Questions

Published: 10 November 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 9 November 2023

Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRIES and WATER, Ms PALMER

A follow-up question with regard to this matter: does the minister believe the iconic King Island cheese and dairy brand must remain owned by King Island and thus, Tasmania. If so, does she understand the status of this brand, who owns it now?

Published: 10 November 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 10 November 2023

Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRIES and WATER, Ms PALMER

With regard to the announcement by Canadian-owned company Saputo Dairy Australia regarding a so-called 'strategic review' of the King Island Dairy facility:

(1) Has the minister had any communication with Saputo regarding this review and the likely impact on dairy producers on King Island?

(2) Should Saputo decide to sell or close King Island Dairy operations, would the Government consider targeted support to assist impacted King Islanders, including those who run dairy herds?

Published: 09 November 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 9 November 2023

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

With regard to the staffing of Western District Tasmania Police stations by local government area:

1. What are the numbers of unfilled positions, by rank, in each of the following LGAs;
i) Burnie
ii) Waratah-Wynyard
iii) West Coast
iv) Circular Head
v) King Island

Published: 09 November 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 9 November 2023

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

Regarding ambulance services and paramedic staffing in Smithton, Circular Head, noting there has been a review of ambulance services demand across the State to determine the number of paramedics and nature of services in each town – that is volunteer only, single branch, double branch stations.

1. Has the review been completed:
a. If not, when is this expected;
b. If so, have any changes been recommended to North West and West Coast (including King Island) ambulance services regarding station size and number of paramedics;

Published: 09 November 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 9 November 2023

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

With regard to the works being undertaken at Somerset to replace the Cam River Bridge, noting the additional traffic congestion and long delays in accessing the bridge at peak times in the morning and afternoon getting across the bridge since the Murchison Highway was closed and school has returned:

Is there any requirement to provide traffic management services to assist traffic flows during peak periods;

Published: 01 November 2023

Legislative Council, 1 November 2023

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

With regard to the resourcing of SES regional units to ensure these units have appropriate and suitable equipment and vehicles;

(1) How is the replacement of redundant vehicles managed;

(2) What is the time frame and/or criteria for replacement of such vehicles; and

(3) What equipment/vehicle shortfalls exist in regional units in the North-West, by broken down by area:

Published: 01 November 2023

Legislative Council, 1 November 2023

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

With regard to the recent termination of the TasPorts Chief Operating Officer and the decision by TasPorts to undertake a review of governance and related matters:

1. What specific matter or matters triggered the decision to undertake a review/reviews;

2. Who is undertaking the review/reviews;

Published: 01 November 2023

Legislative Council, 1 November 2023

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

According to communication in September from TasPorts and employees and as reported in the Advocate Newspaper on 5th October 2023 related to a governance review. This include reference to the cancellation of credit cards and an alcohol related policy.

1. What controls were in place for the use of credit cards by employees;
2. How was employee expenditure monitored and audited;

Published: 01 November 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 31 October 2023

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

(1) With regard to worker related matters at TasPorts:

(a) Over the last six (6) years please provide numbers of staff resignation by employment level/title for each of the years including year to date;

(b) (i) Are exit interviews undertaken for every resignation; and
(ii) if not, why not; and
(iii) if exit interviews are undertaken, for those that were undertaken what feedback was provided as to reasons for the resignation?

Published: 31 October 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 31 October 2023

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

With regard to the ‘COVID buses’ that were utilised as part of the COVID-19 response as mobile vaccination and testing vehicles;

1. Are these vehicles still part of the Government fleet; and if so:
a. what are they currently being used for; and
b. if they are not currently being used, what are the plans, if any, for future utilisation?

2. If these buses have been disposed of, what process was used for their disposal?

Published: 18 October 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 18 October 2023

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

With regard to 4WD track access to and within the Arthur Pieman Conservation Areas (APCA)

(1) For all tracks closed since 2010:

(a) What year was each closed; and

(b) Please provide details (and where possible copies) of the notification provided to:
(i) The relevant representative body either the Tasmanian Recreational Vehicle Association (TRVA) and/or Four Wheel Drive Tasmania; and
(ii) The local newspaper advertisement.

Published: 28 September 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 28 September 2023

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

With regard to Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT):

1. What has the average (not exact) price received by Sustainable Timber Tasmania (per cubic metre or per tonne, whichever unit is more appropriate for the given category of timber) for each of the following categories of native timber as they appear in STT’s Annual Reports per year for the past 5 years:

a. High quality sawlog category;

Published: 28 September 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 28 September 2023

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

With regard to the Precinct Plan for Macquarie Point that will be provided to the Australian Government, reportedly in October 2023.

1. Will the Government make a copy of this Plan publicly available; and
a. If so, when will the Plan be made public.

Published: 28 September 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 28 September 2023

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

In a response to a question I asked related to the Cam River bridge on 14 September regarding assessments of the structural integrity of the current bridge and what, if any movement had occurred – the Leader replied:

The bridge supports have been monitored continuously since November 2022 using remote monitoring that provides an alert if the bridge moves beyond predetermined limits. The monitoring sensors have shown that the south side of the repaired pier has moved downwards by 9 millimetres and that the bridge joint will also have opened up in the colder months as the bridge beams contract.

Published: 14 September 2023

Legislative Council, Thursday 14 September 2023

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

With regard to the ongoing work to replace the current Cam River Bridge:

1. What is the current expected date for completion and opening of the new bridge;

2. Have any assessments of the structural integrity of the current bridge been undertaken in the last six months;

Published: 12 September 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 12 September 2023

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

With regard to the grants from the Australian Government for the 2023/24 year and the 2024/25 listed in the Budget Papers for 2023/24 Vol 1 on page 106 for Battery of the Nation (Tarraleah) and Project Marinus (grants for the two years totalling $42.2 million and $41.1 million respectively):

1. What is the total of grants received to date in the current year for each project?

Published: 07 September 2023

Legislative Council, Wednesday 6 September 2023

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

With regard to the publicly available Early Works proposal lodged by Marinus Link P/L with the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), and given the ultimate intention for Marinus Link P/L is to be established via the three key shareholders (Federal, Tasmanian and Victorian Governments) contributing 6.7% equity (20% total), can the Government confirm:

(1) How the early works costs will be shared between those shareholders?

Published: 05 September 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 5 September 2023

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

With regard to roadworks underway on the Bass Highway between Wynyard and Marrawah, specifically at the Tollymore Road junction and surrounding areas at Flowerdale, can you provide a progress update on the following;

1) Are there any reasons for the delays in the works beyond weather conditions and;

Published: 05 September 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 5 September 2023

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

With regard to disability access ramps for passengers on Gordon River cruise ships wishing to access Sarah Island and Heritage Landing, I am informed that Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) are getting new ramps built. These new ramps have been committed to many months ago.

1. When will the new ramps be installed?

Published: 05 September 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 5 September 2023

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

With regard to the review undertaken by the Tasmanian Office of the Economic Regulator (OTTER) into King Island freight costs and related matters, noting the Report has been received by the Government:

1. When will this Report be made public; and

Published: 05 September 2023

Legislative Council, Tuesday 5 September 2023

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

With regard to the total absence of any reference to both Marinus Link P/L and North West Transmission Development (NWTD) in the TasNetworks Australian Energy Regulator (AER) pricing submission 2024-29 including Contingent Projects, and given the recent submission to the AER by TasNetworks for the 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029 period, and the stated target date for commencement of Marinus Link Cable 1 being 1 January 2029, can the Government: