The News Review:
- Gently does it
- Greens lose bid to place land under quarantine
- A watchdog for every house
- Thylacine DNA resurrected
- Kennett’s froth more than hot air: two Melbourne clubs have to go
Gently does it
The Australian – May 24, 2008
Tasmania’s high peaks and high seas invite us to do likewise. Be as brave as the possum and pack your boots. Leonie Coombes was a guest of Federal Group Tasmania. Checklist For reservations at Wrest Point Freycinet Lodge and Cradle Mountain Chateau: 1800 030 611;.
Greens lose bid to place land under quarantine
The Australian – May 24, 2008
A panel of High Court judges in Melbourne ruled 2-1 in favour of Forestry Tasmania by refusing to give Senator Brown leave to appeal against a decision allowing the Wielangta State Forest in Tasmania’s east to be logged. Senator Brown won a 2006 court ruling to stop the logging but that was later overruled and yesterday he lost a final legal bid to be given leave to appeal against that decision. The state Government’s Forestry Tasmania had argued that it was irrelevant whether those species were endangered because legally the Regional Forestry Agreement allowed for logging in the forest. Senator Brown said Mr Howard and Mr Lennon "got together" to change the RFA two months after his 2006 court win so he would lose any further legal cases. "They absolutely deliberately and directly made those changes to overrule the finding by the court that my bid was justified and the species were being driven to extinction in Wielangta State Forest" Senator Brown said in Hobart after the decision. "Justice Marshall (in 2006) put a ban on logging in the 10000ha because of that. And they got together on a February day two months later and changed the Regional Forestry Agreement upon which that decision had been made… "Justice Marshall (in 2006) put a ban on logging in the 10000ha because of that. And they got together on a February day two months later and changed the Regional Forestry Agreement upon which that decision had been made. " The court agreed with Norman ‘Brien SC’s argument that the Tasmanian RFA allowed for the forest to be logged. Judge Ken Hayne who along with Susan Crennan ruled in favour of Forestry Tasmania said: "We are of the opinion there would be insufficient grounds to grant special leave for appeal. " Judge Michael Kirby agreed with Senator Brown. The Greens leader said the onus was now on Kevin Rudd and federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett to overturn the changes to the RFA. A new ruling could apply in retrospect Senator Brown said.
A watchdog for every house
The Australian – May 24, 2008
Bingham addresses the cost argument by proposing a slimmed-down structure that can respond to complaints when they arise without a large permanent bureaucracy. His ethics commission model is an ICAC-lite designed to be less costly and more responsive than lumbering giants in NSW and Western Australia. Bingham a former Tasmanian Liberal attorney-general and pposition leader says such a body would be headed by a full-time commissioner most likely an ex-judge. They would be supported by two part-time commissioners "a couple of sensible people to keep him (the commissioner) on track and in touch with reality". Support staff would be kept to a minimum with police seconded to conduct investigations and existing ethics training such as is offered at some universities contracted. The Bingham-style commission would have the powers of ICAC or a royal commission including those to compel witnesses to answer questions and produce documents but avoid some of the more controversial powers enjoyed by WA’s Corruption and Crime Commission. "What I’m proposing is small and simple but will do the job" Bingham says… Despite squabbles over powers and methods no one in any of the states with anti-corruption watchdogs seriously suggests they should be abolished. This takes us back to the central point: are we really expected to believe that politicians and public servants in Tasmania Victoria SA and federally are incorruptible? Hardly. In Tasmania state Labor has lost two deputy premiers to scandal in less than two years and Lennon has been plagued by allegations of improper conduct largely relating to his relentless pursuit of a pulp mill. Lennon argues that Tasmania’s "existing systems" – police ombudsman DPP and auditor-general – are sufficient. Bingham says Lennon is missing the point. "Clearly the Premier is mistaken" Bingham says. "I mean we’re running out of deputy premiers.
Thylacine DNA resurrected
abc.net.au – May 24, 2008
The last thylacine died in captivity in Tasmania in 1936. The specimens were stored in alcohol so the DNA was preserved although the genes were fragmented. The thylacine DNA was injected into very early mouse eggs. It gets incorporated into the mouse genome and is expressed in this case in the bone cells of the mouse… The last thylacine died in captivity in Tasmania in 1936. The specimens were stored in alcohol so the DNA was preserved although the genes were fragmented. The thylacine DNA was injected into very early mouse eggs. It gets incorporated into the mouse genome and is expressed in this case in the bone cells of the mouse. The expression is visible though staining with a dye and the mouse development is unaffected.
Kennett’s froth more than hot air: two Melbourne clubs have to go
The Australian – May 24, 2008
Paul Gardner is president of Melbourne and in 2003 began saving the club from a hopeless financial position. He was able to stabilise the club but not grow it. He thinks Hawthorn should relocate to Tasmania. Andrew Demetriou successfully runs the AFL and thinks Melbourne is now in worse shape than North Melbourne which seriously flirted with a move to the Gold Coast last year. As rugby league clubs consider fleeing Sydney the AFL wants to move in to western Sydney. League is losing players to Europe the Bulldogs’ Sonny Bill Williams wants to play rugby union and Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie is sacked and then leads the Waratahs into the semi-finals of the Super 14. Australia is on a campaign to qualify for the soccer World Cup Adelaide progresses in the Asian championships and more you must tread warily wherever you walk in fear of stepping on the foundations of a new A-League club… As one club bounces back another teeters. The 10 clubs are – as a whole – consistently under-funded because the corporate world and supporters cannot spread themselves around with enough effect to stabilise all teams. As it is Hawthorn sells four home games to Tasmania North Melbourne three to the Gold Coast Melbourne plays Sydney in Canberra and the Bulldogs play in Canberra and Darwin. So it is indisputable fact that 10 clubs can survive in Melbourne – but only as long as they are prepared to play somewhere else. North Melbourne refused to move to the Gold Coast when offered a $50m package. In-coming chairman James Brayshaw promised to fix the unworkable shareholder problem and deliver five white knights who would contribute $10m to the club. So far he has done neither.