SUE NAPIER, MHA
Shadow Minister for Health & Human Services
Friday June 10, 2005
Big rise in nurses overtime to
cover massive nursing vacancies
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) information obtained by the State Liberals show that overtime amongst nurses has significantly risen to cover the massive vacancies existing in the Department, Shadow Health and Human Services Minister, Sue Napier said today.
Mrs Napier said that, with the financial year still yet to finish, there was already a 15% or a massive $402,000 increase in overtime payments to nurses from $2.66 million in 2003/04 to $3.06 million in 2004-05 (first 11 months).
“This rise in overtime carried out by our many valued nurses working in Tasmanian hospitals and health facilities to cover the many nursing vacancies would be putting greater stress on these nurses,” Mrs Napier said.
“Recently released DHHS vacancy figures show that 278 full-time equivalent nursing positions are currently vacant in the health system, placing greater pressure on our nurses to undertake greater amounts of overtime, including double-shifts.
“With the increased overtime required, combined with the extra stress in working a crisis-ridden hospital system, it is no wonder that as many as 25% of Tasmanian graduate nurses are heading interstate and interstate nurses are refusing to work in Tasmania.
“Health Minister, David Llewellyn, has been warned for some time that DHHS recruitment was not up to scratch, with it taking longer than all other State Government departments to fill vacancies.
“The Tasmanian division of the Australian Nurses Federation has, alarmingly, said that it was taking DHHS approximately 12 weeks or 84 days to fill nursing vacancies.
“A special December 2003 Auditor General’s report on staff selection in government agencies found that the Department of Health and Human Services was the slowest of the departments analysed taking on average 81 days to fill positions, against a government average of 60. The Department of Treasury took just 37 days on average to fill vacancies.
“Minister Llewellyn needs to get his act together on nurse recruitment and fill the 278 nursing vacancies currently existing so that our nurses don’t have to work unwarranted and dangerous amounts of overtime.
“Tasmanian nurses should not have to be put under greater stress due to the failures by the Lennon Government over recruitment,” Mrs Napier said.
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RENE HIDDING, MHA
Leader of the State Opposition
Thursday June 9, 2005
Premier’s tactics on Aboriginality condemned
The State Liberals are disgusted at the tactics of the Lennon Labor Government which has this week surreptitiously tabled a deeply significant Bill during the afternoon on a Tuesday, in order to bring it on for debate this week, without any kind of consultation with thousands of stakeholders who have a huge stake in the decision.
This Bill goes to the heart of the problems in public policy relating to Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation in Tasmania, dealing with the core issue of Aboriginality.
But Premier Paul Lennon conceded during debate on the legislation in State Parliament this afternoon that he consulted with no one other than the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre on this core, and highly contentious issue.
“Justice Merkel, in his findings in the celebrated Federal Court case on this matter, pointed to the fact that the acceptance or otherwise of a person’s Aboriginality is potentially the most deeply emotional and significant matter in a person’s life.
“The State Government has chosen to back the views of a limited number of Tasmanians without giving any voice to the thousands of Tasmanians who identify themselves as being of Aboriginal descent, but don’t enjoy recognition from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.
“This is an appalling way of dealing with a seriously divisive matter in the Tasmanian community.”
“The Bill has come as a gross shock to the Flinders Aboriginal Association, the Circular Head Aboriginal community, the Lia Pootah community and others.
Mr Hidding said that these groups had no idea that the Bill had been tabled this week, let alone brought on for debate.
“The Premier’s arrogance continues to dominate Executive Government of this State,” Mr Hidding said.
“For him to seriously think that he could deal with the issue of Aboriginality by consulting only one sector of the Aboriginal community is unbelievable and an affront to those thousands of Tasmanians who identify as Aboriginal, who are not recognised as Aboriginal by the TAC, and who the Premier has no right to disenfranchise in this way.”
“Even the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre does not support key elements of the Bill.
“The State Liberals protested hard to try to get the Premier to withdraw the Aboriginal Lands Amendment Bill, and redraft it after proper and thorough consultation with all stakeholders,” Mr Hidding said.
“The Premier refused.”
Mr Hidding said the Bill would inflame divisions in the Aboriginal community and the Premier had made a very poor judgment in not agreeing to go back to the drawing board to ensure that all affected stakeholders were consulted and their views taken into account.
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JEREMY ROCKLIFF, MHA
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment
Friday June 10, 2005
Kons needs to wake up to grain
imports biosecurity threat
Shadow Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff today called on the State Labor Government to wake up to the biosecurity threat that the recent high levels of grain importation potentially bring to Tasmania.
Mr Rockliff said a Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group report, handed to the State Government in March, highlighted the threats to Tasmania’s biosecurity through grain importation, but disturbingly the Lennon Government had not yet acted on its recommendations.
“The last thing that Tasmanian farmers and rural communities need is yet another threat to their viability through an invasion of weeds,” Mr Rockliff said.
“Primary Industries Minister Steve Kons must heed the TAPG report’s recommendations and take immediate steps to allocate appropriate quarantine resources for the task of testing grain imports for noxious weeds that could devastate the Tasmanian farming sector.
“The risk of pests and weeds entering Tasmania through grain imports is one Tasmania cannot afford to take. Sadly this State Labor Government has a poor track record on weed management and prevention.
“At this same time last year, I expressed my concern, in light of revelations that a survey in 2002/03, when all consignments were tested, discovered that 25 per cent contained the potentially devastating weed, spiny emex, that Tasmania’s quarantine service does not have the resources to adequately safeguard our biosecurity status.
“After over one year since I called for action along with TAPG’s March Report on grain import threats, we have seen almost no action on this front from Minister Kons.
“With record low rainfall in many parts of Tasmania and significant amount of grain being imported into Tasmania, it is up to Mr Kons to ensure that all grain importations are subjected to rigorous testing. The Minister must detail when and how often those shipments are tested and by what method.
“The State Liberals successfully added weight to the campaign for Labor to introduce a fodder testing service into Tasmania, which included the ability to test for weeds, and we will continue to fight for appropriate testing of grain consignments.
“Tasmania’s relative disease free status is something Tasmanian farmers guard jealously and is something the State Labor Government cannot afford to take for granted.
“Prevention is always going to be better than cure and we must be doing everything we possibly can to ensure that we are preventing pests and weeds from entering the State.
