Critics ridicule Hobart City Deal’s ‘slow’ progress report
The Hobart City Deal’s annual progress report has drawn ridicule from critics, who say there’s very little progress to be seen after three years into the project.
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THE Hobart City Deal’s annual progress report has been ridiculed by critics, who say there is little progress to be seen after three years into the project.
State Labor MP Dean Winter, who was one of the mayors who signed the deal back when he was on Kingborough Council, said the government had made nearly zero headway since 2019.
Mr Winter said progress had ground to a crawl on the Macquarie Point Antarctic Precinct, the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor, and the fifth lane of the Southern Outlet.
He said park and ride facilities were 12 months behind schedule, and the few projects running on time were the ones handled by councils such as the Glenorchy CBD Revitalisation Project and Kingston Park Playground.
Mr Winter said that the government had included the Sorell Southern Bypass in its list of achievements, even though the project was never in the City Deal and sits outside Greater Hobart.
“Three years into the deal, almost nothing is happening and every single target is being missed,” Mr Winter said.
“The deal is symbolic of the Government’s failure to deliver on infrastructure projects over almost a decade.
“Failed Health, Housing and City Deal Minister, Michael Ferguson, has been moved on from the portfolio, but he has been replaced by another chronic underperformer, Minister Guy Barnett.”
Mr Barnett said the government had indeed made headway over the last three years, with work poised to begin for several key projects.
Among those were the Bridgewater Bridge which is set to begin construction this year, and the Huntingfield and Firthside park and ride facilities which are in the midst of being built.
He said the government would be locking in “a form of transport” for the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor and announcing the decision by the end of this year.
“The $1.72 billion Hobart City Deal continues to deliver real results for people living in the Greater Hobart area and cement its position as a vibrant, liveable and connected global city,” Mr Barnett said.
“In fact, the Third Annual Report shows that the value of investment through the city has now risen from $1.72 billion to $2.5 billion.”
Hobart City Council mayor Anna Reynolds said there was a lot of work left to be done to achieve the vision promised in the the Hobart City Deal.
“We need to focus on essential projects such as port upgrades for the Hobart Antarctic Precinct and meeting the Deal’s public transport goal of 10 per cent of journeys by 2030,” Ms Reynolds said.
“Currently we still have a long way to go and I hope this federal election will see investment in this important capital city infrastructure.”
Clarence City Council Acting Mayor Heather Chong there were promising signs ahead for the Hobart City Deal.
“The City Deal continues to bring us all together regularly to ensure collaborative and cohesive planning and execution between all three levels of government,” she said.
“We’ve had solid progress on the Tasman Highway upgrades in the last 12 months and the Derwent Ferries trial has also been very successful in giving our community another option when commuting into Hobart.”
“There is no doubt we’ve got more work to do and we look forward to another busy year ahead, including pressing for further investment in Greater Hobart during this Federal Election campaign period.”
High-profile artist and director to take passion to the polls - April 16
SCOTT Rankin has seen the insides of plenty of theatres over the decades, but perhaps none as absurd as the nation’s theatre of politics in Canberra.
The notable northwest Tasmanian theatre director, playwright and founder of social change company Big hART has put his hat in the ring to represent Braddon at this year’s federal election.
The 62-year-old will run as an independent under the umbrella of newly-formed The Local Party.
Rankin said it was time to end pork barrelling in Braddon, with its frequent pledges of road funding, and instead invest in the community’s wellbeing and greatest asset – its youth.
He also said art wasn’t too different from politics – as he’d always “preferred a career of passion for issues of critical importance”.
“Artists, their job is to talk about things that are not yet visible, so they tend to be progressive,” Rankin said.
“As a society, we devalue an arts or cultural career because we see the arts as bread and circuses, as a kind of hobby, or to keep people happy on a Friday night.”
Rankin said he’d barely seen either of the prospective leaders talk about youth in the election lead-up campaign, other than issues of law and order and the JobSeeker allowance.
He said it was important to instead invest in the futures of young people.
“So when they leave – and we want them to, we want them to expand their horizons – they have a reason to come back.”
Rankin, who was the 2018 Tasmanian Australian of the Year, also said vulnerable people had been “abandoned” in Australian society.
“I think what we’re watching across the country is the abandonment of the fragile or the vulnerable. You can look at aged care and see there are our elders, who should be embraced and learned from, who are often lying in a puddle of urine because we’ve abandoned them to profit,” he said.
