Opinion
Ruth’s opinion pieces and editorials on political, economic, and social issues facing Tasmania.
Sleepwalking to disaster
Few have taken any issue with the prognosis laid out by Saul Eslake in his landmark report into the State’s finances. Even fewer have modified their policy positions to reflect…
Read more
Governance issues erode public trust
Stony Rise development saga is emblematic of broader problems, writes Ruth Forrest The saga surrounding the proposed Stony Rise shopping centre development at Devonport is emblematic of broader governance failures…
Read more
Does the state’s ‘good bloke’ Jeremy Rockliff have what it takes to repair failing governance standards
Failures of governance are almost always intertwined with poor culture and both tend to have deep roots. Tasmania’s Premier Jeremy Rockliff is, and has been often referred to as, ‘a…
Read more
We need to face what the budget figures have been trying to tell us for years, and it’s not good news
Time to be honest about the challenges and work together, before it’s too late. The 2024-25 Tasmanian state budget is a catastrophe. There is no plan to stop debt servicing…
Read more
The gravity of our state’s challenges means we need to start thinking very differently
Political parties continue their misinformation campaigns rather than honestly discussing our financial problems, writes Ruth Forrest The gravity of the state’s perilous fiscal position, as forensically detailed by Saul Eslake…
Read more
Servicing our past sins is costing more, which takes away much-needed funding from current services
Denial of budget reality is no longer an option for Tasmania. The government last week released the Preliminary Outcome Report for the 2023-24 year, revealing the latest on the state’s…
Read more
Blame games have no place in helping deal with our state’s financial woes
The day of reckoning is looming. The report by respected economist Saul Eslake into the state of the state’s finances, a condition of Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) agreement with the…
Read more
Changing the GST rules to get Tasmania a ‘better deal’ might just be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs
Changing the GST rules to get Tasmania a ‘better deal’ might just be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs Undermining the GST system is not in Tasmania’s interest,…
Read more
Tassie’s strong plan on shaky foundations
There is a need to take a genuine look at the big picture for our future when it comes to state and federal budgets. Preparing the groundwork for what is…
Read more
Family violence response a justified move
THE scourge of family violence and violence against women is at the forefront of news coverage. The horrific statistics and lived reality for many women and their families in our…
Read more
From the election dust emerges an alarming view of the true state of Tasmania’s financial standing
Instead of appeasing its new partners, the government would be better served by a budget office, Let’s hope Premier Jeremy Rockliff has more success in achieving a workable parliament than…
Read more
There is no magic money tree and Liberals and Labor refuse to come clean with voters
The state is facing a huge fiscal problem and it seems that neither of the major parties is prepared to address it, writes Ruth Forrest One of the classic strategies…
Read moreConnect
- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089942561556
- https://twitter.com/RuthForrestMLC
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-forrest-151b4915/
- https://www.youtube.com/@ruthforrestmlc9491
Newest Posts
- State Policies and Projects (Macquarie Point Precinct) Order 2025
- Parliament Misses Opportunity to Strengthen Budget Oversight as Fiscal Crisis Deepens
- Why I decided to accept the position of Treasurer if Tasmania has a Labor Minority government
- If you want to get to SurplusTown, would you start from here?
- Chapter 2 – Electricity and the NEM – The Basics Tasmania Was Never Told
- Hydro Tasmania: What the Numbers Show – A multi‑chapter analysis of operating performance, liquidity, structural risks, and public myths.
- IF THE PREMIER BELIEVES MARINUS WILL DELIVER $470M A YEAR, HE SHOULD PUBLISH MODELLING AND SHOW THE FLOWS
- Hydro Tasmania: From Opportunistic Trader to Defensive Survivor
- ADJOURNMENT SPEECH – Christmas Greetings
- SENTENCING AMENDMENT (AGGRAVATING FACTORS) BILL 2025