“As an island state we are in a unique position to ensure our biosecurity is protected and it would be negligent of Minister Kons and the State Labor Government not to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to test and sample containers or shipments of grain coming into Tasmania for noxious weeds,” Mr Rockliff said.
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Tim Morris MHA
Thursday, 9 JUNE 2005
DOG BARKING ON NOTICE
E-Petition Calls For Noxious Barking Control
The Tasmanian Greens have lodged an E-Petition in the House of Assembly about noxious barking, highlighting that because many dogs are left unattended during day time hours especially, they often bark intermittently or continuously due to boredom, frustration, confinement and deprivation of other animal or human contact, which then can result in damage to the health of people nearby.
Greens Member for Lyons, Tim Morris MHA, said that one of the main problems is that dog control is completely left in the hands of local Governments, who in many instances struggle with this responsibility and often are either unable, or unwilling, to deal with barking complaints.
Mr Morris also said that the petition would be available on the Parliament House website, at http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/, until the 18th of November this year, and encouraged people affected by this noise nuisance to get online and add their ‘voice’ electronically.
“As a society we are finally starting to take noise seriously as a health issue, and dog barking can in some instances cause grave health problems such as insomnia,” Mr Morris said.
“Dogs who are left unattended for hours on end often vent their frustration and anguish by whining, howling and continuous loud barking, which then drives the neighbours completely up the wall.”
“Most dog owners are very responsible, but unfortunately some aren’t and their dogs pay the price.”
“We have created unnatural environments for many of our dogs in cities and towns with some poor animals practically living in cages, and one can’t really blame them at all for yelping.”
“The State Government has to acknowledge that local governments are often struggling with controlling dogs in their area, and should contribute more resources to councils overall to help alleviate this problem,” Mr Morris said
For further information please contact Principal Petitioner Mr Peter Bright ph 0427 343 354
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Kim Booth MHA
Thursday, 9 JUNE 2005
LIVE SHEEP EXPORTS FOR SLAUGHTER UNNECESSARY
Stop Cutting Our Own Throats: Protect Workers Jobs and Animal Rights.
The Tasmanian Greens today repeated their call for an end to the practice of live sheep exports for slaughter from Tasmanian ports arguing that the practice had huge negative impacts upon both the employment security of the state’s meat workers and its clean, green reputation.
Greens Opposition Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MHA, who spoke at today’s rally before Parliament House organised by Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania, asked that the Minister lift his ban and allow animal welfare organisations and the meat workers union to participate in tomorrow’s forum on live sheep export, which is to be held in Launceston.
Mr Booth also said that he was happy to receive the petition presented at today’s rally, and will table it in State Parliament next week.
“Tasmania should be showing leadership on the thorny issue of live sheep export for slaughter by refusing to allow any more of these ships of shame to leave our ports,” Mr Booth said.
“The fate awaiting these animals when they arrive at their destination in the Middle East is one of appalling brutality and demeans us all as Tasmanians as participants in this unethical and inhumane practice.”
“Such a decision would benefit our meat workers who are seeing their jobs being exported and 29 abattoirs close over the last ten years, as well as protect the clean green brand against animal welfare concerns.”
“It is inexcusable that Tasmania continues to participate in this shameful trade when both Labor and the Liberals have admitted that it would be preferable to shift to an industry which slaughters and processes the livestock here, and exports frozen carcasses.”
“The only thing standing in the way of this transition is the lack of political will.”
Mr Booth said that in the interest of resolving this issue the Minister should revoke his ban on the attendance of the AMIEU and AACT at tomorrow’s forum on the live sheep export.
“If Minister Kons is genuine about finding a way to do the right thing by the animals, the industry, and the meat workers then he should have the gumption to include all stakeholders in his ‘by-invite-only’ forum tomorrow.”
“Make no mistake – the stink around this issue will not just go away as the signatories to the AACT petition show, and I will be honoured to table this petition next week when Parliament resumes,” Mr Booth said.
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SUE NAPIER, MHA
Shadow Minister for Health
Thursday June 9, 2005
World leading and life saving Tasmanian program set to end due to Lennon Labor Government penny pinching
The State Labor Government must adopt the State Liberals’ policy to fund immunotherapy treatment for jack jumper allergy sufferers, or put lives at risk, Shadow Health Minister Sue Napier said today.
Mrs Napier revealed in Question Time that the world-leading immunotherapy treatment program at the Royal Hobart Hospital is set to end for the original trial participants at the end of this year unless additional funding is provided.
The State Liberals are also offering a bipartisan approach to helping this program continue, as requested by Dr Simon Brown, one of the original initiators of this life-saving program.
The current doctor responsible for the program, Dr Blackman, will have exhausted research funds for the program, and simply is unable to continue to commit significant hours of voluntary time to a program that the State Labor Government does not seem to support.
The patients fortunate enough to have been part of the trial have had three years of immunotherapy treatment. But if their treatment is discontinued, they face a 10 per cent risk of redeveloping their allergy, which could in fact cost them their lives.
Mrs Napier said it was not acceptable for the State Labor Government to put lives on the line in this way and to demonstrate such scant regard for world-leading treatment developed here in Tasmania.
“Tasmanian scientists and medical experts have developed a world-leading jack jumper treatment that can save the lives of many Tasmanians and Australians.
“A clinical trial started in 2002, involving more than 60 Tasmanians, and these demonstrated 100 per cent success at preventing severe reactions and received international recognition when published in The Lancet, the world’s leading and most prestigious medical journal.
“But in 2004, the Lennon Labor Government cut short the project refusing to extend this life-saving treatment to sufferers beyond the original trial participants.
“Now the participants themselves risk seeing the end to their treatment unless the State Labor Government for once agrees to respond positively to this project.
As Dr Brown stated in a letter to Mrs Napier, and Mr Llewellyn, in May this year:
“More importantly, once the program stops, the loss of momentum and skills means that it will be difficult, if not impossible (without major initial funding outlay) to start again. It saddens me that such an end will come to this internationally recognised program which would have provided major benefits to approximately 4000 Tasmanians that have severe jack jumper ant sting allergy.”
“In April this year the State Liberals announced that a Hidding Liberal Government would fund ongoing immunotherapy treatment for Tasmanians who experience life threatening reactions to jack jumper stings.
“This policy is costed at a net $240,000 in the first year, and a net $90,000 per annum for each subsequent year.
