MOTION

Report of the Auditor-General No. 10 of 2025-26 – Planning and Early Implementation of the Human Resources Information System Legislative Council, Tuesday 18 August 2026 Ms FORREST (Murchison) – Mr President, I move – That this House note the Report of the Auditor-General No. 10 of 2025-26 Planning and Early Implementation of the Human Resources […]

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POLICE OFFENCES AMENDMENT (INCREASED PENALTIES FOR DAMAGE TO TASMANIAN WAR MEMORIALS) BILL 2026

Legislative Council, Thursday 13 August 2026 Ms FORREST (Murchison) – Thank you, Mr President. I rise to speak on the third reading of this bill, not because I wasn’t able to commit to participate yesterday, but because I want to make it clear as to why I supported the bill into the Committee stage, but I find myself in […]

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QWN – Running Gas when Hydro Levels High

Legislative Council, Wednesday 12 August 2026 Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for ENERGY and RENEWABLES, Mr DUIGANWith hydro dam storage at pretty much record levels, why is it has it been necessary to run gas? ANSWER I am aware that the Tamar Valley Power Station has been running. I’m advised that it due to an […]

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QWN – Mountain Heights School – Teaching Positions

Legislative Council, Wednesday 12 August 2026 Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for EDUCATION, CHILDREN and YOUTH, Ms PALMER Thanks, Mr President. We’re aware of teacher shortages around the state. I’m seeking information about Mountain Heights School in Queenstown, where there’s a much bigger challenge in attracting staff generally to, but also having a ready supply […]

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Question on Notice – Future of Local Government Review

Legislative Council, Wednesday 12 August 2026 Ms FORREST question to the The Hon Kerry Vincent MLC, Minister for Local Government The Future of Local Government Review’s Final Report (October 2023) recommended the Government examine alternative revenue from major commercial operations (Recommendation 17) and undertake a Review of Rating (Recommendation 23), partly in response to council […]

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Question on Notice – King Island Racing

Legislative Council, Tuesday 11 August 2026 ASKED BY: The Hon. Bec Thomas MLC, Member for Elwick, on behalf of the Hon. Ruth Forrest MLC, Member for Murchison ANSWERED BY: Leader for the Government in the Legislative Council, the Honourable Tania Rattray MLC No. Tasracing has provided clarity to the King Island Racing Club (KIRC) in […]

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Question on Notice – Funding for Creative Industries

Legislative Council, Tuesday 11 August 2026 ASKED BY: The Hon. Bec Thomas MLC, Member for Elwick, on behalf of the Hon. Ruth Forrest MLC, Member for Murchison ANSWERED BY: Leader for the Government in the Legislative Council, the Honourable Tania Rattray MLC That the extra $10m for creative industries announced in the State Growth budget […]

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Question on Notice – Payment in Lieu of Rates (PiLoR) scheme

Legislative Council, Tuesday 11 August 2026 Ms FORREST question to the LEADER for the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Ms RATTRAY Answers: The current methodology is not a bespoke valuation of Hydro Tasmania’s assets each year. It is an indexed, formula-based approach, reflecting the average increase in relevant council rates revenue.The broader methodology was last […]

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We’ve built our identity as a powerhouse of renewable energy, but we can’t see the same resource twice

For a small state, Tasmania spends a remarkable amount of energy telling itself what it is about to become: a renewable energy superpower and battery of the nation, a premium food and wine destination, a booming visitor economy, and now, increasingly, a natural home for data centres and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Every one of these […]

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Interview – The Country Telegraph 

I recently had the opportunity to appear on The Country Telegraph, an Australian digital media and news platform dedicated to rural communities, agribusiness, and regional issues. I spoke about Marinus Link and data centres and their impacts on Tasmania. You can view my interview via the facebook link here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1035394352292303 […]

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