By: wockeni
25/05/2007
4:21 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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< "The Tasmanian Government is planning legislation to arrest smoking parents with children in their car, if they fail to comply with a police order to butt out, or refuse to have their car and children's teddy bears searched.
At the same time the government has refused to provide adequate funding for anti-smoking campaigns, and have closed the only State hospital smoking cessation support clinic.
They have refused to introduce legislation to remove cigarettes from the view of children. Their policy seems to be punish the smokers, not the people who sell and blatantly advertise the product with flashy displays of cigarettes at every checkout." >
And punish the people for not agreeing with the govt. |
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By: bovine_blue
25/05/2007
9:59 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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"Their policy seems to be punish the smokers, not the people who sell and blatantly advertise the product with flashy displays of cigarettes at every checkout."
They make money when they sell ciggies and they make money when they fine people. That's governments for you. |
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By: coachjacki
26/05/2007
12:01 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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This is getting a bit outta control.
And... er... what's with searching kids teddy bears???? LMAO that's just nasty. |
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By: wockeni
4/06/2007
9:34 am Yahoo! Profile:
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"Lara Giddings announced last week it was turning the Central Highlands Hospital at Ouse into a simple community health centre, axing the North-West Mersey Hospital's intensive care unit and scrapping 24-hour medical services at Rosebery Hospital.
The controversial moves are part of a bold plan to contain spiralling government health costs and solve staffing problems by centralising hospital services in Tasmania's three largest cities."
More like a plan to build a super hospital in Hobart on prime harbourside real estate and downgrade the infrastructure in the 'less important' areas of the state. |
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By: wockeni
4/06/2007
9:37 am Yahoo! Profile:
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"Paul Lennon admitted the next Labor premier is probably already sitting in State Parliament, and nominated Health Minister Lara Giddings, 34, for special accolades.
Mr Lennon praised Ms Giddings for her courage in introducing last week's sweeping health reforms to three regional hospitals, and for facing up to protesting local residents without losing her nerve."
She held her nerve, but will lose her seat. You just don't get it do you Premier, we do not like you and we do not like her. |
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By: wockeni
4/06/2007
9:40 am Yahoo! Profile:
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THOUSANDS of concerned demonstrators marched through the cold and rain at Latrobe yesterday to protest against the planned downgrade of the Mersey Hospital.
Labor Braddon MHA Brenton Best was one of the estimated 2000 to express anger at the sweeping health reforms.
Mr Best's colleague Health Minister Lara Giddings, who last week pleaded with the people of the North-West to give her plan a chance, did not attend the rally.
Mr Best, who has built his political career on supporting the Mersey, told the hostile crowd he would consider crossing the floor to vote against the reform. |
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By: wockeni
4/06/2007
9:41 am Yahoo! Profile:
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<"Disgraceful, but well in line with a government so out of touch with reality, that our ambulance service only exists due to the tireless work of volunteers who make up the majority of the service. Check their website via the following link. http://www.tasmanianambulancevolunteers.asn.au/ Perhaps the politicians could give back their shiny new cars and put the money towards looking after our community instead of themselves?">
Posted by: Dave Groves ... |
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By: wockeni
4/06/2007
9:43 am Yahoo! Profile:
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"The Tasmanian Government is poised to announce a user-pays ambulance service in Thursday's State Budget.
The controversial move will help pay for the extra paramedics and ambulances needed under a plan to cut hospital services in regional centres including Ouse, Rosebery, St Marys and Latrobe." |
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By: pink_gallah
4/06/2007
10:07 am Yahoo! Profile:
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| I am predicting that Paul Lennon will not survive the next state election ... |
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By: wockeni
4/06/2007
10:45 am Yahoo! Profile:
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| Pink, I will be surprised if he makes it that far. |
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By: coachjacki
4/06/2007
10:49 am Yahoo! Profile:
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I see. Take away local hospital services and then make the poor sods pay through the nose for the long drive to the city hospitals where there may or may not be enough qualified staff to actually do anything - that's if the poor bugger survived the trip in the first place.
Gee thanks a lot Lennon and co.
Selling up and moving back to the mainland is looking more attractive every day. |
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By: coachjacki
4/06/2007
10:50 am Yahoo! Profile:
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| PS - apparently the Yahoo forum doesnt mind me writing "bugger" but "pu nter" is out of the question LMAO |
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By: wockeni
10/07/2007
11:18 am Yahoo! Profile:
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THE use of $300,000 of taxpayers' money to promote the controversial Gunns pulp mill has sparked fury.
