Tasmanian Times
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Poll verdict on the future King Charles: “unpopular and untrusted – even at home”
A new poll of public opinion in the UK is bad news for Prince Charles. Research conducted by FTI Consulting on behalf...
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Catalans are not alone. Across the world, people yearn to govern themselves
Read hereGuardian
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Unveiled: Australia’s richest union
Read herewww.michaelwest.com.au/
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Trump misreads North Korea’s sacred dynasty at his peril
Read hereGuardian
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Homosexual Marriage: a plebiscite for late modern times
(In Australia, as in the US, there is ‘a debate’ going on about whether homosexuals should have the right to marry and...
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State Government ’backtracking’ on water reform
The State Government’s takeover legislation fails in its fundamental duty to protect the long term interests of consumers. The Productivity Commission’s draft report on National Water Reform is a sober indictment of the legislation and contains conspicuous warnings against the kind of powers the Treasurer intends to assume. Most telling is the report’s principle recommendation that uses the takeover legislation as an example of government backtracking that will ultimately undermine progress and reform. The legislation is clearly a step in the wrong direction. Should a takeover occur as proposed, Tasmania is en route to becoming a national example of shortsightedness, having rejected the principles of best practice agreed to by all Australian governments and in the process losing its way on water and sewerage reform. Under this scenario, we will eventually ask ourselves why we did not listen to the warnings. Tasmanians expect and deserve better. Key Quotes Backtracking on water reform: The productivity Commission characterises the State Government legislation as “backtracking” on reform, a clear indicator that the legislation takes Tasmania in the wrong direction. Recommendation 01 Governments should not backtrack on water reform. All Australian Governments should fully embed National Water Initiative principles in water management decision making and maintain progress on reform. ...
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Pressure of impending Bank Royal Commission continues to reap dividends for public
Greens Treasury spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, welcomes the move by Commbank to scrap ‘foreign ATM fees’ and calls upon other banks to...
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Tasmanian Greens state election candidates revealed at conference
Read hereAdvocate
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Productivity Commission Report highly critical of State Governmen
The Productivity Commission’s draft report on National Water Reform is highly critical of the Tasmanian Government’s legislation drafted for the purposes of a TasWater takeover. The draft report, issued this month, makes at least 14 references critical of the Government’s legislation now before the parliament and describes it as “backtracking on reform” and a retrograde step contrary to the National Water Initiative agreed to by all States and Territories and the Federal Government. The report flows from the inquiry ordered by Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison in February this year, into Australia’s progress on water reform. The final report will be issued later this year. TasWater Chairman Miles Hampton said the inquiry’s draft findings send a clear warning to Tasmanians that the proposed State Government takeover was detrimental to water reform, and not in the community’s best interests. “The report criticises the Government’s plans to cease price regulation and says this change is unlikely to promote the agreed National Water Initiative objectives, particularly the efficient use of water infrastructure,” Mr Hampton said. “In a damning criticism of political intervention in the regulatory process, it says the Tasmanian legislation will greatly constrain the role of the independent economic regulator and impact adversely on efficient service delivery. “The Productivity Commission is very clear in its report recommendations saying that governments should not backtrack on water reform, and uses the Tasmanian Government’s takeover legislation as an example of what not to do. “The Commission says that recent policy efforts nationally have shown a greater focus on cost effectiveness and this focus should be maintained. This comment is completely at odds with the ...
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Matthew Groom’s resignation ‘bad news for Liberals’
Read hereExaminer
