Questions

Published: 05 May 2023

Response to Question Without Notice, provided 28 April, 2023 and to be read into Hansard when sitting resumes.

With regard to the heightened risk of bush fires, particularly on the West Coast where conditions are very dry:

1. Why have no ‘fire breaks’ been put in place around West Coast towns;

2. When will the creation of firebreaks around major townships/settlement areas on the West Coast;

Published: 30 March 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 30 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Ms PALMER

With regard to the Future of Local Government Review that is being undertaken by the Local Government Board and commenced in January 2022, I note concerns have been raised with me that, although the review has been under way for more than one year and there has been a number of opportunities for input by councils, community and others, that the actual response to the review has been quite limited.

Published: 30 March 2023

Legilsative Council, Thursday 30 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Ms PALMER

With regard to the welcome announcement of expansion of PTAS assistance for residents on the Bass Strait Islands:

1 For Island residents who need to stay “off island” for an extended period who will also be eligible to receive a subsidised trip home after four weeks of continuous treatment;

Published: 30 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 29 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Ms PALMER

With regard to the North West Transmission Line (NWT), Marinus Link (ML) and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) decision on related recoverable costs and as noted during Government Business Scrutiny in 2022 and stated by the Minister Mr Barnett : “Tasmanian customers pay no more than 15% of the estimated total project costs across Marinus Link (ML) and the North West Transmission (NWT) Developments”:

Published: 30 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 29 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Ms PALMER

With regard to the plan to build a new North West Support School to meet demand and improve facilities:

1. Is the decision to build a new NW Support School at Penguin to meet the needs of students for the North West Coast who require this specific education, a final decision; and

Published: 28 March 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 28 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Ms PALMER

With regard to the new gaming machine licencing arrangements to take effect in hotels and clubs from 1st July 2023, specifically the proposed mandatory pre commitment card:

1. Has design of these cards been finalised;
a. If not when will this occur?

Published: 28 March 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 28 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Ms PALMER

With regard to the new gaming machine licencing arrangements to take effect in hotels and clubs from 1st July 2023, particularly the effects of the mandatory pre commitment card on government revenue:

1) When will figures be available showing the impact of this policy introduction over the forward estimates?

Published: 28 March 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 28 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Ms PALMER

With regard to the new gaming machine licencing arrangements to take effect in hotels and clubs from 1st July 2023:

1. How many applications have been received from venues for licenses to operate EGMs?

2. How many licenses have been approved?

Published: 28 March 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 28 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Ms PALMER

With regard to the new gaming machine licencing arrangements to take effect in hotels and clubs from 1st July 2023, specifically the proposed mandatory pre commitment card:

1. What is the proposed date for the commencement of the card system;

Published: 24 March 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 23 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Mrs Hiscutt

With regard to Hydro Tasmania’s three Basslink contracts, the Basslink Services Agreement (BSA), the Floating Facility Fee Instrument (FFFI) and the Basslink Facility Fee Swap (BFFS):

Note 21 on page 68 of Hydro Tasmania’s 2022 Financial Statements states the BSA was terminated but neither the BFFS or FFFI were impacted.

Published: 24 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 22 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Mrs Hiscutt

With regard to the 29 hydro power stations currently operated by Hydro Tasmania:

Question (1):
What is the remaining useful life of each power station;

Answer:
Hydro Tasmania operates its hydro power stations and dams on a going-concern basis; i.e., they are assumed to be operating indefinitely into the future.

Published: 24 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 22 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Mrs Hiscutt

With regard to proposed reform in the energy sector and Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation (BotN) in an answer to a Question on Notice from Minister Barnett on 10 November 2022, stated:
“The increased commercial opportunities from BotN will assist the business in maintaining the Capital Expenditure Program for existing and ageing assets and provide a stable, commercially viable future for the business.”

Published: 24 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 22 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Mrs Hiscutt

With regard to proposed reform in the energy sector and Marinus Link Minister Barnett on 10 November 2022 in answer to a Question stated:
“Project Marinus is expected to attract significant new generation in Tasmania which will provide greater competition and contractual opportunities for existing and new entrant major industrials.”

Question (1):
What does greater competition and contractual opportunities for existing and new entrant major industrials imply;

Published: 24 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 22 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Mrs Hiscutt

With regard to proposed reform in the energy sector and matters related to TasNetworks, in an answer to a Question on Notice from Minister Barnett on 10 November 2022, the Minister stated that…“without Marinus the business will have lower growth in regulated and unregulated developments.” I note unregulated connections by new generators to the grid are stated to be the key drivers for future growth.

Question (a):
With regard to the three existing wind farms, who owns the grid connections?

Published: 24 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 22 March 2023

Ms FORREST asked the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Mrs Hiscutt

With regard to the new network service agreement between Hydro Tasmania and Basslink and noting the specific details of the agreement are not being sought in these questions:

Question 1:

How does the new network service agreement between Basslink and Hydro Tasmania differ from the abandoned agreement?

Answer:

The Network Services Agreement (NSA) is a commercial contract and its detailed terms are confidential.

Published: 24 March 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 23 March 2023

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to the management of fish farms in Macquarie Harbour:

(1) Is in-water net cleaning continuing to be used in these farms in Macquarie Harbour;

(2) how is the waste including fish faeces and other matter prevented from entering the marine environment beyond the pen and lease;

Published: 23 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 22 March, 2023

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to the rental policies for tenants of public/social housing managed by Housing Choices, does the Government require Housing Choices to charge a tenant no more than 25 per cent of their basic income or pension and, if so, how is this monitored?

Published: 23 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 22 March, 2023

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to the Container Refund Scheme to be commenced this year in Tasmania:

(1) what date is the commencement now expected;

(2) will all areas/municipalities in the state commence on the same date and if not, please outline all relevant commencement dates and provide an explanation of why some areas/municipalities will be delayed; and

(3) how many exemptions have been granted from participation in the scheme?

Published: 23 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 22 March, 2023

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

(1) Will the Government consider other accommodation options, particularly for Ambulance Tasmania volunteers on King Island who currently do not have a suitable area due to the lack of space and privacy matters related to their current co-location and are required to use a portaloo at their base;

Published: 23 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 22 March, 2023

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

(1) Is the Government planning to employ a paramedic for King Island? If not, why not, given the growth and activity on King Island and an active mine commencing operations;

(2) (a) if a paramedic is to be appointed to King Island, when will this position be recruited for;

Published: 23 March 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 22 March, 2023

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to the very welcome - and now completed - redevelopment of King Island Hospital, I am informed the redevelopment included funding committed to the construction of three new housing properties to support the attraction and retention of health care workers.

The new buildings were not built. Instead, the department purchased properties at 100 Main Street, Curry, to repurpose six holiday cabins, which are not particularly suitable for family accommodation, and a large, older house on the same title. My questions are: