Liberal Candidate for Bass Steve Titmus

ALBANESE MUST ASSURE TASMANIANS OUR SKIES ARE SAFE

Victor P Taffa

Federal Liberal candidate for Bass, Steve Titmus, has called on Federal Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, to assure Tasmanians our skies are safe.

“Minister Albanese needs to step up to the plate and assure Tasmanians that our skies are safe.”

“Labor’s candidate for Bass, Geoff Lyons, said on Wednesday that he had raised concerns with Minister Albanese.”

“But what good has that done? The silence has been deafening from the Federal Government on this issue.” Mr. Titmus said.

 “And it’s all very well for Michelle O’Byrne to say she thinks the skies are safe, but air safety is the responsibility of the Federal Government.”

“Even Lara Giddings has confirmed that it was a matter for the Commonwealth to investigate any air safety concerns” Mr. Titmus said. (The Examiner, 21 July)

Mr. Titmus also called on the Federal Government to release a report relating to air safety at 10 Australian airports, including Launceston, provided to the Government recently and which Airservices Australia and CASA are now understood to be implementing.

This is separate to the ATSB report on the 2008 safety incident over Launceston which made no recommendations.

“Minister Albanese must release this report.” Mr. Titmus said.

Airport Safety over Sydney is also a concern. Mascot Airport is the best location for an airport in relation to the distance from the Sydney CBD. However there has been real no answers given as to why Badgery’s Creek was abandoned as a location for second Sydney Airport.

Responsibility for Election Comment

Under the provisions of the relevant Electoral Act responsibility for all election comment is assumed by Editor Victor P Taffa. The Registered office of The Southern Thunderer is at 4/69a Darvall Road, West Ryde NSW 2114.

Liberal Candidate for Braddon Garry Carpenter

$3 MILLION FOR MRI IN NSW, SHORT-CHANGED IN BRADDON

Victor P Taffa

Federal Labor Health Minister Nicola Roxon has this week announced over $3 Million for a new MRI machine in outer Sydney, three times as much as Labor gave to North West Tasmania for a MRI machine.

On 19 May Federal Labor announced “a contribution of $1 Million towards a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine.”

“But this week, Minister Roxon announced over $3 Million for the Campbelltown Hospital outside of Sydney to pay for the full cost of a new MRI machine. Campbelltown is 40 mins drive from the current nearest MRI machine in Sydney compared to the 3 ½ hour journey from Smithton to Launceston Hospital’s MRI facility or 4 hours from the West Coast.” Mr. Carpenter said.

“Why is Braddon being treated like a poor cousin when it comes to cancer services funding?”

Braddon Liberal candidate Garry Carpenter said. “When Labor gives $3 Million to a mainland hospital for an MRI machine, it gives just $1 Million to us and when Labor gives South Coast NSW $23.8 Million and Townsville $67.5 Million for cancer centres, it gives Braddon a paltry $4.8 Million.”

“North West and West Coast Tasmania has been short changed by Labor.” Mr. Carpenter said.

“What happened to having a local member standing up for our region and ensuring cancer patients and their families don’t suffer from a lack of local services?” Mr. Carpenter asked.

Responsibility for Election Comment

Under the provisions of the relevant Electoral Act responsibility for all election comment is assumed by Editor Victor P Taffa. The Registered office of The Southern Thunderer is at 4/69a Darvall Road, West Ryde NSW 2114.

Senator for Tasmania Stephen Parry

LABOR MP’S ‘SPECIAL CASE’ CLAIM RAISES MORE QUESTIONS OVER NEW MINING TAX

Victor P Taffa

CRACKS are appearing in the Rudd Government’s mining tax campaign with a local Labor MP branding Tasmanian mining operations as ‘special case’, Senator Stephen Parry, speaking on behalf of the Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team, said today.

“Braddon MHR Sid Sidebottom has been a vocal supporter of Labor’s mining tax from day one, dismissing local concerns as scaremongering and claiming that it may actually be good for some miners.” Senator Parry said.

“But yesterday Mr Sidebottom said: “Look Grange Resources, like any other operation here in Tassie, is a special case and where there are special cases we need to know the implications of the framework (of the mining tax) on those enterprises.”

