What's Hot? tag:www.renehiddingmp.com,2011:/whats-hot//2 2011-06-24T00:23:38Z Movable Type 3.35 Your ideas can help us Turn Tasmania Around tag:www.renehiddingmp.com,2011:/whats-hot//2.254 2011-06-24T00:20:59Z 2011-06-24T00:23:38Z Recently, Will Hodgman launched the Tasmanian Liberals campaign to encourage everyday Tasmanians to contribute their ideas to make Tasmania a better place.... Rene www.renehiddingmp.com Recently, Will Hodgman launched the Tasmanian Liberals campaign to encourage everyday Tasmanians to contribute their ideas to make Tasmania a better place. Liberal Member for Lyons]]> Supporting Sustainable Forestry and Forestry Workers tag:www.renehiddingmp.com,2010:/whats-hot//2.190 2010-03-11T23:23:33Z 2010-03-11T22:29:46Z A Hodgman Liberal Government believes that, in forestry, we have an industry that we should support and that we should be proud of. It is not without its challenges – it is renewable; it is a sustainable resource based industry... Rene www.renehiddingmp.com A Hodgman Liberal Government believes that, in forestry, we have an industry that we should support and that we should be proud of. It is not without its challenges – it is renewable; it is a sustainable resource based industry that employs thousands of Tasmanians, and it’s an industry that we should continue to develop and invest in. Tasmania has a world class forestry industry operating in a small State which has over 1,000,000 hectares of our forests reserved. In spite of industry challenges, forestry is fundamentally a world-class industry that sustainably manages our precious forests, directly employs thousands of Tasmanians and indirectly employs many thousands more. We must also never forget that Tasmania has the highest percentage of its landmass in permanently protected reserves of any jurisdiction anywhere in the world. The forestry industry is an industry that we can all rightly be proud of, and we will be doing all that we can to make sure that it emerges once again as a stronger, sustainable driving force behind our economy. We do need to resolve the age-old problem with shipping woodchips overseas, and that’s why we support the pulp mill project. If resolving the forest conflict means closing a sustainable forestry industry in this State, the Tasmanian Liberals cannot and will not support that. But we do support, and will continue to support, the forest industry that focuses on best practice in environmental management and sustainability – and that is what, in government, we would encourage and promote. A Hodgman Liberal Government will actively promote best practice and investment in the forest industry, which is the best way to secure local jobs and provide new employment opportunities for young Tasmanians. Resource security There is no doubt that the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA), first established in 1997 by State and Federal Liberal governments, and the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement have brought major benefits to the industry, providing a strong pathway into the future and significant outcomes in terms of the Tasmanian environment. Forestry is by its nature a renewable and sustainable industry, but to deliver that outcome it must also be environmentally responsible. The Government must also, in cooperation with the industry, establish a policy framework which promotes value-adding and downstream processing through private sector investment, which can only be achieved by a positive investment climate. A Hodgman Liberal Government will provide resource security to the forestry industry. We strongly support the Regional Forest Agreement and the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement. They have together provided a secure future, as well as improving forest practices and protecting for all time environmentally significant parts of the State. A Hodgman Liberal Government believes that if a party is meeting its obligations under an RFA to an acceptable standard, the RFA should be extended. Accordingly, on election we will begin negotiations with the Federal Government not only to provide a 20 year evergreen agreement from 2017 but to provide for rolling renewals after each five-yearly review. If the performance requirements are not met, no extension of the RFA will be offered until it can be demonstrated that the requirements are being met. A rolling renewal system would incorporate changing policy and industry needs such as climate change adaptation and take into account projections of the availability of the resource. A Hodgman Liberal Government will establish an independent review of the forest resource available on private and public land in Tasmania and that the resource promised to Ta Ann Tasmania veneer mills is available and that supply to those mills does not adversely affect traditional sawmill resources. We will ensure that such a review is conducted in such a manner as to permit a comprehensive assessment at a regional level of the available resource, the current and potential processing capacity and market availability to ensure a strategic framework exists to assess potential industry growth. Pulp Mill The Tasmanian Liberals strongly support the construction of a pulp mill at Longreach, provided it meets, and continues to meet, State and Federal environmental and other requirements. We believe it is essential that the Liberal Party’s support for a pulp mill using 100 per cent plantation-based timber is re-stated, and that the proponent should get on with finalising arrangements for the project to be constructed. Plantations Growing trees is no different from growing any other crop – trees are a renewable resource. We believe that plantation forestry is a significant part of the sector and a major component of the economy of hundreds of Tasmanian rural towns. We re-affirm our support for the Plantation 2020 Vision and we will implement the commitments contained within that strategy. Forest Industry Mediation Service We will provide $600,000 to establish a Forest Industry Mediation Service which will provide a non-complex way of resolving disagreements between forest contractors, and forest companies along the lines of a small claims court – with minimal red tape and formality. Assistance for Forest Contractors The Tasmanian