Latest News from the Tasmanian Liberals

Sarah Courtney, Minister for Building and Construction

At today’s meeting in Hobart, I was pleased to secure support from other jurisdictions that energy efficiency changes to the national building code should be accompanied by genuine consultation with industry as well as regulatory impact assessment that considers regional areas, not just the big cities.

Will Hodgman, Premier

As fire conditions ease, Tasmanians who have been displaced are beginning to return to their homes and bushfire efforts are shifting to the recovery phase.

Our firefighters are still responding to bushfires burning across the State, however, all ‘Emergency Warning’ and ‘Watch and Act’ alerts have now been downgraded to ‘Advice’.

Importantly, if the bushfire threat escalates, the Government and our emergency services remain prepared and ready to protect Tasmanians and their property.

Will Hodgman, Premier and Minister for Parks

Tasmania’s unrivalled natural environment is a major drawcard for visitors from around Australian and the world.

Our tourism industry is one of our State’s great success stories and the Tasmanian Government welcomes the news that an exciting new accommodation option has been approved to proceed to lease and licence negotiations.

Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health

Contrary to union boss promises, yesterday’s ANMF industrial action has resulted in 6 planned, funded surgeries and procedures being cancelled, including at least one urgent case and two semi-urgent cases. These people were determined by surgeons to clinically require surgery but have been prevented.

This is totally unacceptable and Tasmanians will rightly be asking why the union bosses are trying to find ways to hurt patients as a tactic for wage outcomes.

Peter Gutwein, Treasurer

Rebecca White’s humiliating backflip on gaming machines today is a clear admission that she was wrong, that her policy would have destroyed jobs, and that the Liberal Government’s policy is the right one.

Up until today, Ms White had insisted that the pokies policy would remain. In one sudden embarrassing back down, the policy is gone, the website is gone*, and Ms White’s credibility is gone with it.

Will Hodgman, Premier

A 100 year old Huon Pine dinghy restored by inmates of Risdon prison, in partnership with the Howrah Rotary Club, in honour of former Attorney General Vanessa Goodwin has been unveiled at the National Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart today.

The beautiful ‘Vanessa G’ has been carefully restored over 6 months by inmates and Rotarians, working together as part a Prison Reintegration program.

Vanessa was very passionate about prisoner rehabilitation, and this is a poignant tribute to her work in this area.

Minister for Education and Training

The Hodgman Liberal Government continues to maintain a strong focus on improving Year 11 and 12 retention and our Extension School program is successfully supporting this goal with record numbers of Tasmanian students completing their TCE.

One of the great success stories in Tasmanian education has been the extension of dozens of high schools around the state to years 11 and 12. Already 43 schools have been extended, including Bayview Secondary College, part of our central plan to extend all high schools in Tasmania by 2022.