"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. No price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself." - Friedrich Nietzsche
High Court rejects ACT same-sex marriage laws
ABC
12.12.13 11:42 am
The High Court in Canberra has thrown out the ACT’s controversial same-sex marriage laws.
• Rodney Croome: Marriage Equality advocates are devastated
• Guy Barnett: High Court decision welcome -now focus on the economy
The last time the word Fascist was used ...
Cameron Hindrum, Citizen. First published December 10
12.12.13 4:45 am
The last time the word ‘Fascist’ was used in relation to Tasmanian politics, it came out of the mouth of then-Premier Jim Bacon, when he decried The Island’s artists for daring to question Forestry Tasmania’s sponsorship of Ten Days on the Island; he used the term ‘cultural Fascists’ and I believe the epithet was traced back to Nazi Germany.
• Jenny Weber: Tasmanian Liberals plan to demolish democratic freedoms of all citizens
• Hodgman on slippery-slope with protest ban: Environment Tasmania
• Mansell accuses Liberals of denying free speech
• New Protest group: Grandparents Against the Pulp Mill
• Nick McKim: Abetz law proposal designed to reopen forest conflict
• Examiner: Lara keeping faith in pulp mill project
• Guy Barnett: Greens’ “Fearless Summer” forest protest campaign another reason to support Libs
• Willy ... and the Pulp Factory
• Christine Milne: Senate rejects Abbott’s World Heritage wrecking ball
• John Day, in Comments: I agree with all of the comments to date particularly #7. All of the politicians that speak regularly in the media – without thinking, cause more division in the community and cause even more people to disregard politics and democracy. The more these pollies talk the more the people turn off, especially the younger people.
• Conservationists halt logging in threatened species habitat
Professor Mark Taylor responds to Mercury on Rosebery
Professor Mark P Taylor, Environmental Science, Macquarie University
12.12.13 4:40 am
Professor Mark P Taylor, Environmental Science, Department of Environment and Geography, Faculty of Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109. Response to comments on Bruce Mounster’s article 9th Dec 2013 “” Available at: http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/push-to-cut-rosebery-mines-metal-dust-emission-levels/story-fnj4f7k1-1226778326729 (accessed 11th December 2013).
Gaza Animal Cruelty ‘the most shocking’
Andrew Wilkie, Independent Member for Denison MR
12.12.13 4:30 am
The revelation of cruelty to Australian animals in Gaza is some of the most shocking ever caught on film.
Holden to cease its manufacturing operations in Australia by 2017
ABC First published Dec 11
12.12.13 4:14 am
Iconic car maker Holden has announced it will stop making vehicles in Australia by the end of 2017.
AND,
Tourism v Racing: You be the Judge
Milton Freeman*
11.12.13 4:01 am
The release this week of a report into the economic contribution of the Tasmanian racing industry ( Read for yourself, here ) has prompted considerable debate on ABC radio over the last few days about the value for money for taxpayers in supporting the Racing Industry and the controversial 20 year funding deed signed by the Tasmanian Government in 2009 guaranteeing TasRacing an annual grant of $27 million indexed for the next two decades.
EPA Director Alex Schaap misleads Tasmanians over nationally binding emissions standards
Kay Seltitzas THMTT and Isla MacGregor TPEHN
11.12.13 3:45 am
The Tasmanian Public and Environmental Health Network and the Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania have today repudiated the misleading statements published in a Letter to the Mercury newspaper by Tasmania’s EPA Director Alex Schaap regarding legally binding air quality emissions standards for industries in Tasmania.
Jack
11.12.13 3:40 am
....meanwhile in Canberra, scientists responsible for the world famous Tasmanian fox eradication program are contemplating how they outsmarted yet another pest.
Andrew Wilkie: Inquiry needed into Sue Neill-Fraser conviction
Andrew Wilkie, Independent Member for Denison MR.
11.12.13 3:35 am
The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, is calling for a Commission of Inquiry into the conviction of Sue Neill-Fraser for the murder of Bob Chappell.
Bob Hawkins
10.12.13 5:29 am
Huon Valley Guessing Games Shemozzle, debacle, disaster, tragicomedy, farce, stuff-up, call it what you will, the so-far abortive where-to-put-a-Cygnet-bus-shelter saga proceeds apace. The topic, still without a permanent solution, has been bruited about for years. Just about everyone with even the vaguest interest has had their two-bobs’ worth.
• The bus-stop in Montreal ...
Andrew Ricketts, Bradys Creek, REEDY MARSH
10.12.13 4:59 am
I write to honour Robert (Bob) George Loone who sadly died on 1st December 2013, aged 73, after a battle with cancer.
• Pete Godfrey, in Comments: We will never know all the things Bob did in his fight to make the Meander Valley and Tasmania a better place to live. He was a true Gentleman, I am proud to have spent time in his company. I will also miss him, it is not often that one comes across a public figure who is truly in it for what he can do for others. Bob used to do the rounds of the valley on a regular basis, sitting in his car waiting at set spots for people who needed to talk about council issues with him. He always made himself available. Andrew has summed him up well thankyou. Bob knew where he was going when he died and was very positive about the process. He harboured no bitterness or fear. A truly Great Man.
Scruffy’s bid for the Legislative Council. Scruffy to be interviewed by Crikey ...
Scruffy Hawkins, Chudleigh. First published December 3.
