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 28 May 2026 Ms FORREST (Murchison) – Mr President, I rise again this evening on the matter of the leak to the media of a confidential committee email. Last night I spoke on adjournment and asked a simple question: who in this government shared a private internal communication with Pulse news. At the […]
Legislative Council, Wednesday 27 May 2026 Ms FORREST (Murchison) – Thanks, Mr President. So people don’t get too stressed, I’ve got to speak for a little bit, then adjourn the debate, as requested by the Leader. I know members have lots on as well. I rise to speak on some much‑needed reform to the Local Government Act […]
Read More… from LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT (TARGETED REFORM) BILL 2026
Legislative Council, Wednesday 27 May 2026 Ms FORREST (Murchison) – Mr. President, I rise on adjournment after having listened to the contribution of the member for Rumney which is quite disturbing and raises concerns about code of conduct matters. Sadly, mine goes to that point as well. I rise to ask a very simple question: […]
I have received the Government’s response to the petition seeking the extension of the 12-month limitation period for prosecution of coercive control related offences. You can read the response here: […]
You can listen to my latest interview with Davie Riley here: […]
Legislative Council, Wednesday 27 May 2026 Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for ENERGY and RENEWABLES, Mr DUIGAN ANSWER: The most appropriate source of advice on the detail of the National Electricity Rules (NER) is the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and in relation to the conduct of the settlement residue auctions, the Australian Energy Market Operator […]
Legislative Council, Tuesday 26 May 2026 Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE, Mr VINCENT I’m sure you’ve seen the ABC reporting on some concerns about the structural integrity of the foundations of the Bridgewater Bridge. Are you concerned about that, minister? If you’re not, how do we reassure Tasmanians, and me, that it’s still […]
Legislative Council, Tuesday 26 May 2026 Ms. FORREST (Murchison) – Mr President, I want to begin by congratulating the Treasurer on his budget speech, not for fiscal content, which I will come to shortly, but for its literary opening. The Treasurer told this parliament: ‘as the good book reminds us, this is there is a […]
Read More… from Noting – Budget Papers 2026-27 and Appropriation Bills
Hope is not a fiscal strategy for our States’ Long-term future Every budget tells two stories. There is the story the Treasurer reads aloud in Parliament – polished, confident, reassuring. And then there is the story buried in the budget papers – written in numbers, not adjectives. This year, those two stories could not be […]
You can listen to my interview with Ryk Goddard on Hobart Breakfast here: […]
Legislative Council, Tuesday Wednesday 20 May 2026 Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for ENERGY and RENEWABLES, Mr DUIGAN I have looked at the ReCFIT website. I can find no very up-to-date information at all in relation to the whole-of-government taskforce. If you can point me to it, I would be really appreciative of that. I […]
Legislative Council, Tuesday Wednesday 20 May 2026 Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for ENERGY and RENEWABLES, Mr DUIGAN With regard to Government’s Marinus Project Expert Advisory Panel, Finding 6 and recommendation of an immediate establishment of a senior whole-of-government taskforce reporting to the Premier, and the commissioning of a Cumulative Impact Assessment to understand how […]
Read More… from QWN – Marinus Project Expert Advisory Panel Finding 6