“This is a drop in the ocean for the Lennon Labor Government, which will cheerfully spend hundreds of thousands of dollars upgrading offices for its arrogant Labor Ministers and backbenchers.
“This world-leading life-saving program must not be allowed to end due to Lennon Labor Government penny pinching.”
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WILL HODGMAN, MHA
Shadow Minister for Employment
Thursday June 9, 2005
Fifth Tasmanian unemployment rise in five months
Shadow Employment Minister, Will Hodgman, today said that today’s fifth rise in the Tasmanian unemployment rate over the past five months is a concerning trend that should send a clear warning to the Lennon Labor Government.
Mr Hodgman said that Tasmania’s trend unemployment rate, up from 5.7% to 6.1% over the past five months, was now by far the highest unemployment rate of all States and Territories. The next highest was Northern Territory which this month moved down to 5.6%.
“Tasmania’s unemployment rate and numbers of unemployed people have been climbing upwards in a concerning trend since the beginning of 2005.
“Despite this upward trend of 2005, the Lennon Labor Government tell us that all is well. These State Labor Government statements will be of cold comfort to the extra 1100 unemployed people since the start of the year now totalling 14,300 Tasmanians.
“The Lennon Labor Government should end its arrogant attitude to unemployment in Tasmania.
“In the past month alone, Economic Development Minister, Lara Giddings has paid lip service to the potential loss of 90 jobs at the Waverley Woollen Mills, whilst Primary Industries Minister, Steven Kons, threatened the State’s $54.3 million export trade to New Zealand through his derisory comments about dumping New Zealand from the Australia-New Zealand Primary Industries Council.
“In the context of this 2005 rise in unemployment, it is disappointing that Premier Lennon has also recently seen fit to scrap the Ministry for Employment, demonstrating that employment is lower on their list of priorities than it should be,” Mr Hodgman said.
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PETER GUTWEIN, MHA
Shadow Minister for Education
Thursday June 9, 2005
Wriedt disregards teachers
yet again over school reporting
Education Minister, Paula Wriedt, has today confirmed that she has disregarded the views of teachers once again over assessment and reporting against the new school curriculum, Shadow Education Minister, Peter Gutwein said today.
Mr Gutwein said that Minister Wriedt confirmed that she refused to wait for the Australian Education Union survey of Tasmanian teachers before making changes to the Essential Learnings school reporting timeframe.
“Minister Wriedt refused to wait for the results of this survey before writing to teachers, effectively ignoring the views of 3000 teachers who responded to the survey,” Mr Gutwein said.
“It is believed that an absolute majority of these teachers indicated that they would not be ready to assess and report against the new curriculum by the end of the year.
“Instead, on the 24th of May, the Minister wrote to all Tasmanian teachers outlining her decision to vary the implementation timetable for assessment and reporting against the new Essential Learnings curriculum, saying:
“Consultations with the Tasmanian Principals Association and the Australian Education Union have confirmed the Principal Leaders reports and they have recommended a slowing of the rate of implementation as a result.”
“A day later, the AEU also wrote to all schools informing teachers that Minister Wriedt’s letter was not true and that she did not consult teachers over the changes. It stated:
“The Union was not informed of, let alone involved in, the discussions which led to the Minister’s decision.”
“Minister Wriedt’s behaviour over school reporting has been pathetic and arrogant at best. Just a fortnight ago, she accused the teachers’ union of push polling over school reporting and now she has been found out writing to all teachers telling them mis-truths.
“Minister Wriedt must end her arrogant stance and listen properly to teachers over this very important matter. They are the people at the coal-face who know how any changes in the system will affect Tasmanian students.
“Failure by Minister Wriedt to listen and properly consult with teachers will only ensure that the implementation of the new Essential Learnings curriculum will continue to frustrate teachers and negatively affect the learning outcomes of students.
“This is an outcome that neither teachers, parents nor the State Liberals would look forward to,” Mr Gutwein said.
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Peg Putt MHA
GREENS OPPOSITION LEADER
Thursday, 9 JUNE 2005
LENNON SHOWS THE STRAIN OVER
KEN BACON ISSUE
Was the Former Minister Told ‘not to go near the numbers’?
The Tasmanian Greens today say that the Premier’s decision to bluster and stonewall questions over the Ken Bacon affair is prolonging resolution of the issue, as Mr Lennon failed to answer whether the former Tourism Minister had in fact been instructed ‘not to go near the numbers’ in the TT Line Estimates hearing at the centre of the controversy.
Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA demanded to know why, if the Premier is concerned about the actions of his Chief of Staff being discussed under Parliamentary privilege, he refused to allow his staffer to put his side of the story when he could have done so under Parliamentary privilege at Budget Estimates hearings last week.
“Paul Lennon is showing the strain of the Ken Bacon affair, but it won’t go away while he refuses to clear up the discrepancies which go to the heart of the accountability of his government, and a thuggish management style,” Ms Putt said.
“We have it on the authority of a good source that Ken Bacon was instructed ‘not to go near the numbers’, fairly extraordinary in the circumstances of an Estimates hearing, yet Paul Lennon gave only a blustering evasion of the question.”
“The words, ‘not to go near the numbers’ sounds like a directive rather than mere ‘advice’ as the Premier would have us belief was the only thing on offer, which has serious implications in context of concerns of potential witness tampering.”
“If he is so concerned by the use of Parliamentary privilege, why did the Premier refuse to allow his Chief of Staff to put his side of the story under Parliamentary privilege when he had the opportunity to do so last week in Budget Estimates hearings where these matters were being discussed?” Ms Putt said.
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Peg Putt MHA
GREENS OPPOSITION LEADER
Thursday, 9 JUNE 2005
FORESTRY TO MANAGE NEW RESERVES FOR MINING
Parks and Wildlife Service Cut Out
The Tasmanian Greens today are shocked that the formal reserves to be created under the Howard-Lennon forests agreement are in the main to be managed by Forestry Tasmania and not by Parks and the Wildlife Service.
Greens Opposition Leader and spokesperson for Parks and Forests Peg Putt MHA is critical of the decision to keep the new reserves out of the control of the Department responsible for conservation land management, and appalled by the Premier’s justification that Forestry Tasmania are to manage the reserves in order to facilitate mining in those areas.
Ms Putt pointed out that although the Greens oppose mining reserves, there are reserve categories currently managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service which allow for mining, so the Premier’s rationale is invalid .
