The News Review:
- 128 scientists voice mill fears
- More funding for disabled sailors
- Kids and guns – time for Commonwealth action
- Government gives $430m more for drought aid
- NSW in cruise control at Interstate Teams
128 scientists voice mill fears
The Age – Sep 18, 2007
Concerns focus on the impact on Bass Strait of 64000 tonnes ofeffluent being dumped each day. ceanographer Stuart Godfrey andtwo other scientists told Dr Peacock’s committee that toxiceffluent would wash ashore. Dr Godfrey also signed the statement which said Gunns and theTasmanian Government had failed to properly assess the impact ofthe pulp mill’s effluent on the marine environment and the Tamarestuary. Among the 128 signatories are scientists across a range ofdisciplines including Dr Keith Sainsbury who in 2004 won theJapan Prize the world’s highest honour for ecology andsustainability research. A specialist on Tamar fish Francisco Neira said: “Impacts ofthe pulp mill’s requirement for 4½ million tonnes of wood perannum have not been assessed. Resultant impacts on biodiversity andwater are therefore unknown. The call to Mr Turnbull for a new assessment has been madedespite approval of the project by the Tasmanian Parliament lastmonth when it accepted Premier Paul Lennon’s advice that the millwas environmentally safe.
More funding for disabled sailors
ABC nline – ABC nline – Sep 18, 2007
Sailability Tasmania co-ordinates sailing for the disabled and says the money provided by the Tasmanian Community Fund will allow more people with disabilities to access the activity. Sailability Tasmania’s President Bob Silberberg says sailing has therapeutic and self-esteem benefits for people living with disabilities. Tags: disabilities sailing sports-organisations tas hobart-7000Search for news.
Kids and guns – time for Commonwealth action
ABC Regional nline – ABC Regional nline – Sep 18, 2007
(file photo) (Reuters: Jorge Silva). In that shooting 35 people were murdered and 18 people grievously injured by a young man using two high powered semi-automatic rifles… This is in breach of Resolution 4(a) of the NFA. In some States and Territories there is no minimum age for a child to use a gun. In Tasmania the minimum age is 12 and currently these kids (up to the age of 16) are confined to using those firearms on a shooting range. Tasmania’s Parliament now seems set to change this and to unleash these kids in the bush (although they need to be in the company of a licensed shooter). In most jurisdictions the minimum age to drive a car – and then only in the company of another licensed driver – is 16 years of age. Why our leaders are content to allow children as young as four or five or six in WA and NT (where there is no minimum age limit) and as young as 12 in NSW Tasmania and Victoria and 11 in Queensland to carry guns and use them is mystifying. I know the shooters claim this early use is necessary as training for kids.
Government gives $430m more for drought aid
The Age – Sep 18, 2007
The extension to the exceptional circumstances program will cost$340 million and another $90 million will be spent on interimmeasures for regions in Tasmania and Western Australia. “Farmers in these regions have experienced low rainfall for thepast 18 months and have a less than 50 per cent chance of receivingaverage rainfall in the next three months” Mr Howard said. He made the interim decision ahead of expected requests from thegovernments of Western Australia and Tasmania for formalexceptional circumstances funding. Victorian Premier John Brumby was considering whether hisGovernment needed to offer more money to farmers for droughtaid. “I am closely examining these issues at the moment” Mr Brumbysaid. “I would stress we’ve put in to date $170 million above andbeyond what we’re required to under national drought arrangementsbut it may well be we need to do even more in the future” hesaid. Mr Brumby said many rural Victorians were in extremehardship.
NSW in cruise control at Interstate Teams
iseekgolf.com – Sep 18, 2007
After surprising Western Australia with a draw yesterday Tasmania was unable to hold off the tournament favourites going down by four points. The defending champs got off to the best possible start taking a three-point lead into the afternoon session. Although the scoreboard may not suggest a battle was fought New South Wales was forced to earn every single point. The highly fancied pairing of Tim Stewart and Richie Gallichan were held to a square by Jack Carswell and Adam Ring while Justin Roach and Grant Scott prevailed over their opponents 2&1. Scott and Jamie Arnold defeated John Cassidy and Craig Hancock 1up while the pairing of Rohan Blizard and Rudi Bezuidenhout sneaked home by the same margin over James Pyke and Mark Schulz. Australian Amateur Champion Blizard made up for his singles defeat yesterday with a 3&2 triumph over Craig Hancock while Ryan McCarthy and Paul Marshall managed to add a couple more points to the board for Tasmania. Still it was in vain for the hosts who went down by four.