Tasmanians reveal their top five demands for change

We asked and you answered, so here’s a look at the top issues where you want change, writes EMILY BAKER.

Traffic congestion was one of the hot topics from the Mercury’s Future Tassie survey. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

POLITICAL donations, council amalgamations, poker machines, traffic congestion and laws that restrict sexual assault survivors from sharing their story using their own name have emerged as the areas where Tasmanians most passionately want reform.

The Mercury Future Tassie Survey inspired a strong response — and some solutions — from readers. More than 1300 people shared their thoughts on the issues affecting the state.

And the Government has signalled change in some areas. It has kicked off a review of the Electoral Act, which will look at political donations, and is also examining the section of the Evidence Act that prohibits people who have been sexually assaulted from sharing their story.

“It is important that appropriate checks are in place to ensure that where one victim may wish to publicly speak of their experience, that such action does not unduly impact on other victims [such as may be the case with siblings or classmates who may be inadvertently identified],” a government spokesman said on the latter proposed reform, which was supported by 92 per cent of readers.

“We are extremely mindful that care must be taken in this area of law, as it is important that any reform strikes the appropriate balance between protecting victims of sexual assault and the paramount public interest in open justice.”

MORE FUTURE TASSIE STORIES:

CALL TO AIM HIGH IN LITERACY GOALS

SURVEY REVEALS TRAFFIC IS WORSENING

READERS WANT FEWER OR NO POKER MACHINES

RESULTS SHOW STRONG FOCUS ON ACCESS TO GPS

READERS REVEAL VIEWS ON TOURIST LEVY

FUTURE TASSIE SURVEY: ALL YOUR COMMENTS

Neither Labor nor the Greens spoke on Friday on the proposed changes to the Evidence Act but both have pledged action on electoral donations.

Many readers called for greater transparency around political donations.

Ninety-four per cent of Future Tassie Survey respondents said they wanted greater transparency on the funding political parties received.

The state’s current policy is in line with that of the Commonwealth, which requires parties to declare donations worth $13,800 or more but does not require lesser sums to be aggregated.

And Tasmanians are still waiting to find out how much funding parties received in the March 2018 state election with declarations not required until next month.

Labor has proposed a suite of reforms to donation laws if it were elected to government, including lowering the donation threshold from $13,500 to between $1000 and $2000 and requiring that political parties and candidates lodge a special receipt and expenditure return with the Tasmanian Electoral Commission within 60 days of an election.

The Greens already voluntarily declare donations worth more than $1500 in real time and would ban developer and foreign donations.

Meanwhile, about 80 per cent of Future Tassie Survey respondents said they wanted fewer or no pokies in the state. The Opposition vowed to quarantine the state’s poker machines to casinos by 2023 at last year’s state election with up to $55 million in transition funding on offer to venues and groups affected. It has repeatedly pledged it will stick to its policy despite a strong backlash from the hospitality and gaming industries.

The vast majority of respondents wanted fewer or no pokies in Tasmania. Picture: CHRIS PAVLICH

The Greens have long lobbied to rip pokies from communities, with party leader Cassy O’Connor on Friday vowing to “continue to pressure any government on this issue and use whatever parliamentary leverage we have”.

The Government said its gaming policy allowed for “a sustainable, well-regulated industry that supports freedom of choice, minimises harm and supports jobs”.

The Liberals will offer pubs and clubs 20-year licences to operate their own electronic gaming machines as well as a greater share of pokies revenue.

“It’s important to note that the Government’s policy actually doubles funding for the Community Service Levy to further improve harm minimisation initiatives,” a spokesman said.

Almost 80 per cent of those who completed the survey said there were too many councils in Tasmania and 84 per cent said amalgamations should happen where possible.

Liberals “encourage” resource-sharing but will not force council mergers. The Greens agree amalgamations “should be community-led decisions ... and voluntary” and will develop its local government policy this year. The Opposition has said it would “ensure that services are delivered to the community in the most effective and efficient way possible”.

And more than 90 per cent of readers believe not enough is being done to tackle Hobart’s worsening traffic congestion.

The government spokesman said there was no easy fix to Hobart’s woes but said it was working through its plan “step-by-step”. It has already taken control of Macquarie and Davey streets.

Labor’s transport policy would provide greater investment in public transport, including creating a Passenger Transport Corporation to manage the state’s existing and expanded network.

Ms O’Connor said her party would rebrand and remodel State Growth to the Planning Department. The model would focus on mapping short and long-term population infrastructure needs.

“In the short-term, significant investment is long overdue in public and active transport systems.”