“It is an extraordinarily regrettable decision by the Premier to hand management of the new formal reserves to be created under his forest agreement with John Howard to Forestry Tasmania instead of the Parks and Wildlife Service who exist for this very purpose,” Ms Putt said.
“This is a case of putting the fox in charge of the hen house and the Premier has made it clear that the reason is to promote mining exploitation of the reserves, whereas the Parks and Wildlife Service would manage for protection of the natural values as their focus.”
“Tasmanians who have told a survey just released by government of an 80% satisfaction rate with the performance of the Parks and Wildlife Service as manager of parks and reserves will be shocked that the Lennon government will not give the Service the new reserves to care for.”
“This is another example of the trickery contained in the Lennon-Howard forests deal, and the full page colour advertisements paid for with $2 million of taxpayers money have conveniently failed to publicise Forestry Tasmania’s control of new reserves,” Ms Putt said.
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HON MICHAEL HODGMAN, QC MHA
Her Majesty’s Shadow Attorney General
Thursday June 9, 2005
Premier’s weak excuses for avoiding answering questions on the Ken Bacon affair backfire as they show the Premier to be a complete hypocrite
Shadow Attorney General Michael Hodgman QC today accused the Premier of being a complete hypocrite in his desperate attempt to continue avoiding answering the fundamental questions at the heart of the Ken Bacon witness tampering affair.
Paul Lennon has every day come up with new, weak and fanciful reasons to avoid answering simple, basic questions of fact relating to whether Ken Bacon was instructed to deliberately obstruct a Parliamentary Committee hearing.
Yesterday, that reason was that members were apparently using Parliamentary privilege “to denigrate people who had no access to privilege.”
Mr Hodgman said this was a blatant untruth. The only person who has denied privilege to the key player in this affair, Rod Scott, has been the Premier himself.
“Last week, we asked the Premier to allow his chief of staff to be questioned during the Budget Estimates process at committees where Ministers basically rely on their advisers to answer the questions we put anyway.
“But while it was good enough for Jim Cox’s adviser to point to a script that the Minister should stick to, while it was good enough for every other Minister, including Paul Lennon, to fob tricky questions off to advisers, in this case, the Premier refused point blank to allow Rod Scott to be one of them.
“That Mr Lennon could accuse MHAs of using parliamentary privilege to denigrate those with no access to privilege is a most breathtaking case of hypocrisy and rewriting of history.
“It was Mr Lennon who deliberately denied Mr Scott the opportunity to explain himself under Parliamentary privilege and clear his name if he could; and clear this sorry saga up once and for all.”
Mr Hodgman said Mr Lennon’s failure to ensure that the scope of the investigation conducted by the Solicitor General was widened to include information from Mr Bacon, and his adviser Michael Roberts, was also damning, given that Mr Scott was in a position to know about the investigation, and rang the Solicitor General to offer his “assistance”.
“As such, the perception is that the investigation was clearly one-sided. It is unbelievable that Premier Lennon did not see fit to ensure all parties were involved in the investigation, to at the very least give the impression that its scope, as set by the State Government, was balanced and fair.”
Mr Hodgman said the whole affair smelled rancid and this was obviously why the Premier was inventing every excuse under the sun to avoid answering the fundamental questions that would reveal whether witness-tampering occurred in relation to the Ken Bacon affair, and whether the criminal code has been breached.
“That the Premier is refusing to answer these questions is damning in itself.
“But in creating his weak and pathetic excuses the Premier makes himself a laughing stock. He was the one who denied his chief of staff the opportunity to clear his name under Parliamentary Privilege.
“It is a joke for this arrogant Premier to now try to avoid answering questions by claiming those asking them are attempting to denigrate his chief of staff. We want nothing more than for the Premier and Mr Scott to clear these matters up so that this scandal can be put to rest.
“But until that happens, it cannot be put to rest, because the allegations here are so grave, so serious, they could force the resignation of the Premier.”
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.WILL HODGMAN, MHA
Liberal Spokesperson for the Royal Hobart Hospital
Thursday June 9, 2005
Block on ENT surgery at the Royal
Waiting lists for ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery at the Royal Hobart Hospital are rising following the failure by the Health Minister David Llewellyn to adequately recruit ENT specialists, Liberal Spokesperson for the Royal Hobart Hospital Will Hodgman said today.
Mr Hodgman said that the waiting list for ENT surgery at the Royal was now sitting at around 400 patients with only urgent surgery cases now being accepted at the hospital according to the June edition of the Southern GP Practice Division newsletter.
“Today Minister Llewellyn has admitted that the growing ENT surgery waiting list is “unacceptable” and admits difficulty in recruiting ENT specialists but this provides cold comfort to the more than 400 Tasmanians waiting for ENT surgery,” Mr Hodgman said.
“There is currently less than one full time ENT specialist at the Royal and teaching accreditation for this specialty area has been lost.
“Minister Llewellyn’s recruitment strategies have clearly not worked in attracting ENT specialists to the Royal placing the health of over 400 Tasmanians at risk.
“Minister Llewellyn tells Tasmanians, particularly those in the Hobart area, that he has allocated funding to cut waiting lists and fund new positions at the Royal, but waiting lists maintain their upward trend and recruitment difficulties remain.
“Minister Llewellyn and the State Labor Government have been in office for seven years seven years to tackle the growing waiting lists at the Royal but the problems are just becoming worse.
“It is not good enough that Tasmanians have to wait much longer for ENT and many other forms of surgery than people in other States because Minister Llewellyn and the Lennon Labor Government have been lax in their duties.
“In contrast, the State Liberals have positive policy measures to help turnaround the shocking elective surgery waiting lists at the Royal.
“We will establish Performance Review Panels in all Tasmanian major public hospitals which will help make new funding and resources hit the ground, ensure surgery time is maximised, reduce the numbers of cancelled surgeries, and identify those Tasmanians who have been waiting for unnecessarily long times for their surgery,” Mr Hodgman said.
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JEREMY ROCKLIFF, MHA
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Environment
Thursday June 9, 2005
Jackson shows lack of commitment
to weed reduction in Tasmania
Shadow Primary Industries and Environment Minister Jeremy Rockliff today revealed that the Lennon Government had devoted just $340,000 to its weed management unit and less than one full time position from its Nature Conservation Branch to weed management on reserve land.