10.12.13 3:04 am
I am a very important dog or so my Master tells me.
• Scruffy’s Facebook profile
• Pete Godfrey, in Comments: If Scruffy runs I will vote at the elections otherwise I won’t bother. I know Scruffy and she is an honest dog, no bones about it. She can be relied upon totally to do what she says and to be true to herself. Go Scruffy.
• Jack, in Comments: Will Scruffy be giving a press conference? Some questions the press gallery would like to put to him: If he wins a seat in parliament will he be tempted to sniff the arses of all the members? What is his policy on gay marriage and the humping of legs? Is he vaccinated against the usual parliamentary diseases; distemper and foot-in-mouth disease? Will Scruffy represent the interests of blue ribbon poodles as well as working dogs? Has he ever eaten from a pork barrel? He holds his tail proudly, but does he risk it wagging him? Is he trained as a (bull) scat detection dog?
• Crikey, today (December 10) ...
Martyn Goddard*
09.12.13 4:30 am
With a subsidy of about $2.3 million dollars for each biennial event, the Ten Days on the Island festival is the Tasmanian government’s second-biggest investment in the performing arts. Only the state’s symphony orchestra gets more ‒ and, of course, it performs much more often.
Debate on Government’s economic plan for Tasmania
Andrew Wilkie, Independent Member for Denison MR
09.12.13 4:20 am
Today Tasmania’s House of Representatives members will go head-to-head debating the Government’s economic plan for Tasmania. TIME: Debate commences at approximately 11.40am TODAY 9 December 2013 WHERE: FEDERATION CHAMBER, Federal Parliament LINK: View live at http://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Parliament and click on the Federation Chamber prompt
John Lawrence, Tasfintalk
09.12.13 4:15 am
Almost the entire Tasmanian hardwood plantation estate of 193,000 hectares owned privately is on the market, along with much of the underlying land. Land and tree interests are likely to merge. Landowners will end up owning the tree on their land.
The MIS experiment will finally end.
My, how you’ve grown (6) ... a (final) update on the Peregrines
Nick Mooney, Wildlife Biologist
09.12.13 4:10 am
This is pretty well it. All chicks are fledged now and I may try and get some free-flight snaps of the youngsters to post but essentially it’s finished ...
Will gets tough ... as Willink contests Denison as an Independent ...
Hans Willink, Independent Candidate for Denison, MR
09.12.13 4:05 am
Former Liberal, Police IT Director and Army Officer, Hans Willink, has announced that he will contest the State seat of Denison as an Independent next year. Mr Willink most recently contested the Legislative Council seat of Nelson, held by “Independent” Jim Wilkinson, in May. “Moderate Liberal voters have every right to be disgusted by the Abbott Federal Government and it’s backflips on Gonski, the NBN in Tasmania, increasing the National debt ceiling and reversing poker machine reforms,” Mr Willink said. “Voters are caught between a rock and a hard place. A choice between a tired State Labor/Green government, responsible for and presiding over the only State in economic recession and an untried an unproven Liberal Party that can’t be trusted.” “I hope to provide Denison voters with a third choice. A moderate and experienced Independent who can be trusted.” … “I hope to model my campaign on that of Andrew Wilkie, whose last three campaigns I have supported.”
• Meanwhile, in his campaign launch, Will gets tough on those pesky greenies, Examiner here
• Christine Milne: Hodgman’s “new” protester policy a recycled failure
• Richard Griggs, Civil Liberties Australia: Noted, Will ...
John Hawkins, Chudleigh
09.12.13 4:03 am
Page two of today’s Weekend Australian states that Erich Abetz is promoting the tearing up and unwinding of the TFA and hence the roll back of the World Heritage Listing of Tasmania’s Old Growth/ Native Forests as agreed under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement (TFA).
The Idiot Tax blog*
09.12.13 4:00 am
Occasionally I feel sorry for Adrian Kelly (State President, The Real Estate Institute of Tasmania). No, that’s not true. There’s no sympathy here at all. His ongoing media appearances ensure that. Contradicting stats and market trends, while continuing to make knee-slapping predictions that always prove heart-breakingly wrong (for buyers). Those things make him the type of guy who always makes the top of your “ugh” list.
We’re in the [adversary system] tart shop now, boys
Evan Whitton
09.12.13 3:45 am
![Image for We’re in the [adversary system] tart shop now, boys](http://tasmaniantimes.com/images/articles/bf379f6d90c6953b1bc8013b17015bca.jpg)
This is the 30th extract from Our Corrupt Legal System, by Evan Whitton (@EvanWhitton1) available free at netk.net.au/whittonhome.asp
Death of the Forestry Department: Part 2
Bob Mesibov*
09.12.13 3:30 am
D’Alton and Alstergren: Loongana One of the more interesting findings of the 1946 Royal Commission into forestry administration (and some earlier inquiries) was that sometime-Minister for Forests ‘Tommy’ D’Alton had a long and close relationship with the Melbourne-based Alstergren group.
• Scruffy’s bid for the Legislative Council. Scruffy to be interviewed by Crikey ...
• Guy Barnett: High Court decision welcome -now focus on the economy
• Join us to celebrate 2013 - Lark Distillery, Wed 18 December, 6pm
• Willy ... and the Pulp Factory
I was waiting for “them” to blame wood smoke and “us” for air pollution! It takes the fun out…
