecurity prompt the need to take a serious look at our weed management and biosecurity strategies.

“Unfortunately, failing to acknowledge such a threat for so long is consistent with the Lennon Governments appalling biosecurity record.”

“I find it appalling that we have received no formal response from the government to the Gorrie Report recommendations released in the middle of last year.

“The Minister must outline what other ornamental plants, are under consideration for noxious weed status and their level of potential threat to the biosecurity of the state so the community awareness campaign can begin now.”

“This once again highlights the need to implement a stronger control over biosecurity within Tasmania, which requires the development of a biosecurity framework,” said Mr Rockliff.
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PETER GUTWEIN, MHA
Shadow Minister for Police
Thursday, April 28, 2005
State Government must do more
stop ecstacy coming to Tasmania
The massive rise of ecstacy seizures by police over the recent years is a sign that the State Government’s procedures in stopping ecstacy being trafficked to Tasmania are failing, Shadow Police Minister, Peter Gutwein said today.

Mr Gutwein said that the Lennon Labor Government had been warned on a number of occasions that more resources were needed to be put into the State’s police service to ensure ecstacy trafficking through our ports was cracked down on.

“Currently, the State Government relies solely on a shared arrangement with the Australian Customs Service to provide just one drug-sniffing dog in Tasmania and this dog may be redeployed interstate at times,” Mr Gutwein said.

“This arrangement is clearly insufficient and the Lennon Government needs to do more. As a first step, the Lennon Government should adopt the State Liberals commitment to provide a further drug-sniffing dog and handler to Tasmania police to work alongside the customs service,” Mr Gutwein said.

“This drug detection dog, to be based in Devonport, would help stem the flow of illicit drugs into Tasmania, particularly at the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal, but also at other ports around the State where required.

“A drug sniffing dog would not be the only measure to prevent drug trafficking, but it will significantly add to the police’s drug detection capabilities in the fight to protect the Tasmanian community from illicit drugs such as ecstacy,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Police Minister, David Llewellyn, may shrug this serious matter off as a police operational matter, but the fact is that the extra prevention of drug trafficking into Tasmania is a question of resources.

“It is a credit to Tasmanian police that they have been successful in increasing its seizures of ecstacy over recent years, but providing better drug detection resources at our ports would stop the drugs at their entry point into Tasmania.

“We cannot allow the scourge of illicit drugs to seep into our community, affecting the well being our children in particular. The Lennon Labor Government should be doing more to stop dangerous drugs, such as ecstacy, getting into Tasmania in the first place,” Mr Gutwein said.
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Nick McKim MHA
Thursday, 28 APRIL 2005
GAS BUNGLES COME HOME TO ROOST
The Tasmanian Greens today said that it is unlikely that any private sector company will invest in the next stage of the Tasmanian Natural Gas rollout without massive taxpayer subsidies as the Government has allowed Powerco to ‘cherry pick’ the most profitable areas.
Greens Opposition Energy spokesperson Nick McKim MHA said that the Government must now accept that the gas rollout had been bungled, and admit that the unregulated regime is allowing Powerco to gouge prices for gas distribution.
“The Government’s original plan had been to regulate gas prices in the same way that electricity prices are set by the Energy Regulator, but despite warnings from the Greens, Paul Lennon allowed Powerco an unregulated regime to the detriment of Tasmanian gas consumers,” Mr McKim said.
“The gas rollout is one of the biggest failures of major project management in Tasmanian history.”
“The Greens warned many times about high prices due to a lack of price regulation, and now the chooks are coming home to roost in the form of unsustainable distribution prices.”
“The Government will have to basically pay for any future rollout with taxpayers money as Powerco has been given exclusive, unregulated access into all the best areas,” said Mr McKim.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….SUE NAPIER, MHA
Shadow Health and Human Services Minister
Thursday April 28, 2005

Libs support call from police for improvements to Safe at Home legislation

Shadow Health Minister Sue Napier today called on the State Labor Government to quickly adopt the recommendations from Tasmanian Police that legislative amendments be made to the Forensic Procedures Act that would overcome identified deficiencies in the current Safe at Home legislative package. Thusfar, the State Labor Government appears reluctant to do so.

As part of the analysis of documents obtained by the State Liberals under Freedom of Information, it has been revealed that Tasmania Police are concerned that police cannot fingerprint people arrested for breaching a restraint order, breaching an interim restraint order or arrested on an application to facilitate the making of a restraint order.