“The second part of this statement makes clear that the Labor Government failed to investigate the implications of its mining tax on individual operations.” Senator Parry said.

“The Government has no idea of the potential impact of this tax on companies such as Grange Resources, which directly employs about 600 Tasmanians, and has barely bothered to ask.”

“Nevertheless, Labor has committed almost $40 Million of taxpayers’ money to tell the Australian people that its new mining tax will be good for the country and not cost jobs, which, of course, is at odds with what the industry and respected economists are saying.”

Senator Parry said a key question for Mr Sidebottom was what he intended to do to represent the interests of the Tasmanian mining operations he now says are ‘special cases.’

“If Mr Sidebottom is finally conceding that Labor’s mining tax would cost Tasmanian jobs, will he argue with his senior colleagues for differential rates or exemptions for local companies?” Senator Parry asked.

Tasmania Shadow Minister for Resources Mark Shelton

Tasmania Shadow Minister for Small Business Adam Brooks

MINING TAX NOW COSTING TASMANIAN JOBS

Victor P Taffa

Today’s news that an upgrade to the Savage River iron ore mine has been put on hold, due to the Rudd Government’s great big new tax on mining is a devastating blow to the Tasmanian resources sector and the small business community on the North West Coast.

“This is concrete proof that Kevin Rudd’s mining tax will cost Tasmanian jobs. The Savage River iron ore mine is a crucial part of our minerals sector.” according to Tasmania Shadow Minister for Resources Mark Shelton.

“Not only will the postponed investment stunt jobs growth at the mine, it will create uncertainty about the existing jobs at the mine.”

“A lack of investment at the mine will mean that it will be difficult for the Savage River mine to keep pace with international markets and international best practice.”

“Given this clear proof that the mining sector in Tasmania is under threat from Kevin Rudd’s plans, the Premier and the Minister for Resources now need to act on behalf of Tasmanians, rather than their Labor mates in Canberra.” Mr. Shelton said.

“The North West Coast desperately needs investment to drive jobs growth and support the small business sector. It is a tragedy for all small businesses on the North West Coast that service the mining sector that plans to invest in the Savage River mine are now in limbo.” according to Shadow Minister for Small Business Adam Brooks.  

“Today’s revelation is further proof that it is not just the mining industry that will be hit hard by Labor’s plans. Small businesses and contractors who would have carried out much of the proposed work will now miss out.”

“This is a cruel blow that could not have come at a worse time for the many small businesses across the coast that is doing it tough.”

“By supporting and cheering on this new tax, the Premier and the Labor-Green Government have shown how much regard they have for the workers of the North West Coast, especially those within the resources sector.” Mr. Brooks said.

TAS Shadow Minister for Small Business Adam Brooks

Tasmania General Election 20 March 2010

Victor P Taffa

Following the return of the writs for the Tasmania State Election held on 20 March 2010 the makeup of the new Parliament is as follows:

House of Assembly

Seats Held

Labor                                                 10      -4

Liberal                                               10      +3

Greens                                               5        +1                        

Total                                                          25

The Liberal Party gained seats in Denison, Franklin and Lyons. The Greens won a seat in Braddon and now have a Member in each of the five House of Assembly electorates. Labor overall lost 4 seats.

Legislative Council

Seats Held

Labor                                                     3        Unchanged

Liberal                                                   1        Unchanged

Independent                                      11      Unchanged

Total                                                          15

On May 1 2010 there were 2 seats in the Legislative Council to be determined by the electorate. No ballot was required for the seat of Apsley and Tania Rattray Wagner was declared elected on 1 May 2010. The new Member for Elwick will be Adriana Taylor according to figures released by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Both members are Independent status.

The Bartlett Government returned to office in a weakened position. Premier David Bartlett had declared that “I will not do a deal with the Greens to form a Government.” Following the election this is precisely what the Tasmanian Premier did. Greens MP Kim Booth made an interesting observation about the new arrangements between the Labor and Greens Parties. The challenge for the Bartlett Government is to maintain a stable Government over the next four years.

Liberal Leader Will Hodgman is quite right to have felt ‘cheated’ at the outcome of the election given that the Liberal Party won almost 6,000 more statewide votes than did Labor. The election saw the retirement of The Hon. Michael Hodgman from politics. Liberal Leader Will Hodgman as with Liberal Leader Isobel Redmond in South Australia will hold the Government to account and be well placed to secure Majority Government in 2014.