The campaign would run for the next six weeks, leading up to a vote in the Tasmanian Parliament on the pulp mill's future.
Every Tasmanian household may be sent another letter from the Premier extolling the benefits of a "modern and safe pulp mill" as part of the $300,000 offensive.
Mr Aird (the Treasurer) said it was appropriate for the Government to spend so much money pushing the aspirations of a large private-sector corporation.
Elwick independent MLC Terry Martin is outraged at the intervention on Gunns' behalf.
"I am dumbfounded, incredulous -- apart from all the good-governance and ethical aspects there is the very real judiciary issue of using taxpayers' money to promote a private development," Mr Martin said.
"Gunns should be spending this money and not the Government. I think this will outrage the community."
He also pointed out that the $300,000 would be enough to keep the small Ouse hospital in the Central Highlands open for another three years.
Mr Aird said the Government did not need to appear objective since it had never supported any other position than wanting to see the pulp mill built on the Tamar River north of Launceston.
He denied the campaign was about trying to force at least four of the 10 independent Legislative Councillors to give the mill the green light at August's final vote.
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By: wockeni
10/07/2007
11:19 am Yahoo! Profile:
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Lennon says there's no money to pay for 62 staff at Launceston General Hospital, yet there's plenty to spare for TV ads to spruik a pulp mill for his mates. It's incredible, and wouldn't be tolerated in any other state. Meanwhile where's Mr Invisible, the opposition leader ? Do we even have one ?
Posted by: Janet404 10:26am today |
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By: wockeni
10/07/2007
11:20 am Yahoo! Profile:
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This premier lurches from one ill-conceived decision to another - every time he opens his mouth he alienates another bunch of people. As someone pointed out, 300 000 dollars is enough to keep Ouse hospital open for three years! And this money - our money - is being spent doing a private company's bidding - it is atrocious behaviour. Let us not forget that a government is voted in to look after the interests of ALL the citizens, not just the vested interests of corporations, no matter how fast they spin to try and justify it. The WIN TV phone-in poll had interesting results - about 25% in favour of the Tamar pulp mill and 75% against.
Posted by: Anne Johnston of West Tamar 10:15am today |
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By: wockeni
10/07/2007
11:22 am Yahoo! Profile:
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I have asked this before, but I ask again... how do you get rid of an out of control government ? Or do we have to endure whatever damage they can wreak in their term ? How dare they assume that I want my taxes spent on yet another advertising campaign for this private company. Can all of us who have a business in Tasmania put up our hand for a handout ? No. We are the ones, along with all Tasmanian taxpayers, who have to subsidise one of Australias biggest companies in their apparent quest to remove as many trees as possible while, at the same time, employing less and less people in the forest industry. The time has come for Tasmania to think smarter and move on from the 80s meathead Queensland style politics we are now witnessing. I hope the Federal Government is heeding the anger across Tasmania, as the local "mob" don't seem to care. Cheers, Allan
Posted by: Allan Miller of Launceston 9:47am today |
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By: wockeni
10/07/2007
11:22 am Yahoo! Profile:
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WIN News Phone Poll run from 6PM Friday to 6PM Monday (72 hours) had 9000 respondents with 75% against pulp mill construction proceeding. So either the anti-pulp mill lobby constitute a greater proportion of Tasmanians or the pro-pulp mill lobby aren't quite so committed to their position that they'd want to vote in a non-compulsory poll. Might that be because the pro-pulp mill lobby aren't quite as sure of their facts? Given the determination that Lennon has shown in bulldozing this proposal through, we in the Tamar Valley have put a heck of a lot of time & effort into making sure we know the facts in order to estimate the level of risk from Lennon's course of action. This has also proved valuable for assessing just how well informed our local councillors, state & federal reps are based on their media comments. Those elected reps who appear to have a tenuous grip on reality can expect to be dumped at upcoming Federal & council elections. Perhaps seeing that happen will have some impact on Lennon and the Tasmanian parliamentary Labor party. Nothing else seems to.
Posted by: John Majors of Launceston 9:37am today |
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By: wockeni
10/07/2007
11:24 am Yahoo! Profile:
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If ever you hear the Premier declare how hard his government is working to solve the health crisis in this state, don't believe it for a minute. Terry Martin is exactly right. That the Premier can find $15 million for a football club and dip endlessly into public money to support this stinking poisonous mill, while hospitals have to downgrade or merge, is utterly pathetic. Don't get me started on the Pulp Mill Task Force, either.
