Latest News from the Tasmanian Liberals

Leonie Hiscutt, Liberal Member for Montgomery

It is very rich for Bob Brown to be complaining about protesters and wanting action to be taken under anti-protest laws, given it is usually his activist mates protesting to disrupt legitimate businesses and workers from earning a living.

However, we welcome Dr Brown’s new-found support for our protection from protesters laws and look forward to him supporting their passage through the Parliament.

Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health

The latest health Dashboard shows demand on our health system is continuing to grow, but also that we are making important improvements in key areas.

Despite steady growth in Emergency Department presentations, there has been the highest number of Tasmanians leaving within four hours since 2017 which is good news. It is clear our additional funding, particularly the $5 million for RHH ED staff, is making a difference and helping to get more Tasmanians seen in a timely fashion.

Elise Archer, Minister for the Arts

A brand new animated children’s television series Dumbotz created by an award-winning Tasmanian company premieres on Saturday morning.

The Hodgman Liberal Government, through Screen Tasmania Product Investment program, has invested a total of $400,000 in the production, which is expected to inject $2.5 million into the local economy.

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries

More than 60 new Tasmanian jobs have been created by Elphinstone Group with the assistance of a $591,000 Advanced Manufacturing Fund grant from the Hodgman Liberal Government.

Now ready for export, the company’s new WR810 Underground Mining Support Vehicles, designed and manufactured locally, are a testament to the North West’s manufacturing industry and Elphinstone’s desire to grow and thrive on the global stage.

Michael Ferguson, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management

The Hodgman Liberal Government continues to deliver on its commitments with an additional 19 police officers graduating today.

In our first term we rebuilt Tasmanian Police numbers and today’s 19 new officers are part of our pledge to recruit a further 125 new front line officers over four years to make Tasmania a safer place in which to live.

The 10 men and 9 women will now take up their posts at stations in Hobart, Glenorchy, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie.

Guy Barnett, Minister for Primary Industries and Water

The Hodgman Liberal Government is tackling the long spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii), which attacks our east coast reefs and threatens the commercial, recreational and indigenous fisheries that depend on them.

We have established a $5.1 million, 5-year Abalone Industry Reinvestment Fund (AIRF) by diverting a portion of royalties to support industry-led projects to tackle the pest and increase abalone stock rates.

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Infrastructure

I am pleased to announce that Tim Gardner has been appointed as Chair of the Metro Tasmania Board.

Mr Gardner has been a director on the Board since December 2015 and has been Deputy Chair since December 2016.

He brings with him extensive experience in executive management and leadership roles including as Executive Chairman of Stornoway, as State President of the Australian Water Association, and Chair of the Engineers Australia (Tasmania) Workforce Development Advisory Group.