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 […]
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 […]
There’s a sliver of hope—just a glimmer—that when the dust settles on this election, the battered survivors might finally face up to the fiscal mess Tasmania is in. But it’s a long shot. Because right now, neither major party seems to grasp the depth of the hole we’re in, let alone how to climb out […]
Read More… from If you want to get to SurplusTown, would you start from here?
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Read More… from QWN – Mountain Heights School – Teaching Positions
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 […]
Read More… from Question on Notice – Future of Local Government Review
Legislative Council, Tuesday 11 August 2026 Today I spoke about the recent Burnie Musical Society’s production of The Wizard of Oz. […]
Read More… from Special Interest Matters – Burnie Musical Society
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 […]
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 […]
Read More… from Question on Notice – Funding for Creative Industries
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 […]
Read More… from Question on Notice – Payment in Lieu of Rates (PiLoR) scheme
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 […]
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 […]
Today marks an historic threshold in Tasmania’s energy story. From 1 July 2026, Basslink – for two decades an unregulated private interconnector – becomes a fully regulated transmission asset controlled by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). This is a significant changes and it changes everything about how electricity flows between Tasmania and Victoria. And […]
Read More… from 1 July 2026: Basslink Regulation Day – and What It Really Means
Tasmania’s hospital costs are rising faster than the nation’s and we need to know why. Every state budget forces us to confront familiar questions about our health system what it costs, whether we are putting in enough to meet demand, whether we can sustain the system we have, and whether it delivers the outcomes Tasmanians […]