Tasmania Electoral Commission

Victor P Taffa

Following on from first preference counts released by the Tasmania Electoral Commission Opposition Leader Will Hodgman would be well placed to form a Government.

The Liberal Party won 5,928 more statewide first preference group total votes than Labor and should each party hold 10 seats each in the new House of Assembly with the Greens holding 5 it is Liberal Leader Will Hodgman who would have the moral authority to become Premier of Tasmania.  

Tasmania Electoral Commission

20 March 2010

Victor P Taffa

Victor P Taffa

The Tasmania State election has been fought on local issues however the Labor Party has two factors going against it. For the Bartlett Government to lose its majority Labor only requires 2 seats to fall. The other factor is the length of time that Labor has been on the Treasury benches. Labor won office in 1998 and has also the Hare Clark electoral system that favours minor parties. The Hare Clark system elects more than one member per House of Assembly seat.

Tasmania is divided into five electorates for Federal Parliament representation and in the State Parliament the same five electorates elect seven members.

The Tasmania Electorates are as follows:

• Bass
• Braddon
• Denison
• Franklin
• Lyons

The makeup of the House of Assembly going into the election is as follows:

Seats Held

Labor                   14

Liberal                  7

Greens                  2

Total:                   25

The Legislative Council has 15 Members, each representing one of 15 electoral divisions. The boundaries of the current divisions were determined by the Legislative Council Redistribution Tribunal on 14 June 2008.Elections are conducted on a 6 year periodic cycle. Elections for 3 members are held in May one year, with elections for 2 members held in May the following year and so on. Voting is compulsory. Each elector may only have one opportunity to vote in Legislative Council elections once every 6 years.

The makeup of the Legislative Council is as follows:

Seats Held

Labor                    3

Liberal                  1

Independent       11

Total:                   15

Tasmania Opposition Leader Will Hodgman

Tasmania Shadow Minister for Health Brett Whiteley

REAL CHANGE FOR TASMANIAN NURSES 

Victor P Taffa

Tasmania Opposition Leader Will Hodgman and Shadow Minister for Health Brett Whiteley have announced that a Liberal Government will invest in real change for nurses, with more nurses, better wages and conditions, and workplace protection.

The Tasmanian Liberals are investing an additional $6 Million today to provide an extra 55 nurses Statewide.

This adds to the more than 100 additional nurses for the LGH in the North of the State and three nurse specialist/educators for Parkinson’s disease already announced by the Liberals.

Nurses touch the lives of thousands of Tasmanians on a daily basis, from high-end critical care in Emergency Departments and ICU, to community nursing for the frail elderly in their own homes.

To ensure a quality health system in Tasmania and the retention of nurses in the profession, the Liberals will ensure nurses are supported in their training, in the workplace and through ongoing professional development.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will -

• Fund 20 additional nurse practitioners. There are currently 26 nurses with the appropriate masters qualifications waiting for recognition in their new role but no additional funded positions for them;

• Provide 25 additional Clinical Nurse Educators to ensure ongoing education and retention of nurse graduates in the State, with preference given to employing Tasmanian nurse graduates over mainland entrants. We will also work with the University to try to incorporate more ‘practical’ components of nurse training into the current model;

• Fund 13 nurse positions around the State in roles as Cancer Care Coordinators (10) and specialist educators for Parkinson’s disease (3);

• Fund more than 100 new nurses at the LGH to staff Federal-funded construction projects, while ensuring timely filling of nurse vacancies, re-entry programs and participation in recruitment tool Nurse the Nation;

• Provide an additional $200,000 per annum for professional development, to ensure we have the specialists nurses in critical areas like ICU, neonatal and theatre. This will enable more nurses to undertake post-graduate studies, and to meet the cost of backfill for nurses to have study time each week.

• Establish a child care centre in Stage One of the New Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment, for shift-working nurses and other hospital staff. Facilities and space will be provided on the basis that child care is flexible enough to meet the needs of shift workers and help attract and retain nurses with young families;

• A plan for nurse workforce sustainability. With 15 nurses retiring a month and Tasmania having the oldest nursing workforce in the nation, added to increasing health demands from an ageing population, it is imperative to begin planning for future needs and a sustainable nursing workforce.