Mr Rockliff said that the State Labor Government was not committed to preventing the threat of weeds in Tasmania, with Environment Minister, Judy Jackson, today showing her ignorance of weed management in Tasmania by not being aware key weed management facts.
“Minister Jackson talked the talk, but could not walk the walk when it comes to real financial and resource commitments to weed management in Tasmania,” Mr Rockliff said.
“Minister Jackson was not aware that a recent CSIRO report said that invasive garden plants made up nearly 70% of listed agricultural weeds and environmental weeds.
“She was also not able to confirm whether or not many of the 20 Weeds of National Significance were now being sold in Tasmanian nurseries.
“Minister Jackson has clearly no real commitment to weed management strategy in Tasmania and this is recognised in her minor financial and staffing allocation to weed management.
“On Tuesday, the Federal Minister for Conservation, Ian Macdonald, called on all State and Territory Governments to ban nurseries from selling well-identified weeds. We are yet to see any action from Minister Jackson on this important weed management strategy.
“The State Labor Government is at pains to tell us that it is looking after Tasmanian farmers, yet, at the same time, it is practically ignoring the fact that millions of dollars are being lost by Tasmanian farmers in lost production due to weeds invading their farms and crops.
“Their failure to tackle weeds was also demonstrated last week when they reacted to a State Liberal revelation on the dangerous wild rice weed by moving to ban the weed despite them receiving this recommendation from their own departmental officers more than 10 months ago,” Mr Rockliff said.
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RENE HIDDING, MHA
Leader of the State Opposition
Thursday June 9, 2005
Vacancy rate in allied health likely to worsen as Labor stalls on log of claims: 148 vacancies already in this sector
Opposition Leader Rene Hidding today warned that the vacancy crisis in the Health Department could worsen as a result of the short-sighted and arrogant move by the Lennon Labor Government not to allocate a cent in the recent State Budget towards meeting the log of claims from allied health professionals.
Mr Hidding said it went without saying that pay and conditions were critical to the State Government’s ability to not only attract, but retain, staff in the public health system.
He said with that in mind, it beggared belief that the Lennon Labor Government had deliberately chosen to stall the log of claims from allied health professionals, which is almost two years old, refuse to allocate a cent to their claims, and send it through an industrial commission process that could take five years to resolve.
“The vacancies in allied health demonstrate how short-sighted and dangerous this decision was,” Mr Hidding said.
“An eight per cent vacancy rate across the department is bad enough. But in allied health, 17 per cent of the current workforce is the number of vacancies that remain unfilled. That is some 148 vacancies in a workforce of 914 full-time equivalents.
“Allied health professionals are a critical part of the health system, and in the process of assisting Tasmanians out of hospital beds, and back into their homes and communities. This is essential to freeing up hospital beds and getting our atrocious waiting lists down.
“Yet a physiotherapist for example, is on a starting salary of between $30,000 and $42,000 in Tasmania compared with between $30,000 and $60,000 just across Bass Strait in Victoria.
“This is an example of why the log of claims going to pay and conditions in the allied health profession need to be addressed. There is no incentive for these people to stay in or come to Tasmania as it currently stands.
“The appalling vacancy rate is likely to worsen while the State Labor Government continues to dither on the log of claims.
“Instead of stepping in and resolving the matter like it did for radiation therapists last year, who were part of the allied health profession log of claims Labor has chosen to refer the dispute to the Industrial Commission on a work value basis dealing with 19 different awards individually, which could take five years to resolve.”
Mr Hidding said if the State Labor Government had any intention of trying to resolve the health crisis, it would address the log of claims with far more urgency, otherwise, the vacancy rate would not only not improve, but probably get significantly worse.
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Nick McKim MHA
Thursday, 9 JUNE 2005
TASMANIAN WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY PRICE TRIPLE NATIONAL AVERAGE
The Tasmanian Greens today said that the average Tasmanian wholesale electricity price was over three times the national average in the first week of June, less than two weeks after the State entered the National Electricity Market on 29 May.
Greens Opposition Energy spokesperson Nick McKim MHA said that data from the National Electricity Market Management Company (NEMMCO) confirmed that the average wholesale electricity price from 1 June to 7 June in the Tasmanian pool of the National Electricity Market (NEM) was $72.39 Mw/h, compared to an average of $23.40 for the mainland pools.
“This has major implications for Tasmania once Basslink comes on line,” Mr McKim said.
“This is a shocking result for Tasmanian electricity consumers, and with bulk power consumers insulated by long term contracts it will fall on small businesses and residential consumers to cover the power price increases flowing from the Basslink gamble.”
“The simple fact is that if wholesale prices go up, Tasmanian retail prices will soon follow.”
“Tasmanian businesses and residential power consumers should be very worried about the effect of these price levels on the retail electricity price in Tasmania going forward.”
“The figures confirm the analysis by the Atech Group consultancy (July 2001) which found that “Basslink and Tasmania’s entry into the National Electricity Market are expected to raise wholesale Tasmanian power prices on average” .
“The Greens have long argued that Basslink would raise power prices in Tasmania, and the NEMMCO figures confirm it.”
Mr McKim said that retail electricity prices are set by the regulator, but that if wholesale prices go through the roof, either retail prices go up, or Hydro Tasmania goes out of business.
ATTACHED: Graph depicting Average Wholesale Electricity Prices, Week 1 June – 7 June 2005.
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SUE NAPIER, MHA
Shadow Minister for Health and Human Services
Wednesday June 8, 2005
Push for breast reconstructive surgery to be moved up elective surgery categorisation levels
Shadow Health Minister Sue Napier is pushing for the categorisation of breast reconstruction surgery following mastectomies to be changed from category three, or cosmetic surgery.
Last week during Budget Estimates hearings, Mrs Napier raised this issue with Women Tasmania Minister Paula Wriedt, with a view to getting Ms Wriedt to ensure the categorisation matter is placed on the agenda of the next Commonwealth States and Territories Ministerial Conference for the status of women.
Ms Wriedt said she would try, and Mrs Napier used debate on Budget Estimates in State Parliament this afternoon to remind the Minister of this commitment.
Mrs Napier said she was horrified by a recent situation which she brought to the public’s attention where a Launceston woman who had had a mastectomy had been informed she may have to wait five years for the reconstructive surgery.
Part of the problem is a shortage of operating hours for the surgeon at the Launceston General Hospital. Another part is the fact that reconstructive surgery is classified as category three cosmetic surgery and therefore is placed well down on an already unacceptably long list in terms of elective surgery waiting lists.
Mrs Napier said the categorisation was not right or fair, and should be changed.
“Women do not elect to get breast cancer, and if a mastectomy is required, it seems totally wrong that the reconstructive surgery that follows is classed not only as elective but as elective cosmetic surgery.
“Enduring breast cancer, and losing a breast is traumatic enough without having to wait five years in Tasmania for reconstructive surgery.
“Furthermore, this surgery in itself is crucial to the healing process for most, if not all, women.”
Mrs Napier said she had written to Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott about the categorisation issue and wanted the MINCO to add its voice of support for changing the categorisation from three to at least two or one.
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Wednesday June 8, 2005
Southern attitudes to Tasmanian football must change
The Federal Member for Braddon, Mark Baker MP, said today that until the arrogant and out of touch Hobart-centric football elite accepts that the majority of Tasmania’s population lives outside the capital city, Tasmanian football will continue to live in the past.
“Nothing has changed in the last few years – the South continues to act like Big Brother, trying to dictate how football is played across Tasmania,” Mr Baker said.
“While AFL Tasmania would argue that they have taken a Statewide view of football in Tasmania, the extremely divisive comments of its general manager, Scott Wade, last week suggested otherwise.
“Mr Wade’s criticism that ‘it’s the North-West Coast which really has to change its attitude towards Tasmanian football’ hardly served to encourage football followers on the Coast to go along to support the Devils at Devonport on Saturday.
“I have spoken to many people whose response to the headline of ‘Blast for the Coast’, prompted by Mr Wade’s comments, was to say that it convinced them to stay away, and that reaction is entirely understandable.
“Mr Wade, therefore, has to take some responsibility for the disappointing crowd at that match.”
Mr Baker said it was Mr Wade’s comments, together with those of the Devils’ president, who said on Monday that as a result of the poor crowd at Devonport the club would have to reconsider playing games in the North-West in future, which had prompted him to call for change yesterday.
“Since then I have been inundated with phone calls from football-lovers on the North-West and in the North who are, like me, sick and tired of the dictatorial attitude of the Hobart-based football administrators,” he said.
“Mr Wade makes the arrogant claim that the North-West is living in the past, but the reality is that the attitude of football administrators in the South has not changed one iota and it is people like Mr Wade who continue to live in the past.
“They simply cannot accept that a majority of Tasmanians live outside the capital city.
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“Until the Tasmanian Devils play most of their home games within a reasonable drive of most Tasmanians, which means at the Aurora Stadium, then they will continue to be seen not as a genuine Tasmanian team, but as a Hobart one.
“And until Mr Wade shows respect for the strongest regional football league in this State, and for football-followers in the North-West generally, he will continue to be a divisive influence on the development of football in Tasmania.”
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MICHAEL HODGMAN, QC MHA
Her Majesty’s Shadow Attorney General
Wednesday June 8, 2005
Lennon’s reaction to lie detector revelations says it all
Shadow Attorney General Michael Hodgman QC today revealed that Ken Bacon is
willing to take a lie detector test on the truth of everything he has
alleged in relation to the witness-tampering scandal.
Paul Lennon isn’t. And his reaction to this revelation said it all as the
Premier launched into a tirade of personal abuse rather than dealing with
the matters at hand.
Mr Hodgman said the body language of State Government members in Question
Time this morning when the Premier tried to filibuster his way around this
revelation, said more than anything the Premier has to date.
“At least two Labor MHAs sat there with their hands over their mouths. Most
went silent and several sank back into their seats.
“They know what the Premier still does not seem to have understood this
scandal could force the Premier’s resignation and it will not, and cannot,
go away until the Premier provides some direct answers to very simple
questions that go to the heart of this fiasco.
“The fact that Premier had nothing to say on the revelation that Ken Bacon
is prepared to take a lie detector test to prove his allegations that he
was instructed to avoid answering questions at a Parliamentary committee
hearing, and told that as a Minister he was not entitled to an opinion –
except for personal abuse about me is disgraceful.
“Paul Lennon indicated that he would not take a lie detector test. This in
itself provides a rather telling insight into who is telling the truth in
relation to this matter.”
Mr Hodgman said further proof of this was the fact that the Premier had not
asked Ken Bacon to retract his allegations, even though he must surely be
aware how serious they are given that they have dominated the last three
weeks of Parliament, and completely overshadowed his Budget.
“The Premier has arrogantly and secretively refused to answer the questions
we have put to him which could have put an end to this affair.
“He has refused to clear this up.
“And he seems to think that by just attacking us, and filibustering, and
producing advice that was clearly one-sided, this matter will go away.
“This is another example of the Premier treating the people of Tasmania
with disgraceful contempt and being outrageously loose with the truth.
“The Premier needs to wake up to the fact that the people of Tasmania will
not tolerate his lack of truthfulness and shameful arrogance.”
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SUE NAPIER, MHA
Shadow Minister for Health
Wednesday June 8, 2005
Worries over MIST “throwing the baby out with the bath water”
Shadow Minister for Health, Sue Napier today said the closure of the MIST service, revealed in Budget Estimates debate last week and raised again in Parliament today, was a classic example of “throwing the baby out with the bath water”.
Mrs Napier said that whilst she welcomed the commitment to release individual packages of care for people with mental illness, she was critical of the Government for failing to consult with clients, families and staff over any intention to axe the Mobile Intensive Support Service (MIST).
“The Government is effectively adopting a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to mental health services but feedback from stakeholders suggests this won’t work and more flexibility is needed for the range of mental health problems in our community.
“In fact, it would appear any plan to close MIST and the services it provides to around 97 clients through the Peacock Centre in North Hobart, has been dreamt up by senior Mental Health management, without consultation with the workers on the ground.
“I understand that, last week, mental health management visited the Peacock Centre to present its accreditation certificate, but left without telling staff and consumers of plans to axe the MIST service.”
Mrs Napier questioned disbanding current services that have proven to be effective for clients in the past.
“Research has proven that intensive support models work well with people with severe mental illness, who simply will not ‘fit’ into a recovery model.
“However, in the Budget Estimates debate, the Minister’s advisers had informed the Committee that all mental health services in Tasmania would be based on a rehabilitation and recovery framework:
“… Contemporary practice tells us that rehabilitation and recovery is the framework to which mental health programs must provide … “
“While the Liberals agree that recovery and rehabilitation is ideal for those with mental illness who can move through levels of support to independence, what happens to the 15-20 per cent of people who do not recover from mental illness?”
