If you own publicly listed shares, you will know in the next week or two how your company performed for the year ended June 30, 2018. Most financial statements are released in August.

Why can’t government businesses release their financial statements in August? At present we don’t get to see annual reports of government businesses until the end of October.

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Ruth Forrest says long-awaited new rules for the carve-up of tax revenue will fail

THE possible benefits that may flow to Tasmania from the new rules for dividing GST revenue between states suggested, at first glance, a win for the state and a win for a rules-based system that, if nothing else, gives future certainty.

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Housing Tasmania is forced to pay off millions to Federal Government, writes Ruth Forrest

ONE of the essentials of life is shelter. If a person or a family does not have safe, secure and suitable shelter their chances of good health and of gaining an educational outcome that will assist them into employment and reduce reliance on social support is extremely high.

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WOMEN on low incomes and in regional Tasmania are being disadvantaged because of a lack of abortion services in public hospitals, says Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest.

She will move a motion in the Legislative Council calling on Health MinisterMichael Ferguson to ensure all Tasmanian women have equitable access to termination of pregnancy services in the public hospital system.

Ms Forrest said her motion was not about whether terminations should be available because that had already been decided by parliament in 2013.

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THIS year’s Federal budget and the Opposition response suggest there is $300 billion worth of revenue over the next 10 years that the Government is willing to hand back to taxpayers.

What may appear to cynics as a vote-buying exercise has been pitched as tax reform. We are part of a federal system. When it comes to tax reform, are tax cuts to individuals and companies at the Federal level the most urgent? 

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What is the role of the Tasmanian Legislative Council? 

It is timely to consider this important question in light of recent public comment suggesting the Legislative Council lacks relevance and is obstructionist.

The role, as noted in its 2016-17 Annual Report, is threefold: 

“(i) to authorise the raising of revenue and the expenditure of state moneys; 

(ii) to examine the merits of legislation; 

and (iii) to provide a parliamentary check on the government of the day.

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The only promise missing from this election campaign is the one we most desperately need. A State Optometrist. Someone to check the vision of those responsible for the daily deluge of pledges from all parties with little connection to any clearly articulated vision or long term plan.   

The majority Government of the last four years has wasted its grand opportunity to lay down a long term plan and is still relying on a hotchpotch of promises to shore up votes. 

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Government hasn’t stuck to its agenda for major projects, says Ruth Forrest

THE TasWater takeover Bill which will soon be discussed in the Legislative Council contains provisions requiring the new corporation to formulate a 10-year infrastructure plan to be agreed with the Government, which must be reflected in the corporate plan and budgets.

If only the Government would run its own affairs like this. When it comes to sticking to infrastructure plans this Government has been woeful.

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Ruth Forrest says judges and courts must have power to balance crime with punishment

TOUGH on crime or a political stunt to win votes?

With barely three months having passed since the Legislative Council rejected the Government’s bill to introduce mandatory sentences for serious sexual offences against children, the Government has given notice it wants MLCs to reconsider.

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The state needs to devise a better plan for infrastructure spending, says Ruth Forrest

THE annual Budget circus is about to get under way. Will it be the same old vaudeville that we’ll be glad to see the back of after a few frantic weeks, or will we see some fresh performances and displays of leadership? Is it too much to hope for a spirit of greater co-operation to move this state forward a notch or two?

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Ruth Forrest has a simpler, more collegial solution to state’s water, sewerage problems IT is a sure sign we are heading down the wrong track when disputing parties summon lawyers.

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The Examiner, June 3, 2017 - By Hayden Johnson

A Legislative Council inquiry has been established to canvass options and analyse King Island’s ongoing shipping issues and freight costs.

Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest will chair the inquiry and call for submissions from the community in an effort to understand and look and options to fix the island’s transport problems.

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Circular Head  CHRONICLE 4 May 2017

By Ashleigh Force 

Vying for the seat of Murchison in the Legislative Council Elections, candidates Ruth Forrest and Daryl Quilliam met to discuss their priorities at a forum last week.

Held at the Circular Head Community and Recreation Centre last Wednesday (April 26), the candidates forum provided an opportunity for locals to make their voices heard.

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By SEAN FORD   The Advocate   4 May 2017

A Christian group is urging its members to pray Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest will lose Saturday’s election.

Australian Christian Lobby Tasmanian director Mark Brown has emailed the group’s supporters  asking them to “join me in praying for one particular electorate”.

He did not name the two independent Murchison candidates, but made clear he was targeting Ms Forrest.

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By  ELI PERRY  - Circular Head CHRONICLE 

27 April 2017

Politics. Next week’s Legislative Council Election will determine if the previously safe seat of Murchison will go to Independent MLC Ruth Forrest or new contender, Daryl Quilliam. The Chronicle asks the candidates about the issues that matter to them.

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Media Release:  28 April 2017

Murchison Legislative Councilor Ruth Forrest says the Government needs to act to fix laws so that foster parents don’t miss out on compensation if they are injured whilst undertaking their role.

Workers compensation law already provides cover for volunteers who are helping the government deliver services. But foster parent volunteers are not on the list yet.

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Carers at the Wynyard Care Centre went on strike for 30 minutes on Friday in industrial action against what the union called a ‘disrespectful’ employer.

About 45 workers and supporters gathered on the corner of Quiggin and Moore Streets at 2.30pm to listen to speeches and vote on further action.

The carers have been trying to negotiate a new agreement with Sydney-based Synovum Care Group since their last one expired in 2013. They overwhelmingly rejected the company’s January proposal, which the Health and Community Services Union said stripped away significant rights and limited pay rises to 1.5 per cent a year.

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The message to me has been clear and unequivocal. 

Major employers in the sawmilling industry in my electorate of Murchison fear job losses if the Government’s plan to unlock currently protected forest proceeds.

Major employers, Ta Ann and Britton Brothers, have indicated their opposition to this move by the Government. Genuine concern has been expressed that jobs are likely be put at risk.

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 The Advocate - 11 Apr 2017

The rise of the robots will bring many opportunities for the North-West, Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest believes.

Improvements in technology can benefit traditional North-West industries and the region has potential to be a leader in robotics, Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest says.

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Failings in our health service delivery have again been highlighted in mainstream and social media. Communities rightly feel let down by State and Federal levels of Government when timely access to care is not available. We are repeatedly informed that the cost of health rises above the rate of inflation and if unchecked could consume the entire State budget in 20 or 30 years’ time. This may be the reality and should not be the end of the discussion.

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