Rob Walls, http://robertwalls.wordpress.com/
Rob Walls, http://robertwalls.wordpress.com/
Tasmania is currently facing a series of big interlinked problems, including:
• A health system in crisis
• Job losses also in other public services causing major service inadequacies and unacceptable workloads and stress on frontline staff
• Bleeding of skilled professionals and new-graduates to other states
• The highest unemployment rate in the nation
• An economic recession
• Rising cost of living
Premier Giddings Labour Party, with fullsupport of their coalition partners the Greens, have stubbornly continued to slash money from public services as part of their neo-liberal budget.
The Liberals, while standing up against frontline service cuts while in opposition, cannot be trusted to deliver an alternative if they get into government. In NSW and Victoria, they started making cuts as soon as they took over.
People are suffering in Tasmania now. Delaying health care by cutting services and increasing waiting lists only increases the suffering and the long–term costs.
Socialist Alliance calls for an alternative approach to managing the budget, one that puts people’s needs ahead of corporate profits and budget surpluses.
Many economists will argue, especially in times of economic crisis, governments need to stimulate the economy by maintaining a strong public sector and investing in jobs. The government could reverse the land, payroll and betting exchange tax cuts that led to a reduction of $185 million in state income, it could increase mining royalties, reduce hand-outs and special deals to big companies, reign in spending on racetracks and other unnecessary projects, reduce politician , top-public sector and governor salaries, in order to stimulate jobs and the economy and look after people’s most basic needs.
It could also invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency intiatives to reduce the cost of electricity for ordinary people.
Socialist Alliance, as the only registered political party in Tasmania that campaigns for these ideas, asks for your support at the next elections, but more importantly, for your involvement in the community-based fightback that needs to happen.
We will join with any groups who want to campaign to protect our services. We call for a union-and-community campaign that utilises mass action, escalating industrial action and community involvement in order to resist and reverse attacks on basic services.
We look to the successful campaign against school closures in Tasmania last year and the recent victorious nurses campaign in Victoria as evidence of what can be gained when people join together to fight for what’s right.
For more information email [email protected]
Check out our website and join up at www.socialist-alliance.org/hobart You can call 03) 6234 2645, drop in to 225 Murray St, Hobart and ‘Like’ us on Facebook at Socialist Alliance Tasmania.
• HODGMAN FARCICAL ON MP NUMBERS
As Liberals Vote Against Their Own Policy!
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
The Tasmanian Greens today described as astounding the actions of Liberal Leader Will Hodgman, who actually forced his MPs to vote against their own policy position supporting the need to restore the number of Members in the House of Assembly back to 35.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP, who successfully moved to amend the Liberal motion, said it is a false economy for the Liberals to try and argue a functioning Parliament can only be afforded during good times, saying it is just as crucial during tough times.
“After astoundingly voting against the policy position he had spent the previous 45 minutes articulating, Will Hodgman has now completely overturned his signed contract, given in 2010, when he committed to restore MPs numbers in the House of Assembly in time for the next State election,” Mr McKim said.
“The Greens moved an amendment, passed with Labor support, which accurately reflected the position of all three parties, that the House of Assembly numbers should be restored at an appropriate time.”
“In an extraordinary display of incompetence the Liberals then voted against the amended motion despite Will Hodgman reiterating during the debate that this remains the Liberal position.”
“The Greens thank Mr Hodgman for providing conclusive proof that the standards in the House need to be raised.”
“In these tough fiscal times it is even more crucial that we act to improve decision making, ensure a better functioning committee system, and provide a deeper talent pool from which to select Ministers. A 35 Member House would deliver on all of these highly desirable outcomes.”
“The Greens are the only Party in the Parliament who have been consistent since day one on the need to restore the numbers and restore a functioning Parliament on behalf of the Tasmanian community who expect and deserve a robust democracy,” Mr McKim said.
Text of Amendment moved by Nick McKim MP (passed with Labor support):
“That this House supports restoring the numbers of Members in the House of Assembly to 35 at an appropriate time.”