“We are also the fastest jailers of Indigenous people in the world. But we are blind to this issue.
“If you look at Ashley Detention Centre right now, there are 11 young people in there right now, five of them are Aboriginal. Aboriginal people, I know for a fact, are not more criminal. So this is purely systemic racism.”
Rankin said “truth-telling” was needed about the work that had been done in Braddon, noting the “FIFO politicians” that came in every three years to cut ribbons and fund roads.
“Pause for a moment – stop building highways and start building communities,” he said.
“What’s dished out every three years – we’ve got to do better.”
Rankin said big changes were needed in the community that he loved, which he said that despite its beauty and environmental advantages, continued to suffer economically.
He said whether or not he was working out of theatres in Tasmania or in the House of Representatives in Canberra, his main passion was in “passionately representing this place that I love”.
“We can be thought leaders rather than thought followers.”
WISH LIST: What Tassie wants from the Federal Election – April 15
TRANSPORT and energy infrastructure top the federal election wishlists of the states peak organisations.
Extensions to the Hobart International Airport runway are a key priority for the tourism industry.
Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter said a runway upgrade would be a game-changer for business as well as the entire community in Tasmania.
“Tasmania has what the rest of the world wants with some of the most amazing exports and experiences on the planet,” Mr Carter said.
“Our job as an airport is to help connect communities and make it easier for the rest of the world to find out first hand what makes Tasmania so unique.
“By upgrading the runway, we can unlock the potential of our business sector and help build Tasmania’s future.
“Already we’re seeing the benefits that direct international flights can bring, the passenger service between Auckland and Hobart is very popular and is helping to build links across the Tasman.
“Our direct freight flights in the south east Asia are a massive boost for businesses and exporters.
The Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania also wants a six-month extension of the
the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme, upgraded business events infrastructure in Launceston with capacity for up to 1,000 delegates and increased Commonwealth funding for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
TICT chief Luke Martin threw his support behind the runway project.
“We want to see strategic investment and each of these projects will have benefits for tourism operators all over the state,” he said.
"The reality is we have half a runway, they’ve upgraded half the runway. They need to finish the job.
“We don’t want to see pork barrelling, we want to see smart, strategic investments around the state.”
“And how many federal election have leaders come down and had photos about protecting the World Heritage Area. Let’s make this election about actually funding it.”
Property Council of Australia state executive director Rebecca Ellston said training more workers for the boom in construction should be high on the list of the incoming federal government.
“With our state expected to need at least an additional 7000 construction workers to keep up with workforce demand across the next four to five years, we’re asking for a $35 million commitment for a TasTAFE Centre of Excellence for Construction Trades,” she said.
“This will significantly assist in addressing structural labour and skills shortages.
“What we need right now is federal investment in the most up to date and cutting edge teaching infrastructure and equipment to boost our capacity and ensure that we can provide local training to satisfy our current and future skills demands.
“We need to be future proofing our State, by increasing our capacity and building on our reputation as a first class training provider to grow skills for now and future generations ”
The University of Tasmania and the Australian Forest Products Association have been pushing a joint proposal for a National Institute for Forest Products Innovation — which the federal government agreed to fund on Thursday.
“The NIFPI is an ambitious vision for forest products innovation, which would position
Australia as a leader in sustainable, low-emission industries and support a world scale forest
industries research and development powerhouse,” their joint submission says.
The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has put funding for the MarinusLink electricity interconnector at the top of its list, as well as a boost to workforce training and mental health support for business.
RACT Chief Advocacy Officer, Garry Bailey said better roads topped his organisations list.
“In particular, RACT members want to see the Tasman Highway upgraded. The Tasman Highway is Tasmania’s longest highway and in places it’s in very poor condition.
“The State Government has committed to developing a ten year plan and we would like to see the next Federal Government allocate at least $50 million to upgrades.
“RACT members are calling for both major parties to commit to the Bass Highway upgrades so that it is at least AusRAP 3 standard.”
Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday said that the union movement wanted increases to the number of permanent jobs and wages.
She also around $300,000 was needed to complete the Workers’ Memorial Park in Launceston.
She said finishing the project would be “very significant to families and as a permanent reminder of the importance of safe work,” she said.
Tassie’s female federal candidates weigh in on glass ceilings – April 14
MISOGYNY may remain alive and well in contemporary Australian politics, but that fact has done little to thwart the ambitions of women vying for the Tasmanian seat of Franklin.