• A commitment to better wages, safe staffing levels and protecting our nurses in their workplace with new laws for serious assault against nurses and hospital workers.

TAS Shadow Minister for Health Brett Whiteley

A Hodgman Liberal Government offers a smarter direction in health in this State and we need nurses beside us to deliver this.

Nurses and other health professionals are best placed to advise government on changes to systems, processes and practices that will deliver better health results for all Tasmanians and listening to our nurses is the real change a Hodgman Liberal Government fully commits to.

Responsibility for Election Comment

Under the provisions of the relevant Electoral Act responsibility for all election comment is assumed by Editor Victor P Taffa. The Registered office of The Southern Thunderer is at 4/69a Darvall Road, West Ryde NSW 2114.

Tasmania Opposition Leader Will Hodgman

Tasmania Shadow Minister for Health Brett Whiteley

LIBERALS TO HELP MAKE CARE EASIER FOR CANCER SUFFERERS 

Victor P Taffa

Tasmania Opposition Leader Will Hodgman and Shadow Minister for Health Brett Whiteley have announced that a Hodgman Liberal Government will create 10 new positions for Cancer Care Coordinators across all regions of the State.

The Liberals have committed $1.729 Million over three years for the positions which will make it easier for cancer patients, their families and carers to navigate their way through the health system.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said:

A Cancer Care Coordinator works direct with patients and their families by providing practical help and support, and coordinating all levels of cancer care and treatment.

Being diagnosed with cancer is frightening enough, but the prospect of not knowing who to turn to for advice, who to ask for support and what support is available, where to go for treatment and other health services, and coordinating all of that while unwell, can add to the distress for patients and their families.

A Cancer Care Coordinator relieves patients and families of this burden by coordinating everything from appointments and referrals, to treatments, support for patients and families, to information and advice on nutrition during treatment to transport options. Because every person’s experience with cancer is different, the role of the Coordinator varies according to the patient’s needs and wishes and the complexity of care required.

With the Coordinator helping with referrals, coordinating appointments, visiting the patient and dealing sympathetically with their needs, and acting as the central contact point for all health professionals in the cancer care team, a lot of stress can be removed from an already stressful situation.

Coordinators also help to ensure a patient experiences no unnecessary delays and gets timely access to treatment.

Cancer Care Coordinators are in line with best practice cancer treatment overseas and interstate, and under a Liberal Government will operate in all regions of the State to provide comforting help to cancer patients in Tasmania.

TAS Shadow Minister for Health Brett Whiteley

Shadow Minister for Health Brett Whiteley said:

The benefits to patients, health services and cancer care teams from Cancer Care Coordinators are numerous and proven.

They include improved patient outcomes (when patients get the right care at the right time), improved use of recommended treatments, improved communication between health providers, decreased duplication and reduced costs over time.

The establishment of cancer care coordinators is recommended in the 2009 report of the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia and the Medical Oncology Group of Australia.

Yet the State Labor Government is not interested in creating these positions, even after a successful Tasmanian trial recommending it.

In 2008, the Department of Health and Human sponsored a 12 month pilot to improve the care of patients with lung and colorectal cancer.

The project employed 2 full time nurses, one at the RHH and one at the LGH, as Cancer Care Coordinators.

An evaluation of the pilot has been completed and recommends Cancer Care Coordinators be established across the State, however the State Labor Government will not fund these positions and has no plans to establish Cancer Care Coordinators across Tasmania.

This is despite :

• A projected growth in cancer patient numbers of 42% by 2021;

• Tasmania having the highest age standardized incidence rates of cancer of any State or Territory;

• Tasmanians being the most likely to die from cancer (age standardized death rates for all cancers in Tasmania for 2005 were 205.2 deaths per 100,000 population compared to the national average of 177.5 deaths per 100,000 population)

Responsibility for Election Comment

Under the provisions of the relevant Electoral Act responsibility for all election comment is assumed by Editor Victor P Taffa. The Registered office of The Southern Thunderer is at 4/69a Darvall Road, West Ryde NSW 2114.