Posted by: Camster of Paterson's Curse 9:20am toda |
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By: wockeni
10/07/2007
11:25 am Yahoo! Profile:
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This scandalous abuse of ministerial responsibility and taxpayers money plunges governance in this State to new depths. Tasmania's image and reputation has been hung out to dry as a result of this and a long string of other fiascos the latest of which was aired on the ABC's Australian Story last night which exposed the Government's abject handling of inquiries into deaths in the mining industry. To make matters worse the Government appears to think that they are justified in their actions and the spineless Liberal opposition does nothing to hold them to account. It is clear that the Tasmanian people are sick of this state of affairs and action/intervention is required now to prevent this state from disappearing into the abyss.
Posted by: Malcolm of Hobart 9:07am today |
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By: wockeni
10/07/2007
11:26 am Yahoo! Profile:
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Why isn't Gunns paying for its own advertising?If I advertise something for sale from now on I'll send the bill to Lennon and I suggest everyone does the same!!!
Posted by: pat of longley 8:19am today |
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By: pink_gallah_rehatched
11/07/2007
11:52 am Yahoo! Profile:
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"Meanwhile where's Mr Invisible, the opposition leader ? Do we even have one ? "
I ask myself this question every day, we can only asume their deafening silence indicates that they are more than happy for Gunn't to take over running this State. |
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By: wockeni
12/07/2007
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<"Mr Hodgman described the heated scenes in the Legislative Council as the "lowest" personal attack he had seen in his 41 years in federal and Tasmanian politics.
Mr Hodgman, 68, said he was determined as the second longest-serving member of the Tasmanian Parliament to speak out about the "vile attack on the Honourable Terry Martin".
"Terry Martin is a person of absolute honour and integrity -- qualities which are totally unknown to this thuggish Labor Government," he said.
"It proves to us all that the Labor Party today has become brutal, ugly and unprincipled under the thug leadership of (Premier) Paul Lennon.
"What I really hate is this Government's attitude that anyone who disagrees with them is personally attacked."> |
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By: wockeni
12/07/2007
11:02 am Yahoo! Profile:
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| Mr Martin quit Labor ranks in March after voting against fast-track assessment legislation for the pulp mill. |
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By: wockeni
12/07/2007
2:37 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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A Labor Party member writes from Hobart, Tasmania:
I'm a member of the Labor Party in Tasmania and I think Paul Lennon stinks. I think his Government stinks. I think the relationship with Gunns is disgraceful and the handling of the pulp mill proposal, in particular, is an example of a bullying Government behaving at its very worst.
The Lennon Government is a poisonous government. Anyone who raises a scintilla of criticism is dragged out and kicked and kicked and kicked till they're a whimpering, bloodied mess. This is a Government of thugs where thuggery reigns supreme. Like a medieval monarch, Lennon rewards his nastiest, most vicious dogs with the juiciest rewards - as long as they whimper at his feet.
You'd think this would all be grist for the mill for the Liberal Opposition but they are pathetic, snivelling, grovellers at the feet of Gunns. What a sorry state of affairs for this otherwise sensational island state. The Greens and ejected Labor MP Terry Martin provide the only voices of dissent and every time they do they are vilified and attacked, not for what they say, but for saying anything at all. |
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By: wockeni
12/07/2007
2:38 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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The unfolding of the pulp mill process is stomach-churning. It should have been simple enough:
1. Gunns applies to build a pulp mill.
2. The Lennon Government announces enthusiastic support but promises the application will go through the required process (independent assessment by the RPDC).
3. The RPDC assesses various criteria and receives full cooperation from Gunns. Meanwhile, the Lennon Government butts out till the assessment is complete.
4. Gunns runs whatever public relations and advertising campaign it likes, using its own funds.
5. The RPDC makes its recommendation and a) the Government abides by the recommendation in full or in part or, b) the Government decides to act counter to it. The Government explains its decision and reasons to parliament and in a media statement but not in taxpayer-funded advertising.
6. The pulp mill is built (or not) depending on what the Government decides.
Instead of the above, the Lennon Government sacked the RPDC and established a complicated process clearly designed to provide a positive recommendation. And even despite all the goal-post shifting and rule-changing, the new consultants still said the mill didn't meet environmental promises. |
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