Opinion

Ruth’s opinion pieces and editorials on political, economic, and social issues facing Tasmania.

Voodoo economics: The Government’s new approach to project appraisal
Voodoo economics: The Government’s new approach to project appraisal

This is a more detailed and expanded version of the opinion piece published on 17 October titled When Economic Spin Masquerades as Analysis. [...]Read More... from Voodoo economics: The Government’s…

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Opinion: When Economic Spin Masquerades as Analysis  
Opinion: When Economic Spin Masquerades as Analysis  

This opinion seeks to explain the issues associated with the recent opinion piece published in the Mercury Newspaper by the Tasmanian Co-ordinator General. I will post a more detailed explanation…

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MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 6 – Marinus and the History of Hydro in Tasmania
MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 6 – Marinus and the History of Hydro in Tasmania

This latest update provides detail on the history of Hydro electricity in Tasmania and what this history tells about the future with the inclusion of Marinus. [...]Read More... from MARINUS…

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MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 5
MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 5

This is my 5th comment on the Marinus Whole of State Business Case - Where to now? [...]Read More... from MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 5

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Hybrid Budget buys time but at what cost to a State struggling with its leadership
Hybrid Budget buys time but at what cost to a State struggling with its leadership

Tasmanian needs a real budget, not a stopgap, to guide our future. The test of leadership is not how long you can delay hard decisions, but whether you have the…

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MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 4
MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 4

This is my fourth post focu sing on the Marinus Whole of State Business Case. It is focused on risk, uncertainty, the need for subsidies and the impact on Tasmanians…

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MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC)- Number 3
MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC)- Number 3

This is the third post in a series of posts to break down some of the information publicly available in the heavily redacted Marinus Whole of State Business Case. This…

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MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 2
MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Number 2

Over coming days I will post a number of updates breaking down some of the information provided in the publicly released (and heavily redacted) Whole of State Business Case -…

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MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Update 1
MARINUS Stage 1 WHOLE-OF-STATE BUSINESS CASE (WoSBC) – Update 1

Over coming days I will post a number of updates breaking down some of the information provided in the publicly released (and heavily redacted) Whole of State Business Case -…

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

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Tassie’s polls a distraction to more pressing issue the huge bills we face on Marinus Link decision
Tassie’s polls a distraction to more pressing issue the huge bills we face on Marinus Link decision

A multibillion-dollar risk to a small state under financial strain has greater benefits for the mainland than Tasmania, writes Ruth Forrest As Tasmanians headed to the polls at the weekend,…

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If you want to get to SurplusTown, would you start from here?
If you want to get to SurplusTown, would you start from here?

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…

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