Legislative Council Wednesday 3 June, 2020

Mrs HISCUTT - Mr President, the member for Murchison asked five questions about the reopening of the North West Regional Hospital and the North West Private Hospital in Burnie. The questions were about protocols regarding movement of inpatients between the two hospitals, staffing levels at the North West Regional Hospital, personal protective equipment - PPE - training, and infection control measures.

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Legislative Council Wednesday 3 June, 2020

Mrs HISCUTT (Montgomery - Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council) - Mr President, during the last sitting, the member for Murchison asked four questions and I would like to take this opportunity to read the answers to those questions into Hansard.

The answer to this question by the member for Murchison is as follows -

(1) to (3)

I am advised that remedial deep tissue massage is not restricted as a service and can be provided under the Gatherings - No. 9 direction. What is restricted are the premises from which therapists can provide them.

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Legislative Council Thursday 7 May, 2020

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

Question 1 - COVID-19 - Regulations - Appropriate Work Practices
I assume we will be able to extend question time again today if we need to. I do not know how many questions there are. We will see how we go.
(1) With regard to the regulations being drafted to prescribe the appropriate work practices to remote social distancing and prevent risk of spread of COVID-19, which workplaces will these regulations apply to?
(2) Will the regulations apply to all retailers. If not, why not?
(3) Who is being consulted in the drafting of these regulations and will the regulations be in place before any further restrictions are lifted?

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Legislative Council Thursday 30 April, 2020

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

Regarding the North West COVID-19 outbreak:
1 For those in mandated quarantine either as COVID-19 positive individuals and/or as a NWRH NWPH related worker;
a) How was/is the mental health and welfare of these people assessed and supported; and
b) How is their personal safety assessed and supported?  

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Legislative Council Thursday 30 April, 2020

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

QUESTION 1 - COVID19 cases in Tasmania

1. Where in Tasmania was the first identified case of COVID-19?
2. What was the source of COVID-19 transmission that led to the virus arriving in NW Tasmania?
3. Were there any known or reported breaches of our border quarantine processes; and
a. If so, what ports of entry to the State

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Legislative Council Wednesday 25 March, 2020

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

My question follows-up on questions asked related to the practice/process around settlements reached, generally following a process of mediation leading up to the decision to offer, and accept, a settlement between an aggrieved party, whether a member of the public or public servant and a government department.

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Legislative Council Wednesday 25 March, 2020

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

(1) On page 46 of Sustainable Timber Tasmania's annual report, and also commented on by the Auditor-General on page 78, the 're-establishment provision' relates to the expected costs of forest re-establishment under provisions of the Forest Practices Act 1985 and the Forest Practices Code, a figure of $8.3 million is noted as the re-establishment provision as at 30 June 2019, an increase of $2.1 million over 12 months -

(a) How much was added to the provision in 2018-19?

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Legislative Council Wednesday 25 March, 2020

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

I refer to the 2019 Annual Report for Hydro Tasmania;
1. When generation assets are valued, electricity prices used are either market prices (if available) or prices as forecast by an internal model.
a. How does Hydro Tasmania account for the long term contracts with major industrials which include discounted prices; and
b. Do they affect the value of generation assets or are they recorded elsewhere as a liability?

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Legislative Council Wednesday 25 March, 2020

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

1. With regard to TasNetwork’s 2018-19 Annual Report;
a. Page 70 shows a fall in revenue due to the fall in the provision of regulated services, predominantly transmission:
i. was this a result of falls in price falls or volume falls;
ii. were there any significant volume movements related to the major customers;

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Legislative Council Wednesday 25 March, 2020

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

I refer to the 2019 Annual Report for Hydro Tasmania;
Note 16 on page 51 includes an amount of $195.83 million was recognised as an additional provision for onerous contracts.
1. What does this relate to?

ANSWER:
1. Hydro Tasmania follows accounting standards on how to recognise onerous contracts relating to the sale and purchase of certain products on its balance sheet, the contracts themselves are commercial in confidence.

Legislative Council Wednesday 25 March, 2020

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

As the contract between Hydro Tasmania of Bass Link is over half way through the 25 year term;
1. Has Hydro Tasmania assessed the financial and other costs and benefits to Hydro Tasmania of Bass Link since the commencement of Bass Link’s operation;

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Legislative Council Wednesday 25 March, 2020

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

I ask the Honourable Leader;
With regard to the Government’s commitment to introduce legislation to amend the Electoral Act in the area of political donations;

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Legislative Council Thursday 19 March, 2020

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

I hope we get some information on the financial performance because we did not get that with TT-Line; it was all about the other risks.

With regard to the potential impact of COVID-19 on the operations and financial performance of TasPorts -

(1) What specific risks, including financial and operational, have been identified by TasPorts relating to COVID-19?

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Legislative Council Thursday 19 March, 2020

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

I refer to the 2019 annual report for Hydro Tasmania. Note 16 on page 51 of that report includes an amount of $195.83 million recognised as an additional provision for onerous contracts. What does this relate to?

ANSWER

I thank the member for Murchison for her question.

Hydro Tasmania follows accounting standards on how to recognise onerous contracts relating to the sale and purchase of certain products on its balance sheet. The contract themselves are commercial-in-confidence.

Legislative Council Thursday 19 March, 2020

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

(1) With regard to the potential impact of COVID-19 on TT-Line, what specific risks, including financial and operational, have been identified by TT-Line?

(2) What risk management controls are in place to address and or mitigate each of these risks?

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Legislative Council Thursday 19 March, 2020

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

I refer to the Revised Estimates Report 2019-20 -

(1) How much of the grants of $3923.3 million - the revised estimate for 2019-20 as per the income statement on page 18 of the report - have already been included in the income statement in prior years?

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Legislative Council Wednesday 18 March, 2020

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT, Mrs HISCUTT

(1) With regard to financial losses sustained by TasPorts' subsidiary, Bass Island Line, and the 2019 incident of fraud, did TasPorts have a risk register prior to this event? If yes, when was TasPorts' first fraud risk register implemented?

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Legislative Council Wednesday 18 March, 2020

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

The 2019-20 Budget included a special dividend payment by the Motor Accidents Insurance Board - MAIB -

Has the dividend been paid and, if so, when? If not, will MAIB pay the amount prior to 30 June 2020?

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Legislative Council Wednesday 18 March, 2020

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

My questions relate to the practice or process around settlements reached generally following a process of mediation leading to a decision to offer and accept a settlement between an aggrieved party, whether a member of the public or public servant and a government department.

(1) After settlement has been agreed between parties and prior to the agreement being signed by the solicitor-general or his office and the aggrieved party, what standard conditions, if any, are included?

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 Legislative Council Wednesday 18 March, 2020

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

This is a question I had on the Notice Paper with the Government last year. It did not get a response last year and I sent it with a week or more's notice. With regard to the roles and responsibility of Tasmanian home education registration under the new education legislation -

(1) How many children are registered under this scheme?

(2) How is the scheme monitored, and by whom?

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