“Will these people once again fall through the gaps, without the intensive support offered through MIST?”
Mrs Napier said for those requiring intensive support in the community, the closure of MIST would be a huge upheaval.
“Currently some clients visit the Peacock Centre up to five times a day, for the comfort and reassurance of the staff, and indeed the continuity of staff with whom they have formed relationships over the years a critically important matter for people with serious mental illness.”
Mrs Napier urged the Government to review its decision to close MIST and the Peacock Centre, and to immediately enter into consultations with staff, clients and carers to inform themselves fully as to what would be a very detrimental move in the delivery of community mental health services.
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SUE NAPIER, MHA
Shadow Minister for Health
Wednesday June 8, 2005
Vacancies galore in Health Department put health and welfare of Tasmanians at risk
Massive vacancies in the Department of Health and Human Services is denying many Tasmanians access to crucial health and welfare services, Shadow Health and Human Services Minister, Sue Napier said today.
Mrs Napier said that figures released yesterday by the Department of Health and Human showed that vacancies across the Department were currently at over 890 full time equivalent positions.
“This massive vacancy rate, as high as 17% in allied health professions, is clearly limiting service provision in areas of the Department of Health and Human Services. It means less Tasmanians can gain access to crucial State Government health and welfare services.
“Alarmingly, many of these vacancies are in children and family services, social work, physiotherapy, and dietician services. During last week’s Estimates hearings, we warned the Minister that he would be unable to retain or recruit much-needed allied health professionals unless he rapidly negotiated their claim for more competitive conditions compared to other States.
“The DHHS vacancy figures also include over 278 full-time equivalent nursing positions and a further 89 in the medical workforce.
“Last year in Budget Estimates, I raised with the Health Minister, David Llewellyn, the chronic problems of recruitment in the Department of Health and Human Services. It appears that Minister Llewellyn has not conceded my concerns and the concerns of many departmental staff.
“The State Labor Government had contracted a consultant in December 2003 to look at recruitment practices in the Department. The consultant, in his report, revealed feedback from staff saying DHHS recruitment was “case study in what not to do”, that “we don’t have enough resources and we’re all too bloody tired,” and that the Human Resources Division “has not been funded to succeed and that critical investment should be made.”
“A special Auditor General’s report on staff selection in government agencies also found that the Department of Health and Human Services was the slowest of the departments analysed taking on average 81 days to fill positions, against a government average of 60.
“Despite a consultant’s report and an Auditor General’s report on recruitment, which have forced some recruitment changes, there still exist massive vacancies in DHHS due to what appears to be a shortfall in adequate recruitment strategies.
“It is unfortunate that the end product of Minister Llewellyn’s recruitment failures and massive vacancies will be a restricted health and welfare system and a continual growth in hospital and health service waiting lists,” Mrs Napier said.
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Peg Putt MHA
GREENS OPPOSITION LEADER
Wednesday, 8 JUNE 2005
CONCERNS ON POSSIBLE CLOSURE OF PEACOCK CENTRE RAISED IN PARLIAMENT
Greens Vow To Hold Minister to Undertaking
The Tasmanian Greens today vowed to hold the Health Minister to his undertaking in Parliament that he has no intention to close the Peacock Centre in North Hobart amidst concerns from families that government plans could entail the closure of the Centre which provides support to around 100 people with mental illnesses, and their families.
Greens Opposition Leader and Member for Denison Peg Putt MHA said that plans to disband the Mobile Intensive Support Teams which provide support to keep mental health clients in their own homes were causing concerns and uncertainty amongst clients, families and staff associated with the Peacock Centre, including the apprehension that the Centre would close as a result of the new arrangements.
“Families of clients of the Peacock Centre have been very concerned that the government has plans to close the Centre, and we are pleased to have obtained an undertaking from the Minister that he has no intention to close the Centre and will hold him to that promise if it becomes necessary,” Ms Putt MHA, said.
“The government plan to disband Mobile Intensive Support Teams which provide support to keep mental health clients in their own homes is causing confusion and uncertainty and has led to the apprehension that the Peacock Centre was to close.”
“The reorganisation of service delivery in mental health appears to be driven from the top without the changes necessarily meeting the expectations of clients and their families,” Ms Putt said.
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Kim Booth MHA
Wednesday, 8 JUNE 2005
GREENS CALL FOR TRI-PARTITE SUPPORT FOR STATE POTATO FARMERS
As Local Industry Faces Crisis And Collapse
The Tasmanian Greens today tabled a Motion in Parliament calling for Liberal and Labor to join them in forming a united voice of support for Tasmanian Potato farmers as they launch a public campaign to raise awareness of the crisis they face in light of McDonalds’ decision to source potatoes from New Zealand.
Greens Opposition Primary Industry and Water spokesperson Kim Booth MHA said that it was vitally important that the three Tasmanian political parties work in cooperation to ensure that the potato farmers’ plight is heard at all levels of government and congratulated Forth farmer Richard Bovill in his courageous stand to spearhead the campaign with a tractor cavalcade to Victoria.
“The multinational global food juggernaut is starting to crash into Tasmania and if action is not taken swiftly and with a united voice from community, industry and government we could see not only regional industry but also the towns that they support wiped out within a matter of years – it’s that serious,” Mr Booth said.
“Richard Bovill has stood up and shown that Tasmanian potato farmers are not going to take this lying down and he and the potato industry now need the support of every Tasmanian elected representative to come in behind producers and give them the full weight of our support to head off this industry collapse.”
“Our regional towns, our rural families and culture of our agricultural community is at risk here and this is the thin end of the wedge as far as global pressure goes.”
“That is why the Greens established the market differentiation of “Clean, Green and Clever” over a decade ago because we could see this crisis coming down the line.”
“Now it’s here and the Greens will be supporting Tasmanian producers every step of the way in their campaign to save our local vegetable industry.”
“We hope that the State Labor government and the Liberal Opposition will do the same.”
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PETER GUTWEIN, MHA
Shadow Minister for Education
Wednesday June 8, 2005
Tasmanian Year 7 student reading
results decline – the worst in Australia
The dramatic reading standard decline of Tasmanian students’ from year 3 to year 7 is the worst in Australia according to the recently released National education benchmarks report, Shadow Education Minister, Peter Gutwein said today.
