The United Nations is marking the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence from 25 November to 10 December 2021

It's a terrible cliché but Tasmania is really at the crossroads.

The last few months of life in the corridors of powers has been a deeply unsettling experience.

The carefully nurtured growth in the Legislative Council as a respected house of review no longer has a majority of Independent Members. When both major parties join up there is little we can do to ensure full and proper scrutiny of legislation.

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You can listen to me speak on my proposed amendment to Clause 155, Gaming Control Amendment (Future Gaming Market) Bill 2021 relating to EGM licence fees and taxes, as well as my reply to other members comments here.

The transcript of this speech will be published here when it is available on Hansard.

The tabled document referred to in my speech is available here:

The Gaming Control Amendment (Future Gaming Market) Bill 2021 is currently before the Legislative Council.

Listen to my speech here:

PLACEMAKING is a process centred on the community's assets that focuses on its people, capitalising on their needs and aspirations with the aim of creating public spaces that promote people's health, happiness and wellbeing. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the importance of community.

Waratah-Wynyard Council has been 'walking the talk' in recent years and residents will be aware of a number of beautification projects taking shape, including improved walking tracks, more public art, beautiful seasonal garden tubs adorning the main street, and a new plaza complete with excellent facilities and beautiful public art in the town centre.

There are clear health and wellbeing benefits from our engagement with art and nature generally.

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The 2021-22 health budget includes many initiatives seeking to address the long-standing pressures and failures in our acute health services.

These pressures existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic which has clearly exposed many of our vulnerabilities.

Before, and as to be expected, during COVID we have continued to see waiting lists that are unacceptable, even with the latest figures showing some improvement - 11,007 people actually still waiting for surgery including 1033 people in category 1 (urgent cases where patients should be treated within 30 days), it is clear we have a lot of work to do.

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