Tasmania Police have claimed this is “likely to hamper identification of family violence offenders”.

In a submission proposing an amendment to the Forensic Procedures Act to allow fingerprinting of family violence offenders, Tasmania Police say:

“It is axiomatic that offenders who provide false names and addresses do so to avoid identification and linkage to other offences in this and other jurisdictions. Due to the transient nature of offenders of family violence it is possible that offenders in this jurisdiction have committed offences of a similar nature in other parts of Australia. Fingerprinting offenders pursuant to the Family Violence Act 2004 would be a significant means of establishing their true identity and providing a complete record of their criminal history before the court, which becomes relevant for sentencing offenders. Tendering a complete criminal history would also determine an offender’s suitability for the family violence offender intervention program.”

The submission explains that while fingerprinting of suspected offenders is allowed when they have been charged with offences such as assault, destruction of property, resisting arrest, stalking and threats, a range of offences are excluded from fingerprinting under the legislation, including coercian, abuse, contravening an external or interim family violence order, or family violence order, or contravening a police family violence order.

The FOI also states: “Furthermore, if an offender is arrested without a warrant because a police officer reasonably suspects that a person has committed family violence, and there is no other offence, there is no legal authority to fingerprint the offence.”

And further:

“Identification of offenders is an issue, particularly with offenders who may be arrested in Tasmania for a breach of a Family Violence Order or Police Family Violence Order, and who have no prior criminal history in this state but who may have extensive prior histories for family violence offences in mainland jurisdictions. Without fingerprints it may prove impossible to verify their interstate priors.”

The submission was brought to the attention of the State Labor Government back in January, and again in February.

The documents show that the Department of Justice believes there is no pressing urgency with the matter, even though it could easily be addressed with an Amendment Bill.

Mrs Napier called on the State Labor Government to explain when it might deal with the matter. Tasmania Police say this improvement to current process should not be allowed to slip past.

Mrs Napier said that it was now almost four months since the concerns were raised with the State Labor Government and she was keen to see the minor amendment required to allow fingerprinting be introduced to State Parliament.

“The Safe at Home initiative was long awaited, and much needed to tackle the destructive impact of domestic violence on our community and especially our women and children. These good intentions in relation to Safe at Home need to be backed up with the appropriate funding and resourcing especially in children’s services, and in domestic violence counselling services, and in this case, legislation.

“I call on the Ministers for Health, Police and Justice to ensure that the amendments required in this particular case are introduced to State Parliament in the upcoming Budget session.”

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WILL HODGMAN, MHA
Shadow Minister for Energy
Thursday April 28, 2005

Concerns over future of natural gas project

Shadow Energy Minister Will Hodgman today expressed disbelief that the State Labor Government appeared to have no idea whatsoever about the future of the natural gas project.

Mr Hodgman said he was shocked that the State Labor Government could not answer basic questions from a media outlet today in relation to the Stage 2B gas rollout such as whether negotiations for it were even taking place, whether it may go to tender and whether taxpayers money could be involved.

Tasmanians have already forked out almost $60 million for the limited natural gas rollout that is currently occurring: $8 million for the initial backbone and $34 million for stage 2a. Provisions were also made for the State Government to pay an additional tax liability of $15 million a liability which Labor has never disclosed whether or not it ended up having to pay.

The Stage 2a roll-out involves only a limited number of homes and businesses compared to the grand plans originally envisioned for the natural gas project, but the State Labor Government always maintained a further roll-out, Stage 2b, was part of the plan.

With Stage 2a underway and due for completion in early 2007, Mr Hodgman said Labor must surely have some idea whether Stage 2b would occur.

“Surely, around about now would be the time to set in train negotiations regarding a possible extension to the natural gas rollout, or to at least have an idea whether Stage 2b will occur, and what the likely cost to taxpayers might be,” Mr Hodgman said.

“Anecdotally, I am hearing reports that the number of customers converting to gas has been disappointing, which would obviously jeopardise the chances of the tens of thousands of Tasmanians who have been left out in the cold as part of the Stage 2a roll-out of ever getting natural gas. These include rapidly growing areas that offer significant potential from a gas retailing point of view, such as Kingborough and the Eastern Shore.