Mr Gutwein said that the 2002 literacy and numeracy benchmark results, released by the State Government in Budget Estimates hearings, confirmed his concern regarding the dramatic deterioration in student results between year 3 and year 7.
“The 2002 National reading benchmarks show that 96.3% of Tasmanian children in year 3 were able to pass the reading test one of the highest ratios in Australia,” Mr Gutwein said.
“However, by year 7, just 88.6% of Tasmanian students were passing the reading standard. This placed Tasmania in the bottom half of all States and Territories.
“This is a dramatic drop of 7.7 percentage points from year 3 to year 7 and a decline significantly larger than all other States and Territories. Northern Territory and South Australia have actually achieved an improvement in reading standards from year 3 to year 7.
“In fact the decline of students’ reading ability from year 3 to year 7 is far more than double the national average,” Mr Gutwein said.
“Whilst the State Liberals recognise that there is a National trend of students reading standards dropping from year 3 to year 7, we do no accept that this decline should be at its worst in Tasmania.
“It is even more concerning that 2003 provisional benchmark results for Tasmania, also released last week by the Minister, show that year 7 students’ results have declined from 2002 to a point where almost one in every five year 7 students cannot pass the basic numeracy standard.
“Clearly, Minister Wriedt, who has been Education Minister for seven years now, has failed on implementing effective strategies to improve the reading ability of Tasmanian students as they progress from year 3 to year 7,” Mr Gutwein said.
Percentage of Students who achieved
the 2002 National Reading Benchmark
State Year 3 Year 7 change
Tas 96.3 88.6 -7.7
WA 95.4 90.5 -4.9
ACT 95.7 91.1 -4.6
NSW 92.1 88.0 -4.1
Vic 92.0 88.5 -3.5
QLD 92.6 90.2 -2.4
NT 74.2 74.9 + 0.7
SA 89.3 92.1 + 2.8
National average 92.3 89.1 -3.2
Source: National Report on Schooling in Australia 2002 (released 31/5/05)
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Kim Booth MHA
Wednesday, 8 JUNE 2005
MINISTER CAN’T EXPLAIN WHY OVERLOADED TRUCKS ALLOWED
Why is Government Turning a Blind Eye to Gunns Apparently Breaking The Law?
The Tasmanian Greens in today’s Question Time highlighted the fact that Gunns Ltd has been allowed to continue the practice of paying for overloaded log trucks, despite the Department two years ago writing to Gunns saying that the overloading was illegal and that paying for overloads may also be illegal.
Greens Opposition Infrastructure spokesperson Kim Booth MHA said that the response from the Infrastructure Minister, Bryan Green was irresponsible and negligent, after he had admitted in Parliament three weeks ago that the practice was occurring, but still refused to do anything about it so that the practice will still continue for at least another month.
“The Minister apparently takes the view that when it comes to the law he will take a selective approach,” Mr Booth said.
“When asked today to simply explain why one company was allowed to continue breaching the law, Minister Green was unable to explain.”
“It is a simple question – why is there no answer?”
“The driving public deserve to know why it is, that despite Gunns advising the Minister in writing that they intend to keep paying for illegally overloading truck until July this year, he has taken no action to enforce the law.”
“Given the grave threat to worker and public safety that overloaded trucks pose, it is grossly negligent of the Government to ignore any company which continues the practice of apparently inducing parties to break the law.”
“When the Government treats the law with contempt and selectively enforces its provisions – democracy is under threat.“
“Tasmanians expect the even handed application of the law and are alarmed at the apparent cosy relationship that Gunns and the Government has over illegally loaded trucks,” Mr Booth said.
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Peg Putt MHA
GREENS OPPOSITION LEADER
Wednesday, 8 JUNE 2005
LENNON MUST ACT ON PROBLEM GAMBLING REPORT
The Tasmanian Greens today urged the Lennon Government to act on Anglicare’s recommendations on problem gambling and take on board that the overwhelming request of problem gamblers and their families was for poker machines to be banned or at least for there to be a major reduction in the number of machines outside casinos.
Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA who provided for a cap on poker machines and the commencement of a staged withdrawal of pokies from pubs and clubs in the three Alternative Budgets produced by the Greens, warned that the test of the Premier’s claimed respect for Anglicare would be in his government taking up their recommendations – including a social and economic impact study for all new gaming opportunities, such as Betfair.
“The estimate of up to 33,000 Tasmanians being affected by problem gambling, including 2,000 children, is shocking and backs up the concerns we have been expressing ever since the pokies roll out into pubs and clubs began to show adverse impacts in 1998,” Ms Putt, said.
“It is time for Paul Lennon to acknowledge that there is a very dark side to his gaming bonanza, and that the Greens are right in demanding a progressive withdrawal of pokies from pubs and clubs.”
“A social and economic impact study into the likely impacts of Betfair before such a licence is granted must now become a requirement of the Premier as Anglicare recommends that such as study occur before any new gaming opportunities are agreed.”
“The test of the Lennon government on their respect for Anglicare will be whether they take up the recommendations, and we will ensure that the Premier will not get away with professing respect for Anglicare today but ignoring their recommendations tomorrow.”
“The tenor of government Ministers in debate on this important report after Question Time was of self-justification for the way things are now, and that raises real concerns that there is no intention to take up recommendations which demand any significant changes,” Ms Putt said.
The key recommendations of ‘House of Cards – Problem gambling and low income earners in Tasmania’ are:
• the establishment of a gambling consumers’ Advocate to enhance and encourage consumer protection;
• the introduction of social and economic impact assessments for all new or extended gambling opportunities, technology, designs and licences;
• an increased allocation of gambling-derived government revenue directly for the prevention of gambling problems and alleviation of the impacts of gambling problems; and
• improved consumer protection, including the banning of advertisements outside of gambling venues.
pg 7, House of cards: Problem gambling and low income earners in Tasmania, Anglicare Tasmania, June 2005
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WILL HODGMAN, MHA
Shadow Minister for Economic Development
PETER GUTWEIN, MHA
Shadow Minister for Education
Wednesday June 8, 2005
Shocking level of school-based apprenticeships in Tasmania must be addressed
Shadow Minister for Economic Development Will Hodgman today called on the
State Labor Government to work much harder to boost the level of
school-based apprenticeships in this State.
Mr Hodgman said the proportion of schoo
