INDEPENDENCE MATTERS Fiscal crisis demands collaboration, evidence-based solutions, and honest accounting

THERE comes a time when you have to decide: keep calling out failures from the sidelines, or step forward to help fix them. After two decades of parliamentary service, I have chosen the latter. If the Governor invites Dean Winter to form a minority Labor government, I have agreed to serve as Treasurer and will […]

Read More… from INDEPENDENCE MATTERS Fiscal crisis demands collaboration, evidence-based solutions, and honest accounting

We need a Treasurer willing to ask hard questions and to engage with all sides to find sustainable solutions

Challenging times call for honest leadership. That’s why I’m stepping up, writes Ruth Forrest There comes a time when you have to decide whether to stand on the sidelines pointing out the flaws in the system, or to step into the fray and try to fix them. For many years now, I have done my […]

Read More… from We need a Treasurer willing to ask hard questions and to engage with all sides to find sustainable solutions

Why I decided to accept the position of Treasurer if Tasmania has a Labor Minority government

There comes a time when life changing decisions need to be made. Do I continue as I have, drawing attention as best as I am able, to the shortcomings of government policies from both sides of the political fence, or do I, if the chance arose, accept a role where I may have greater input […]

Read More… from Why I decided to accept the position of Treasurer if Tasmania has a Labor Minority government

Why I decided to accept to position of Treasurer if Tasmania has a Labor Minority government

There comes a time when life changing decisions need to be made. Do I continue as I have, drawing attention as best as I am able, to the shortcomings of government policies from both sides of the political fence, or do I, if the chance arose, accept a role where I may have greater input […]

Read More… from Why I decided to accept to position of Treasurer if Tasmania has a Labor Minority government

Project Marinus is a political sleight of hand with no clear evidence it’s a “Great Deal” win for Tasmanians

The Link reshuffles risks and ownership designed to make it look palatable without addressing its flaws: Sometimes the worst deals come dressed in the language of triumph. This may well be the case with Tasmania’s much-heralded “great deal” with the Federal Government over Project Marinus — a so-called nation-building initiative that’s increasingly looking like a […]

Read More… from Project Marinus is a political sleight of hand with no clear evidence it’s a “Great Deal” win for Tasmanians

Post election update 3 – Marinus Whole of State Business Case – what have we learnt

If you’re fossicking through the Marinus Whole of State Business Case (WoSBC) to find a collective tick of approval for the project , don’t bother. It’s not there. Everywhere there are warning signs, interspersed with a few assertions of benefits most of which are hidden by the censor’s black marker pen. Yet the Premier, his […]

Read More… from Post election update 3 – Marinus Whole of State Business Case – what have we learnt

Post Election Update No.2 – Big challenges and big decisions need an honest and transparent approach

Why do the Liberals keep insisting Dean Winter concede the election. Is that so the government may free itself of any obligation to consult with or inform the other 60 per cent of Tasmanians who didn’t give their first preference vote to the Liberals, whilst it continues with day-to-day decision making in the back rooms […]

Read More… from Post Election Update No.2 – Big challenges and big decisions need an honest and transparent approach

Response to Article in Weekend Australian re Marinus

This article in The Weekend Australian is timely and also informative. Sadly during the recent election it seemed the major parties didn’t want to talk about this huge project, Marinus and the North West Transmission Development, and the risks it poses to Tasmanians. I have written a number of pieces during the election period on […]

Read More… from Response to Article in Weekend Australian re Marinus