Tree of the Week

She is the Grand Matriarch.

Surrounded by her children & grandchildren too.

For her, today is another day in
500 odd yrs of nurturing.

But it’s #thicktrunktuesday
so it’s your day mum.

Go on, give her a big hug.#Tasmania pic.twitter.com/jGbCu2OSon

— Sean tooker (@Seantooker2) August 6, 2024

Cartoons of the Week

 

Cathy Wilcox

David Pope

 

Mercury, 30 June 2021

Tasmania goes to the polls today to elect a House of Assembly

 

A general election for the Parliament of Tasmania House of Assembly is being held today, Saturday 1 May 2021. 

Tasmania has five House of Assembly divisions: Bass, Braddon, Clark, Franklin and Lyons. Twenty-five members are to be elected - 5 for each division.

There are also elections in three divisions of the Legislative Council - Derwent, Mersey and Windermere - being held today.

Polling closes at 6pm and ballot counting will commence shortly there after.

For count results go to https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/index.html after 6pm and follow the prompts.

ABC News will be covering the election on the night and the ABC also has a dedicated webpage at:

 https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/tas-election-2021/.

Senior Liberal adviser trolled during Tasmanian election campaign and then went that step too far

This was senior advisor to Tasmania’s Liberal Premier Will Hodgman hiding behind a fake Facebook account during the recent Tasmanian state election campaign.

Images sourced from Google Images

And this is her now.

The Examiner, 6 March 2018:

A senior Liberal adviser who used a fake online account to email a woman’s employer after she spoke out about the lack of abortion services in Tasmania has been forced to resign.

Martine Haley used the alias Alice Wood-Jones to email the woman’s employer to have her reprimanded for her comments about abortion services in Tasmania.

In a statement late on Tuesday, Mr Hodgman said he had accepted Ms Haley’s resignation.

“I understand Martine deeply regrets her actions and has personally apologised to the person responsible.”

The woman, who spoke anonymously, said she was upset about the email to her boss.

“I'm still concerned about what might happen in retribution,” she said.

“It was a personal view and not linked with my role.

“I just wanted to challenge the claims that abortion is accessible and affordable in Tasmania.

“I don't believe I was the only one targeted and that others may be too afraid to speak up for fear of repercussions and even losing their jobs.”

Tasmanian Liberal Premier Will Hodgman must now demonstrate maturity - Don't treat takayna / Tarkine as political football

            

                 

MEDIA RELEASE 17.10.17

HODGMAN MUST NOW DEMONSTRATE MATURITY – Don’t treat takayna / Tarkine as political football

“Aboriginal heritage in takayna is one step closer to permanent protection, with federal agreement that the Hodgman government cannot continue its destruction there without assessment and federal approval. This is what Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has been seeking in court hearings since 2014. A major achievement for us on our way to Aboriginal control and protection of our own heritage,” Sharnie Read, spokesperson for Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre said.

“This decision is a strong message to the Hodgman Government that their stance regarding 4WD access to the Western Tasmanian Aboriginal Cultural Landscape (WTACL) is clearly wrong. They have not been capable of showing a way forward that will not impact and cause irreparable damage to the ancient Aboriginal heritage, cultural and natural values,” Sharnie Read said.

“The Hodgman government cannot be trusted to protect, manage or value this significant landscape and should return the area to the rightful owners, the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. This is the only way we can be assured the area is afforded the protected and conservation it deserves,” Sharnie Read said.

“Now the Federal Government have recognised their role, they must also accept responsibility and stand up to our intransigent state government and do what needs to be done to protect this national heritage listed landscape. It is a national shame to have vehicles smashing through one of Australia’s most significant and richest Aboriginal heritage landscapes, where critically endangered and other threatened species rely on an intact wild coastline for survival. These tracks need to stay closed,” said Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber.

"Actions speak louder than words. The Tasmanian government tried to ride roughshod over due process for political advantage with a constituency who have been riding roughshod over priceless Aboriginal heritage of the ages. It's time to show respect, back off, and elevate protection of this special indigenous heritage above base politics." Peg Putt, Markets for Change said.

"This is a welcome decision that gives yet another opportunity to Premier and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Will Hodgman to prioritise leadership, good faith and what is right, over cheap, local politics and drop his plan to expand destructive 4WD tracks across an irreplaceable Aboriginal cultural landscape," said Vica Bayley, Campaign Manager, The Wilderness Society Tasmania.

“Protecting the natural shorebird values protects the cultural values present on these remote beaches – both of these have been present for thousands of generations, and deserve better than the Tasmanian Government’s callous disregard for them in preference to destructive 4WDs,” said Dr Eric Woehler, Birdlife Tasmania.

"Premier Hodgman has an opportunity to abandon this destructive policy. Or he can push ahead with three and a half years of community conflict and disrespect of this outstanding Aboriginal heritage", said Save the Tarkine Campaign Coordinator, Scott Jordan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Email the Prime Minister & Tasmanian Premier at http://www.takayna.org/

Send a submission to Federal Environment Minister at http://www.bobbrown.org.au/tarkine_news

Get bumper sticker at http://www.bobbrown.org.au/the_tarkine

TURNBULL MUST PROTECT TARKINE HERITAGE

“The Australian Heritage Council found the Tarkine in north-west Tasmania of outstanding national heritage significance.”

[Australian Government, Dept. of Environment and Energy, Australian Heritage Council, National Heritage Assessment, The Tarkine]

www.tarkine.org

Bob Brown Foundation, Media Release, 8 September 2017:

TURNBULL MUST PROTECT TARKINE HERITAGE - BROWN

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull must reject the Hodgman government's request to open off-road vehicle (ORV) access to the Tarkine's heritage-rich west coast, Bob Brown said tonight. The Hodgman request to Turnbull comes after the Federal Court ruled the state must get federal permission to open tracks in the area.

"Premier Hodgman's Braddon spokesperson on the Tarkine, Joan Rylah, says it all when she told the media today that state government intentions would "reduce vandalism" in the sensitive area. "Ms Rylah is effectively agreeing that re-opening the Sandy Cape to Pieman Heads coast to ORVs will not stop vandalism and she is right," Brown said.

"Recent opinion polling shows that most Tasmanians think the Tarkine's fragile coastal environment and extraordinary Aboriginal heritage sites should be off-limits to the small fraction of ORV owners who want to invade the area. We will release that polling tomorrow."

"It is now up to the Turnbull government to protect this National Heritage Area from destruction," Brown said.

Filing this under 'Can't Believe It's A Label'

Only in Tasmania, Australia, The World……

Tasmanian Heartwood Malt Whisky Pty Ltd currently has 7,000+ litres of whisky stored in 200 litre and 300 litre barrels. Some of these whiskies are the oldest single malt whiskies produced in Australia.