Tuesday: FREEZE ON MPS’ PAY-RISE PREFERRED OPTION
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
The Tasmanian Greens today reiterated that their preferred position is for an immediate freeze to be placed on State politicians basic salary, rather than the proposed two per cent cap across the next two years.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that given neither Labor nor Liberal support the Greens’ preferred option it now unfortunately appears that some form of salary increase will flow to Tasmanian MPs.
“The idea of Members of Parliament receiving the initial potential 30 per cent pay rise on their basic salary, at a time when Tasmanians are being urged to tighten their belts, is untenable to the Greens,” Mr McKim said.
“We have been consistently calling for an immediate freeze to be placed on State MPs’ pay while a long term resolution to the problem of MPs intervening to set their own pay could be resolved.”
“If we can’t deliver a freeze on MPs pay on the floor of the House, then of course we will support the next best option that limits any pay rise for MPs.”
• STATE MUST TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE BROADBAND OPPORTUNITY
Paul O’Halloran MP
Greens Science & Technology Spokesperson
The Tasmanian Greens today (Wed) called on the Minister for Science and Technology to undertake work to determine the projected business take-up for the National Broadband Network, and to develop an incentive model to maximise the benefits to business.
Greens Science and Technology spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP said mainland and overseas businesses should be being lured to Tasmania to take their share in the state’s early-adapter advantage the NBN.
“The NBN is a massive opportunity for Tasmania and it would be a tragedy if we failed to take advantage of this opportunity to lure businesses here to take advantage of it,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“It appears the main emphasis in encouraging NBN take-up has been targeted towards domestic households.”
“There needs to be an equivalent push to encourage local businesses and retailers to see the economic advantage that this infrastructure could provide them.”
“We need to see a take-up timetable with projected benchmarks for local businesses, as well as any incentive packages.
“It is critical that the right policy settings are in place for businesses to take full advantage of the huge potential of fast data speeds.”
“It was a very welcome announcement that Tasmania would be the first state recipient of the NBN rollout, especially the estimated 800 jobs it would create and the $300million injected into our economy.”
“The Greens believe these benefits are just the tip of the iceberg, but it’s still not clear what is being done to encourage businesses to take full advantage of the network.”
• Tasmanian property industry’s confidence drops even further
Confidence within Tasmania’s biggest private sector industry has dropped another 12 index
points for the June quarter and is the lowest in the country.
The decline in sentiment is against the national trend.
The third Property Council-ANZ Property Industry Confidence Survey, released today, has
revealed increasing confidence in every state and territory in Australia except Tasmania and
Victoria, which is stable.
Tasmanian Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia, Mary Massina, said the result
was a real concern for the Government, as it directly affected forward development decisionmaking,
which would impact on jobs and investment desperately needed in Tasmania.
“This is our third survey in the series and it shows that Tasmania’s confidence sits at negative 73,
representing a staggering drop of 12 index points,” Ms Massina said.
“The key issues of state economic growth, staffing levels and forward construction levels show
that the state’s biggest private sector industry is doing it extremely tough, which dramatically
impacts on Tasmania’s economy.
“These three leading indicators dramatically highlight the worsening environment that the
property industry faces against a backdrop of other states and territories gaining momentum
and confidence.
“Respondents don’t see the state economic growth improving – in fact, expectations have
dropped significantly by 38 index points to sit at negative 66 index points.
“In line with the continual slide in confidence, respondents are expecting that staffing levels will
also decrease, indicating rising property sector unemployment feeding into what is already the
highest unemployment rate in the country.”
ANZ Head of Property Research, Paul Braddick, said Tasmanians’ pessimistic view of property
markets reflected weak economy activity through 2011.
“A subdued outlook for the Tasmanian economy for 2 ,012, and weak construction activity
expectations, present some further downside risk to Tasmania’s property industry through
2012,” Mr Braddick said.