Come May 21, Liberal candidate Kristy Johnson will challenge incumbent MP, Julie Collins, for what has long been considered a safe Labor seat.
The Claremont mother runs two gyms – Glenorchy Health and Fitness and Bellerive Fernwood – and said she’d received nothing but support in her political ambitions.
She said while she didn’t necessarily have female mentors, she’d received ample support from other women in the Liberal party including Elise Archer, Jackie Petrusma and Madeleine Ogilvie.
“I can only go from my experience, and my experience has been a positive one. More and more women are seeing they can influence things in a positive way,” Ms Johnson said.
“I think there are pathways for women. I think you do need to make it known you’re interested in being a candidate.
“At a grassroots level, the party itself identifies people that are possible, but it goes both ways. I’m a firm believer on being on the front foot.”
Julie Collins MP said it was “fantastic” more women were running in this year’s election – potentially more than ever before.
“Parliament should reflect our society, so I think it’s fantastic more women are running for election,” she said.
“I can only speak to my own experience in the Labor Party but I have always felt supported by my colleagues and I’m proud Labor has made huge strides towards the equal representation of women in parliament.”
Ms Collins said an important mentor she had in her early parliamentary career had been former Australian Labor Party deputy leader Jenny Macklin.
“Jenny was a fantastic mentor who helped immensely to make the transition into more senior roles in parliament much easier. It underscored how important it is to have women supporting other women into senior positions in any workplace,” she said.
However, Ms Collins said like any workplace, there were instances where women were still not being treated fairly.
“I think until our parliament better reflects the composition of our society many issues will still not be adequately addressed,” she said.
“It’s up to all of us to ensure women are better represented in parliament. When our parliament better reflects our society we will be able to achieve much more.”
Other candidates running for Franklin this May include Jade Darko from the Greens, Anna Bateman for The Local Party, Lisa Matthews for the United Australia Party, Steve Hindley for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and Chris Hannan for the Jacqui Lambie Network.
Albanese: Bass MP a ‘decent person in indecent government’ – April 11
The Opposition Leader says Liberal Bass MP Bridget Archer is a “decent person” who is “not part of a decent government” as he kicks off the six week campaign in the northern Tasmanian electorate, Australia’s most marginal.
Bass, held by Ms Archer by less than 600 votes after she claimed the seat from former Labor MP Ross Hart, who is standing again, is, alongside neighbouring Braddon, a must-win for the opposition, who need to gain seven seats to form government on May 21.
Labor have been pumping money into Bass, promising a $15m redevelopment of George Town Swimming Centre, $15m to build a new Tasmanian home for the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Launceston Airport, and $2.5m to fund two new Shepherd Centres, in Launceston and Hobart, for hearing-impaired children.
Officially announcing the Shepherd Centre funding on Monday, after The Mercury revealed the commitment on Sunday, Mr Albanese said the centres would support “up to 2000” hearing-impaired children in Tasmania.
Chief executive Jim Hungerford said, while Australia “leads the world” in supporting children with hearing loss, Tasmania had lagged behind the rest of the federation with no specialist services.
Fielding questions afterwards, Mr Albanese said his battle to return Mr Hart to parliament wasn’t “personal” after he was asked whether he wanted Ms Archer to lose her seat at the election, in light of her well-publicised stance as a moderate Liberal who agrees with Labor policy in key areas like climate change.
“I want to see Ross Hart in parliament,” Mr Albanese said.
“I regard Bridget Archer as a decent person.
“The problem is she’s not part of a decent government.”
While she supported a federal anti-corruption body and stronger action on climate change, Prime Minister Scott Morrison would “never” agree to her demands, Mr Albanese said.
Mr Hart doubled down in support of his leader.
“A vote for Bridget Archer is a vote for Scott Morrison,” he said.
“Bridget Archer was forced to cross the floor because of failures of her own government.”
Mr Hart also accused the federal government of ignoring northern Tasmania in the recent budget, especially querying why there was no money to further progress the mooted Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub Project at Bell Bay.
In response, Ms Archer said the government’s halving of the fuel excise had seen prices “come down in George Town, where I live, by $0.20” and also feted the one-off $250 payment to those in receipt of benefits.
She denied the assertion she was “forced” to cross the floor.
“As an authentic representative for the people of northern Tasmania, I was doing what was right by them,” Ms Archer said.
“My loyalty is to the people of northern Tasmania and I’ll continue to always bring the views of our region to Canberra while my opponent has clearly demonstrated that he will always put Canberra and Labor over his own community.”
