Legislation

Published: 15 October 2015

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I am not going to repeat what other people have said except to say that it is about time.  It has been a long time coming and for the life of me I cannot see why we as a collective, and policymakers, have been so afraid of industrial hemp and low-THC cannabis or industrial hemp plants. 

Published: 23 September 2015

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I support the legislation.  I have not heard anyone say that we do not need it.  It is important to be consistent around the country.  There is some suggestion people in Tasmania think, 'We are immune to this.'  I do not believe we do.  We know we are part of the big world.  The comment is unwarranted.

Published: 16 September 2015

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I support the legislation.  It is part of streamlining these processes as much as possible.  I appreciate the Q and A material that has been prepared.  A lot of work went into that, and it addresses a number of the areas about which I had questions.  I will raise some matters during the bill's Committee stage because it will be more appropriate to address individual parts of the legislation then.

 

Published: 16 September 2015

 Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, the issue of family violence is clearly at the forefront of public discourse in Australia at the moment.  That does not mean family violence has all of a sudden become pressing and out of control.  It does mean the public and its leaders alike are now saying enough is enough.  I am pleased to be able to say from the outset I wholeheartedly support the Hodgman Government's loud advocacy on this issue.

Published: 27 August 2015

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, this is an example of a bill we receive about once a year.  Tidying up a few matters and getting rid of some out-of-date terminology. There are questions I have for the Leader, which I post broadly.  We can either deal with them in her reply or in the specific areas throughout the bill.

Published: 27 August 2015

Ms  FORREST (Murchison ) - Mr President,  when I first read this bill, the second reading speech, and the letter from the acting secretary Mr Pervan regarding this bill, I was confused.  The offer was there for a briefing.  I thought, 'I am sure we are all having a briefing, so that is fine.'  I thank the officers for the briefing.

Published: 26 August 2015

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I support the principle of the bill.  I have similar questions to that of the member for Hobart.  Anything that gives ministerial power to enable rental or lease longer than the 12-month period, even if it is at a market rate, to someone from outside their portfolio area does warrant a good look to see how it could work in practice. 

Published: 26 August 2015

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I support the bill.  It is appropriate that such a change is made.  I have dealt with a couple of families in the north-west region where the mothers of young children were murdered by their partners on two different separate occasions.

Published: 25 August 2015

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Madam Acting President, I support this bill in principle.  Although it levels the playing field a bit, there are some areas that do need a bit more clarification from the honourable member for Western Tiers.

Published: 19 August 2015

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, even if I did propose an amendment, I think it would not be supported except perhaps by a couple of members.  I am concerned about the haste in which this bill has been presented to us.  I accept that the Leader indicated there were some bills coming, but not having access to the bill to scrutinise the details in the bill makes it very difficult.

Published: 19 August 2015

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I acknowledge the work done by the Kennerley Trust and the service it provides, but I am concerned we are proceeding with legislation that we only received on Friday last week - and this relates to the four bills it is proposed we deal with today. 

Published: 08 July 2015

 Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, it is important to speak to this bill.  It is substantial legislation.  It does not change many things.  It tidies up some things that needed to be for obvious reasons.  It is important to note that, as the Leader said, changes in improvements in managing public health continue at a fairly significant pace and that each day our knowledge, understanding, effective prevention and management of disease grows.

Published: 26 June 2015

 [3.15 p.m.]

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Madam Deputy President, I only intend to make a very short contribution to this bill because much has already been said and many issues have been raised by members much more experienced in local government than me, who has no experience in local government.

Published: 25 June 2015

 [5.54 p.m.]

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I feel like deja vu.  We debate this every year as well.  I am not going to go over all the points I have made in the past except to say my view has not changed.  This is an initiative that was originally brought in by the former government that was continued by this Government. 

Published: 25 June 2015

 [3.37 p.m.]

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, we have all said we should not be involved in setting our salaries or other allowances.  We have said it so many times I wonder why we are doing it again. 

Published: 04 June 2015

 [4.31 p.m.]

Ms  FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I have been listening to the debate with interest and coming from a farming background, I know the cold, harsh reality of some of the challenges farmers face:  having to make those difficult decisions about animals that are not well, whether you can nurse them back to health or whether they need to be put down.  It is not an easy thing.

 

Published: 28 May 2015

[3.57 p.m.]

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I only wish to comment on a small number of aspects of this bill, as this issue was debated at length in 2013 and very little, if anything, has actually changed.  The member for Elwick made it pretty clear that nothing really has changed in many ways. 

Published: 26 May 2015

 [3.35 p.m.]

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Madam Acting President, I do not have any issue with this amendment bill.  I remember debating these issues at length on a previous occasion but it still staggers me that we are actually here debating this.

Published: 23 April 2015

[7.36 p.m.]

Ms FORREST - Mr President, I will be brief for a couple of reasons.  One is the lateness of the hour and I know the Leader wants to proceed with this bill and I fully support her intention to do that.  It is up to us how long it takes.

Published: 21 April 2015

[12.49 p.m.]

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, it reminds me of a time when we were having a less exciting debate and I sent the Leader a picture of a meerkat doing an interpretive dance that might help in explaining some of the challenges.  I felt maybe that was an ideal opportunity to bring that out and consider it.

Published: 25 March 2015

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I do not have any particular issues with this because it is not earth‑shattering, by any stretch.  It may be for some, I guess, but it does not appear to be from here.  I have a few points I want to clarify with the Leader.  She may be able to address them in her response.

  1. Public Health Amendment (Tobacco-free Generation) Bill 2014
  2. Co-operatives National Law (Tasmania) Bill 2014
  3. Coroner's Amendment Bill 2014