Who is making sure it all adds up? For decades, Tasmania’s government businesses were regarded as assets of the State. They provided essential services, funded their operations and returned dividends to help pay for health, education, public safety and other essential services. Increasingly, we must ask whether that model is being reversed. Instead of supporting […]
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 […]
Legislative Council, Wednesday 3 December 2025 The video recording of this speech can be viewed on the Parliamentary website at the link below (click on the Broadcast tab, and start at the 1:02 mark) If you are viewing this on a mobile device, you will need to click on the three dots on the right […]
Read More… from State Policies and Projects (Macquarie Point Precinct) Order 2025
Media Release – 4 November 2025 Member for Murchison, Hon Ruth Forrest MLC expressed her disappointment by rejection of accountability reforms despite widespread concern over State’s finances A Bill to establish enhanced parliamentary oversight of Tasmania’s deteriorating budget position has failed to secure support, despite members publicly expressing deep concern about the State’s unprecedented debt […]
Legislative Council, Thursday 29 October 2026 Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT, Mr VINCENT QUESTION: QUESTION: […]
Legislative Council, Tuesday 27 October 2026 Ms FORREST question to the LEADER of the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Ms RATTRAY With regard to the North West Regional Hospital and current redevelopment works: ANSWER: The redevelopment design was informed by extensive consultation and co-design with North West Regional Hospital frontline staff, hospital leadership, consumers and community representatives, including consideration […]
Read More… from Question without Notice – Parenting facilities at NWRH
Legislative Council, Tuesday 26 October 2026 Responses to questions taken on notice regarding the Human Resources Transformation Project were provided by the Premier and can be viewed below: Attachment: […]
Read More… from Question on Notice – Human Resources Transformation Project (HRTP)
Legislative Council, Tuesday 27 October 2026 Today in Special Interest Matters I spoke about the Mudlark Theatre Company’s production of Enough. You can view the speech here: […]
All Tasmanian politicians signed up to a civility pledge, now we must live it In recent weeks there have been renewed calls for civility in our Parliaments, in public debate and, perhaps most urgently, online. Some of those calls have come from my own colleagues in the Tasmanian Parliament, and I welcome them. But we […]
Read More… from We all signed up to civility. Now we must live it.
The Advocate Newspaper published a shorter version of this opinion piece today – which I am grateful for – this is a longer version on the same theme. Leadership is tested most when something goes wrong, not when things are going well. As an elected member, I receive concerns from constituents every week. Some are […]
You can listen to my interview where I discuss the proposed sale of land at Wilkinsons Point, on ABC Drive here: […]
You can listen to my latest interview with Leon Compton here: […]
The parable of the boy who cried wolf carries a lesson for Tasmania. Warnings raised too often lose their impact, especially when a state has unresolved challenges of its own. But the Productivity Commission’s interim report is not a false alarm; it is a clear, evidence-based signal that the GST system has drifted off course […]
You can listen to my interview with Leon Compton, where I talk about my position on the Short Stay Accommodation Levy, here: […]
You can listen to my latest interview on ABC Mornings here: […]