How the federal election will play out for Tasmania
ALL of the attention will be on the swinging marginal seats of Bass and Braddon this federal election, but there is plenty of interest in the battles for the three other House of Representative seats in Tasmania.
The voters of the marginal seats of the north and northwest can expect both major parties to roll out the platinum-plated pork barrel in the time-honoured fashion in a bid to secure their votes.
In Bass, incumbent Liberal member Bridget Archer has made an impression by crossing the floor to vote against the Coalition government on multiple occasions, a show of independence that might help her defend her 0.82 per cent margin.
But if just 280 voters in Bass change their minds, Labor’s Ross Hart will snatch back the seat he lost in 2019.
In neighbour Braddon, Liberal Gavin Pearce has a slightly more comfortable 4.82 per cent buffer but could struggle against a determined campaign from Labor’s Chris Lynch.
Polling conducted by UComms on behalf of the Australia Institute before the election was called showed the pair almost neck and neck on primary votes: 34.7 per cent to the incumbent and 33.6 per cent to the challenger.
The preferences of independents will be key to the race, Labor could benefit thanks to a flow in particular from the Greens, the Jacqui Lambie Network and independent Craig Garland.
The Liberals clearly fancy their chances in the sprawling electorate of Lyons which takes in most of the centre of the state and the east coast, all the way to the edges of greater Hobart and the Tasman Peninsula.
After a disastrous 2019 campaign, the Liberals are throwing substantial weight behind candidate Susie Bower, with two visits to the electorate from Prime Minister Scott Morrison so far.
Labor’s Brian Mitchell is looking for his third win on the trot and is said to be confident despite the challenge.
With a margin of around 7.6 per cent the seat is barely marginal, although the Coalition’s 2019 campaign was marred by claims made against Liberal candidate Jessica Whelan which saw her quit and National Dennna Hutchinson take over as lead candidate.
In the Hobart-based seat of Clark, independent Andrew Wilkie is expected to cruise to another easy victory.
He enjoyed a 44.2 per cent margin on a two-party preferred basis over Labor’s Ben McGregor last time around and there’s no expectation of any major change.
With 50.05 per cent of the primary vote, Mr Wilkie didn’t even need to go to preferences last time.
In the event of a hung parliament, Mr Wilkie as a four-term fixture on the crossbench will prove key to whoever forms government — and may be able to leverage some federal attention southward for a change.
In Franklin, Labor’s Julie Collins is similarly expected to romp home. With a 24.4 per cent margin in 2019, Liberal Kristy Johnson is not expected to make much of a dent.
The performance of Local Party candidate Anna Bateman will provide a litmus test of how well that new homegrown political force has performed in its first campaign.
Albanese kicks off campaign in Tassie
In a sign of the importance of Tasmanian marginal seats to the federal election outcome, Labor leader Anthony Albanese will kick off day one of the campaign in Launceston on Monday announcing funding for two new centres for hearing-impaired children.
He will be in the marginal seat of Bass with candidate Ross Hart who needs a swing of just .82 per cent to win the seat back from Liberal Bridget Archer.
Mr Albanese will announce $2.5m in funding for two new Shepherd Centres for hearing-impaired children in Hobart and Launceston.
At present Shepherd Centre staff have to fly to Tasmania to provide clinical care and support for children with hearing loss.
“Kids with hearing loss deserve the best possible start in life and the best possible care and support – no matter where they live,” Mr Albanese said.
“It’s about time Tasmanian children had access to the same sort of services that are available on the mainland. Labor will make that happen.”
Mr Hart said Shepherd Centres provided support services including development of speech and communications skills, life skills and emotional resilience – areas where hearing-impaired children and teens need intensive clinical support.
“There are currently no Shepherd Centres in Tasmania and no organisations providing comprehensive, on-the-ground clinical services in the state for children with hearing loss,” he said.
“The new centres in Hobart and Launceston will be fully equipped with specially designed equipment and facilities.
“Together they will provide a comprehensive reach across Tasmania, giving local kids access to life-changing clinical support and education.”
Labor says it also will provide funding for the Shepherd Centre to complete the development of its national HearHub platform, a national digital service that will deliver hearing tests, educational resources and practical support for families online.
Mr Hart said this would benefit children with hearing loss and related communication difficulties such as autism spectrum disorder.
“HearHub will extend the reach of on-the-ground Shepherd Centres, and will be of particular benefit to children and families in rural and regional areas,” he said.
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