Legislative Council, Wednesday 31 May 2023

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

With regard to the Agreement between the AFL and Tasmanian Government regarding a Tasmanian AFL team and stadium and Macquarie Point:

1. Who was the chief negotiator for the Tasmanian Government with regard to this contract; and

2. If more than one person was considered the lead negotiator, please list all those who participated in the negotiations.

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Legislative Council, Tuesday 30 May 2023

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

With regard to police monitoring of speed and traffic light compliance in and around the extensive road works across the State:

Question 1 - For 2021-22 FY and 2022-23 FY to date, how many traffic infringements notices have police issued across road works sites on the Bass Highway between Flowerdale, Sisters Creek, Sassafras, Elizabeth Town, Paramatta Creek and Deloraine; particularly

a) For speeding;
b) For failing to comply with electronic traffic signals; and
c) any other traffic related offence?

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Legislative Council, Wednesday 24 May 2023

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

With regard to the Tasmanian Health Service (THS) provided physiotherapy services to King Island, I am informed - and it is some time ago when I first put this question - there is a wait list of 45 people - probably more now - including some requiring critical post-operative physiotherapy, and there are also long wait times. I also understand there is a fly-in service for one day per fortnight whereby the physiotherapist flies in and out the same day and thus only has part of the day available for appointments.

(1) Will the minister consider a two-consecutive-day service to enable full utilisation of available time for appointments; and

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The response to a Question Without Notice, provided 5 May, 2023 and to be read into Hansard when sitting resumes, can be viewed here:    

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;

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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.

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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;

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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”:

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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

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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;

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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;

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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?

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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.

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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;

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