Labor to target health, housing and jobs as Kristie Johnston tells major parties to ‘get back to basics’
Jobs, health and housing will be the focus of Labor’s second week of the election campaign, as an independent candidate says the major parties’ silence on the main issues is “baffling”.
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LABOR will focus on jobs, health and housing in the second week of the 2021 state election campaign, party leader Rebecca White says.
Ms White said they were the issues most important to Tasmanians, as she pledged $500,000 towards a park upgrade in Gagebrook if her party is elected.
“The key issues for the Labor Party in this election are a reflection of what the community have told us and that is they want job security, they want a good job, they also want to have a roof over their head and housing is a big issue, and access to timely and affordable health care,” she said.
“There’s no doubt those three issues are the top priorities for the Labor Party and also for our community.
“Over the last seven years we’ve seen elective surgery waiting lists blow out to levels we’ve never had before in Tasmania – 50,000 Tasmanians are waiting to get a procedure or to even get on the waiting list.
“We’ve got 4000 families who are waiting for affordable housing and we’ve seen regional unemployment stay above 7 per cent stubbornly and now JobKeeper has ended we’re likely to see that increase, sadly.”
Labor has already released a jobs policy intended to create 35,000 new jobs.
Ms White was in Gagebrook on Sunday to pledge a huge upgrade for recreational infrastructure she said was sorely needed.
The $500,000 she promised will go towards the $1.2 million stage one redevelopment of the Cris Fitzpatrick Park on Tottenham Road, in partnership with the Brighton Council, Centacare Evolve and Mona’s 24 Carrots program.
“The commitment today would enable the construction of a flying fox and water play, new seating and lighting as well as fencing, as well as paths that would connect Herdsmans Cove, Gagebrook and Bridgewater, making this a really safe area for young children to come and play and also give our youth something to do,” she said.
“The Labor Party is very committed to working with the local community to make sure that we build the recreational infrastructure and the social infrastructure that’s necessary to keep communities together and also provide safe places for our children to play.
“At the moment there are very limited recreation opportunities for young people in this community, and investing in this type of infrastructure will provide enormous benefits for their health and wellbeing, as well as their connection to one another and grow the strength of this community as more and more people move into the area.”
Parties told to ‘get back to basics’
THE major parties need to get back to basics, independent candidate Kristie Johnston says.
Ms Johnston on Sunday called on both major parties to focus on the issues that matter to Tasmanians in the lead-up to the state election — such as health and education.
“I’ve talked to hundreds of people since this election was called a week ago and the message I am receiving loud and clear is, ‘why aren’t the major parties debating the issues that matter to me?’,” Ms Johnston said.
“For example, where is the debate on health, arguably the greatest policy failure in our state?
“So far we have heard precious little from the Liberal government on health, which might be expected since they are the ones in charge of this mess, but why Labor is silent too is baffling.
“In the first week of the campaign Labor has not only given health the silent treatment, it has abandoned reform of the poker machine industry, perhaps our society’s greatest social scourge.”
She said there was a need for debate on reorienting the health system towards subacute care with a focus on rehabilitation, aged care, palliative care, more assistance to patients discharged from hospitals, and a real commitment to services in the home and community.
“Tasmanians deserve better than what we’ve seen so far in this campaign. Our political representatives have been too focused on each other and themselves rather than addressing the important issues that are facing Tasmanians,” Ms Johnston said.
Parties aim to reel in state’s fishers
THE Liberals are trying to reel in more Tasmanian fishers by waiving fees for junior anglers and announcing $3 million for new and upgraded jetties and amenities.
Liberal candidate for Lyons Guy Barnett said more than 100,000 Tasmanians enjoyed fishing at some of the finest spots in the world.
“Recreational fishing is a vital part of the Tasmanian way of life – particularly at Easter - and it’s crucial we make it more accessible for more Tasmanians to enjoy,” Mr Barnett said.
“Fishing also makes a great contribution to Tasmania’s economy, with more than $160 million spent on accommodation, fuel, bait, tackle and other equipment, helping our regional communities and small business sector.”
The Liberals’ pledge comes after Labor promised $2 million to upgrade boat ramps and improve amenities such as parking, toilets and fish-cleaning stations and accused the Liberals of planning to introduce a “tinny tax”. (See below for more details)
The Liberals have promised $2 million for a dedicated recreational sea fishing fund for improvements including new jetties, boat ramps, pontoons, amenities and financial support to help sea fishing clubs upgrade their premises.
The fund will be open to local councils and community organisations, to try to make recreational sea fishing more accessible to fishers, families and people who are mobility-impaired or living with a disability.
It also will give the Inland Fisheries Service $1 million over four years for new and upgraded facilities, amenities and improved access to fishing locations.