“The concerns of the Energy Users Association spokesman Roman Domanski that the costs of gas are prohibitive back this up. The State Government should explain why the costs are so high for consumers, given that taxpayers are subsidising this project to such a massive extent.

“The State Labor Government should reveal whether the stage 2a project is on target from a retail point of view and whether there is any threat to its commercial viability at this early stage.

“It should also come clean on whether taxpayers may have to pay even more than has been revealed so far for Stage 2a and whether a taxpayer-funded subsidy will be required for Stage 2b to become a reality.

“It is high time Tasmanians got some answers and accountability from Labor in relation to this project as opposed to a sanitised media release from Lara Giddings once in a while hailing a new gas customer or two.”

Mr Hodgman said there was no denying the State Labor Government’s initial bungling of the gas tender project had severely compromised its chances of success.

The botched tender process an issue over which Premier Lennon was forced to apologise for misleading State Parliament in his previous position as Energy Minister forced the State Government to go back to the drawing board with the project, severely delaying it, affecting investor confidence, and forcing Labor to subsidise it to the tune of tens of millions of dollars to get a private operator interested.

“The bill so far that we know about is some $57 million of taxpayers’ money and it is not good enough for Labor to pretend to know nothing about what the future of this project is the people of Tasmania are major stakeholders and deserve to know exactly what is going on.

“Have the costs to taxpayers increased? How many customers have signed on? Is the State Government still committed to Stage 2B and if so, how much are taxpayers likely to pay to bring about this outcome?”

Mr Hodgman said Tasmanian were getting sick and tired of Labor’s arrogant and secretive dealings and it was about time the Lennon Labor Government realised that the people of Tasmania were entitled to some basic facts relating to the future of this vital infrastructure project.

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WILL HODGMAN, MHA
Shadow Minister for Energy
Wednesday April 27, 2005

Costs of Basslink delay mount as big dry continues: alarm as Great Lake storages drop to 15 per cent

Shadow Energy Minister Will Hodgman today demanded the State Labor Government come clean on the true cost to taxpayers of the delay to commissioning Basslink, amid fears that Tasmania is heading for a critical water shortage.

The current water storage in the Great Lake and Lake Augusta is today at 15.6 per cent and falling.

It is understood that when water levels in Great Lake reach 10 per cent, the Poatina Power Station cannot operate. The Poatina Power Station is Tasmania’s second largest, while the Great Lake represents 48 per cent of the State’s total energy storage capacity.

Other dam levels are also at low levels and with little rainfall on the horizon, Mr Hodgman said the delay to commissioning Basslink could not have come at a worse time.

“The State Labor Government was managing its water storages with a view to the current autumn being the last we needed to get through before being drought-proofed by the Basslink cable,” Mr Hodgman said.

“Unfortunately, it did not count on the delay to the commissioning of Basslink caused by transformers being damaged during shipment from Germany to Tasmania.

“Tasmania now needs to ride out a second autumn, next year, before we are hooked up to the national electricity grid, no earlier than the end of April 2006.

“And with current water storages at critically low levels, this is a matter of great concern.”

Mr Hodgman said that Bell Bay had already been running for a couple of months to supplement power supplies.

He called on the State Labor Government to inform taxpayers of the cost per day of running Bell Bay, and how long the gas-fired power generator may have to run if there is no significant rainfall soon.

He said the State Government must also explain whether Bell Bay will be sufficient to supplement Tasmania’s power supplies if the coming months continue to be dry.

“Far from the delay to Basslink costing nothing as the State Labor Government initially and deceitfully tried to assert it would appear they are mounting by the day,” Mr Hodgman said.

“It is high time this arrogant Lennon Labor Government was truthful with Tasmanian taxpayers, and told them what this delay will cost, including opportunity costs and the costs of not being drought-proofed until the end of April next year at the earliest.

“The State Labor Government also needs to be upfront with Tasmanians about the impacts of the continuing dry, so they can all do their bit to conserve power.

“But as is standard form from this arrogant and secretive Lennon Labor Government, Tasmanians are simply being kept in the dark.”

Mr Hodgman said the State Government must also explain whether it had now received advice as to whether the damage to the transformers had been assessed by the Basslink Project Inspector as an approved delay, allowing the Basslink Development Agreement to be extended to the point in time when Basslink is actually commissioned next year.

……………………………………………………………………………
WILL HODGMAN, MHA
Shadow Minister for Energy
Wednesday April 27, 2005