The News Review:
- FRESTRY TASMANIA IGNRE MBUDSMAN’S RULING T SUPPLY INFRMATIN
- Lennon snipes at Turnbull over pulp mill
- Farmers vs State in Supreme Court water action
- GUNNS’ VENEER MILL CLSURE CMES AS N SURPRISE
- Abbott lifts image with MRI cash
- perator Please leads new Falls line-up
FRESTRY TASMANIA IGNRE MBUDSMAN’S RULING T SUPPLY INFRMATIN
Tasmanian Greens – Sep 27, 2007
Greens Shadow Native Forests spokesperson Tim Morris MHA said that Forestry Tasmania must stop wasting everybody’s time and supply information as they are required to do under the FI Act instead of playing stupid games by refusing to supply the information and therefore forcing reviews to the mbudsman which takes months. “The Premier has said that Forestry Tasmania was to become more open and transparent and to back this the government removed their exemption from the Freedom of Information Act 1991″ Mr Morris said. “I took the Premier’s word for it and sought to obtain information on behalf of constituents in relation to proposed logging coupes particularly information contained in the natural and cultural values sheets and their reply forms but Forestry Tasmania refused to supply and claimed such information was exempt which it was not as clarified by the mbudsman on 13th September 2007. The mbudsman’s ruling stated: “I find that the information contained within the documents in dispute does not qualify for exemption from disclosure under the FI Act to the access applicant.
Lennon snipes at Turnbull over pulp mill
Sydney Morning Herald – Sep 27, 2007
“I just think it’s an affront to Tasmania when a federalminister goes off to the United States to some meeting and leavesTasmania in limbo” Mr Lennon said. Mr Turnbull flew to the US on Wednesday and will not return toAustralia until Sunday. The future of the controversial mill – proposed for Tasmania’snorth-east – is hanging on Mr Turnbull’s decision after the stateparliament earlier this month gave it the green light. Chief scientific adviser Jim Peacock handed in hismuch-anticipated report on the project’s environmental impact to MrTurnbull on Monday and the pair discussed the issue. Mr Lennon said he was confident Mr Peacock’s report would bebalanced but was angered the mill could become an electionissue.
Farmers vs State in Supreme Court water action
North Queensland Register – Sep 27, 2007
Farmers at Bothwell in the Tasmanian midlands are taking their own State government to court over their local Catchment Management Plan a policy that may well contravene the National Water Initiative. It appears the environment gets the water before the people in Tasmania after both the township and local farmers were shut off from the local water supply without warning last Christmas. It?s a practice allowed under the State?s Catchment Management Plans according to local farmer Tom Edgell. The Department of Primary Industries in Tasmania defended the decision based on the water levels in nearby Lake Sorell and Crescent but local farmers say the water levels were more than adequate. It is for this reason that he has joined a number of farmers taking their state government to court in an attempt to overturn the plans… Farmers at Bothwell in the Tasmanian midlands are taking their own State government to court over their local Catchment Management Plan a policy that may well contravene the National Water Initiative. It appears the environment gets the water before the people in Tasmania after both the township and local farmers were shut off from the local water supply without warning last Christmas. It?s a practice allowed under the State?s Catchment Management Plans according to local farmer Tom Edgell. The Department of Primary Industries in Tasmania defended the decision based on the water levels in nearby Lake Sorell and Crescent but local farmers say the water levels were more than adequate. It is for this reason that he has joined a number of farmers taking their state government to court in an attempt to overturn the plans. Weighing into the debate now is the Federal Government.
GUNNS’ VENEER MILL CLSURE CMES AS N SURPRISE
Tasmanian Greens – Sep 27, 2007
Greens Shadow Native Forests spokesperson Tim Morris MHA said that if the reason for the closure is as suggested by the unions that there is a lack of high-grade logs left then that reflects the industry’s refusal to manage this resource in a sustainable manner and its refusal to adapt to the use of the current established plantation estate. Mr Morris also warned that the industry’s refusal to adapt and shift to sustainable practices regarding high quality veneer was a bad omen for the specialty timber industry with much of that resource having also been squandered through woodchipping. “The industry always knew that the high quality native forest resource was finite and that they would have to change their timber source in order to have a sustainable business instead of relying upon unfettered access to old growth native forests which they were also flat out woodchipping at the same time” Mr Morris said. “Since Gunns’ has refused to adapt regarding their wood supply source this closure of the Boyer mill comes as no surprise.
Abbott lifts image with MRI cash
The Australian – Sep 27, 2007
In most cases locations for the machines are yet to be determined – the Government has nominated towns and regions before opening tenders for private hospitals or clinics to buy the machines and bill Medicare for their use up to $1. Areas to receive the scanners are Armadale and Joondalup in Western Australia the Sutherland Shire Bankstown Wollongong Hospital and the Newcastle-Hunter region in NSW Bundaberg and Cairns in Queensland inner Melbourne and Clayton-akleigh in Victoria Morphett Vale and Port Augusta in South Australia and the Launceston General Hospital in Tasmania. MRIs use strong magnetic fields to generate images and diagnose conditions including cancer and strokes. Mr Abbott told The Australian last night the new machines would bring the total number provided by the Government since its election in 1996 to 126. "It is through good economic management that the Government has been in a position to fund such a large expansion of this very important expensive medical technology" he said. News of the plan came after John Howard accused Kevin Rudd of having no "policy compass" when the pposition Leader announced a $50 million health funding package for Tasmania favouring marginal seats.
perator Please leads new Falls line-up
The Australian – Sep 27, 2007
Adding to the international line-up are British pop trio The Pipettes Brazilian funk outfit Bonde Do Role and New Zealand pop rockers Cut ff Your Hands. They will complement an already impressive line-up that includes Kings of Leon Groove Armada Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Go! Team. The 2007 Falls Festival will be held in Lorne Victoria for the 15th year in a row and at Marion Bay in southeast Tasmania for the fifth year running from December 30 to January 1. More acts will be announced closer to the festival with about 50 bands expected in total. module-content –>.