Mr Barnett ruled out raising fishing fees and said junior inland angling fees would be waived for the next four years.
The tagged trout promotion also would be doubled to $100,000.
Liberal candidate for Windermere and fishing expert Nick Duigan hailed the funding for fishing, which he said was a great family activity.
Libs flash the cash in big-spending campaign
THE Liberals have outpledged Labor by seven-to-one in a big-spending start to the 2021 state election campaign.
After seven days of campaigning, Peter Gutwein has made $183m worth of promises compared to Rebecca White’s $30.6m.
TAFE spending is the biggest government pledge to date: $98m over four years — a promise the Premier liked so much he announced some of it twice.
It was followed by $42m for the Hobart Showground redevelopment, $15m for UTAS Newnham and a $13.8m jobs package, $6m towards a new Incat ship and $8m to secure the future of events and festivals.
Labor’s promise of free TAFE for critical industries was the party’s key policy with a dollar sign next to it in week one of the 2021 campaign. Leader Rebecca White has promised more.
The Greens’ climate policy was the minor party’s sole major announcement in a low-key start.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a snap election campaign, it was a chaotic first week.
Labor’s handling of a preselection bid by Kingborough mayor Dean Winter was its first major misstep.
The issue detracted from the party’s candidate launch and the voices of disgruntled party members continue to echo in the background of their campaign.
Mr Winter rose above the fray: “I put myself forward because I thought I could make a positive contribution to the Tasmanian Labor team. I’m disappointed, but wish the best of luck to all the successful candidates,” he tweeted.
Candidates for the poll must be locked in by noon on Wednesday.
Labor’s second own-goal was the revelation it signed a deal with the Tasmanian Hospitality Association.
Rebecca White was caught by surprise by the issue on Wednesday, at first saying the deal was not public, then reversing course and releasing the text of the surprising agreement in full.
Anti-pokies campaigner and independent MLC Meg Webb described the deal as an “incredible betrayal” given Labor’s anti-pokies stance of the 2018 election.
THA boss Steve Old was cock-a-hoop: “We all know at the last election we weren’t the best of friends,” he said, with decided understatement.
“We’re pretty proud of the MOU we’ve got.”
It was a bad week for people named Dean. At the same time, Liberal Dean Ewington’s nascent campaign imploded as his very public opposition to the government's handling of the pandemic came back to haunt him.
Mr Gutwein, who just a week before had asked Mr Ewington to join the Liberal ticket in Franklin, rang him back and asked him to unjoin the ticket.
“I don’t need this sort of drama in my life,” Mr Ewington posted on Facebook.
He said his presence in an anti-lockdown rally was just one of those coincidences that sometimes happens when a chap who is somewhat anti-lockdown happens to be interstate in the same place and at the same time as a demonstration that perfectly aligns with his views.
“I was at Melbourne to watch the football, my fiancee was in Myer going for a shop, and I’m sitting out the front waiting for her to come out, like us men do, and the rally walked past,” he explained.
Former candidate James Walker stepped up to fill the vacant spot and serial Liberal candidate Dean Young is now the lone Dean still in the race.
As the major parties floundered, the Greens plugged away with what must be the first small-target campaign ever run by a minor party.
Low key and disciplined, the party kept a low profile in week one, following the principal of never interrupting while their opponents are making mistakes. Labor’s policy announcement of its own tough anti-protest laws and the THA deal play right into the party’s hands.
There are a record 394,000 electors enrolled to vote in this state election. With three simultaneous Legislative Council elections, it will be the biggest polling day in the state’s history.
The first votes in the 2021 state election will be cast at pre-poll centres a week from Monday.
Labor, Libs ignoring harm from pokies
LABOR has abandoned the wellbeing of people through its memorandum of understanding with the hospitality lobby, the Greens candidate for Braddon says.
Labor’s MoU with the Tasmanian Hospitality Association pledges the party’s support for poker machines, Keno and other forms of gambling to continue in pubs and clubs.
Greens Braddon candidate Darren Briggs, who is a GP, said poker machines caused significant harm in the region.
“Devonport City Council has one of the highest level of gambling addiction and harm in the state,” Dr Briggs said.
“Poker machines are designed to addict, luring people into a cycle of playing more and more. Pokies make people sick. As a doctor, I have treated many patients over the years with a gambling addiction.
“Labor and the Liberals are ignoring the health harm and social cost. The Greens are the only party backing the removal of pokies from pubs and clubs.”
Libs planning a ‘tinny tax’, claims Labor
THE state’s boat ramps would get some TLC under a Labor government, with a $2 million pledge to upgrade recreational fishing infrastructure at key locations across the state.
However, the Liberals have rubbished Labor’s suggestion the government is proposing to introduce a “tinny tax”.
A discussion paper released in September by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment included a boat fishing levy as a suggested means to increase funding for recreational fishing facilities.
Labor has promised not to introduce the charge if elected.
Opposition Leader Rebecca White said Labor would commit $2 million to upgrade boat ramps and improve amenities such as parking, toilets and fish-cleaning stations.
“A Labor government will invest in Tasmanians’ boat ramps while the Liberals will slug tinny owners with a new tax. Only Labor is working for Tasmanians,” Ms White said.
“Tasmania has some of the highest boat ownership numbers in the country and heading out onto the water to catch a fish with friends and family is a key part of the Tasmanian way of life.
“The Minister for Primary Industries, Guy Barnett, has repeatedly refused to rule out the introduction of a ‘boat fishing levy’, which is a tax on recreational fishers.
“It is highly suspicious that the draft Tasmanian recreational sea fishing strategy was due to be released in March but was delayed because of the election. What are the Liberals trying to hide?”
Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said the Liberals would not impose such a tax.
“Despite Labor’s false claims, it is a matter of public record that we have already categorically ruled out any new taxes which would include a tinny levy or tackle tax on rods and lines,” Mr Barnett said.
“We recognise that recreational fishing is a much-loved part of our way of life, and that Tasmania has some of the best recreational sea fishing in the world with over 100,000 recreational fishers.
“That’s why we have significantly invested in recreational fishing and angling, and look forward to announcing our policy soon.”
Electoral donation plan a ‘deception’
A FORMER Liberal MP has slammed the party’s election donation disclosure plan, deeming the strategy a “deception” to con the Tasmanian people.
Clark independent MP Sue Hickey said Premier Peter Gutwein deliberately failed to introduce electoral spending laws prior to the election because he knew it would disadvantage his party.
Last Friday, it was announced the Tasmanian Liberal Party would disclose the details of all donations to their campaign over $5000.
“That is disgusting,” Ms Hickey said. “Because as we’ve seen in previous elections, someone can donate 10 lots of $4999 and one donation of $10 in a couple of different entries, like perhaps their mother or brother, and donate $50,000 to the party,” she said.
“The government last time was accused of being bought, big money interfering in that election. I was ashamed as a member of that government.”
She said three years was enough time to introduce electoral spending laws.
“We listened in Parliament one time to about a two-hour debate that went on Minister Guy Barnett and his choice of fishing for eels,” she said.
“We should have been debating really significant donation reform. There’s no excuse for it.”
Mr Gutwein said Ms Hickey would understand legislation needed to be drafted, with the timing of this election not allowing that to happen.
“This will be the most transparent election that has been run in Tasmania,” he said.
“The Liberal Party have made a commitment voluntarily to release the details of donations above $5000 every 48 hours.
“I’m not sure what the other parties’ position is on that, but that’s the Liberal Party’s position.”
Franklin Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said it was “a joke” that the Premier was pretending to have transparency in his electoral donations.
“$5000 is a ludicrous cap, we’ve got no idea whether that’s cumulative donations or not — I imagine it wouldn’t be,” she said.
“This is not donations reform. This is not what the Premier promised. This is giving him an opportunity to get his party to take money from corporates and individuals who don’t want to declare their donation.
“But Tasmanians should know who’s putting money into political parties and what they’ll expect in return.”
Bid to boost TAFE student numbers
MORE apprentices are needed than ever before, says Tasmania’s peak construction body.
With the building and construction industry playing a major role in the state’s economic recovery, the Liberal Party has pledged to get more students studying at TasTAFE.
As part of the Liberal Party’s $98.5 million TasTAFE investment announced earlier this week, on Thursday $7 million was earmarked for a new student accommodation facility at the Clarence Campus.
Premier Peter Gutwein said this would mean an accommodation increase of 50 per cent from 60 beds to 90 beds.
“That’ll mean that more regional Tasmanians are able to come to get the training that they need to grab the jobs that are available,” he said.
Master Builders Tasmania CEO Matthew Pollock said the past 12 months had shown the construction industry could lead the state’s economic recovery.
“Looking forward it will continue to play an even more important role as we build our way back to prosperity,” he said.
“The industry and Tasmanian tradies will be called on to deliver more than $16 billion in infrastructure and build over 30,000 homes in the next decade just to keep pace with the demands of the community and population growth.
“That will provide an unprecedented opportunity for Tasmanians to build careers in construction.”
Mr Pollock said there had been growth across all sectors of the construction industry.
“We need apprentices more now than we ever have. The construction industry employs more trainees and more apprentices than any other industry,” he said.
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