Liberals recognise the significant effect the downturn in woodchip markets has had on forest contractors. We will provide $1.2 million additional assistance to a Forest Contractors Assistance Fund to help contractors meet urgent interest requirements on existing loans, with eligible contractors applying to the Department of Economic Development for assistance. Legislation We will introduce amendments to Parliament to the Forest Practices Act 1985 to cement in law that the Forest Practices Board must examine not only environmental impacts of decisions they make, but also social and economic impacts – this is the ‘triple bottom line’ approach. We support the right to legitimate protest, but not where it involves obstruction to people earning a living or vandalism of vehicles and machinery. We will therefore re-introduce legislation to tighten the law in regard to damage and obstruction to machinery in any workplace, including forestry and agriculture. This legislation was opposed by Labor in the last Parliament, but we believe the law must be strengthened in this regard. We will also introduce amendments to the Forestry (Fair Contracts Code) Act 2001 to ensure that contracts under the Code are explicitly required to be fairly negotiated. Supporting sustainability into the future •The Tasmanian Liberals support planning for the future in the forest industry. We will provide $750,000 per year to support the Tasmanian Timber brand. •We will also provide $500,000 to support the extension of chain of custody certification for processors and forest certification for private forest growers. Forest Industry Plan We believe The Forests and Forest Industry Council’s Forest Industry Plan provides a strong strategy for future growth of the industry. It identifies new opportunities for investment and the potential to create 2,000 new jobs. This has the potential to double the economic contribution to the State to $4 billion each year. We will show our commitment to good planning in forestry by providing $2 million to implement The Forests and Forest Industry Council’s Forest Industry Plan. Support for training and re-skilling in the industry A Hodgman Liberal Government will provide funding of up to $300,000 over two years to the not-for-profit organisation ForestWorks Tasmania, to enable it to continue to deliver opportunities for training and skill development within the forestry, wood, paper and timber products industry. This will help protect local jobs, maintain existing expertise in the forest training and skill development sector and ensure that re-skilling opportunities for workers leaving the forestry sector temporarily or permanently are maximized. Current funding for ForestWorks Tasmania ceases in September 2010 and the Tasmanian Liberals believe it should be continued. Promoting forestry A Hodgman Liberal Government will work with the industry to identify barriers to further investment in the industry and will undertake joint approaches to remove those impediments. Politically-motivated misinformation about the forest industry has affected Tasmania’s reputation interstate and internationally. To support an informed and rational debate, a Hodgman Liberal Government will provide $200,000 to promote the sustainable nature of the forest industry in Tasmania and interstate and will encourage other stakeholders in the industry to also provide support. The nature of the promotion will be finalised with stakeholders and the industry but will include educational material which emphasizes the environmental practices in the industry. We will examine using the Tasmanian Timber Promotions Board to assist in this. Government procurement We will encourage State and Local Government to actively encourage the use of quality Tasmanian timber in construction where that timber is certified under an internationally accredited forest certification scheme, adopting best practice building techniques to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and maximise the use of renewable energy. Given the combined purchasing power of the government and local councils, there is merit in examining whether the policy adopted in New Zealand to positively promote the utilization and procurement of locally produced timber materials in government building and construction is suitable for adoption in Tasmania. Such an approach would also assist Tasmania to meet its goals to reduce carbon emissions. Chemical use Assessment of chemical use in any industry in Tasmania must be science and evidence based, and forestry is no exception to that principle. The Tasmanian Liberals have already announced a significant $950,000 Pesticides and Chemicals Testing policy which increases resources for testing of pesticides and chemicals in water. We will ensure thresholds are clearly established to ensure water quality is not compromised and we will be guided in this by the relevant national and international standards. It is essential that the public have confidence that any testing regime is not only based on science but is completely independent. We are also committed to an independent scientific inquiry relating to the St Helens water issue. In terms of what chemicals are safe to be used in Tasmania, how they should be used and on what crops, a Hodgman Liberal Government would be guided by the independent scientific assessments undertaken by the regulatory body, the APVMA. Improving Pesticide and Chemical Monitoring in Tasmania tag:www.renehiddingmp.com,2010:/whats-hot//2.183 2010-03-05T03:13:53Z 2010-03-05T02:14:58Z We will also commit to examining the current regulatory settings to ensure the system is based on good science and adequately protects human health, the environment and the users of these chemicals.... Rene www.renehiddingmp.com We will also commit to examining the current regulatory settings to ensure the system is based on good science and adequately protects human health, the environment and the users of these chemicals. Why this policy is needed Our monitoring process needs to be overhauled to ensure that it is effective and targeted, based on science, good reporting practices, risk assessment and a focus on getting the best environmental and health outcomes for Tasmania. Even the General Manager of Biosecurity and Product Integrity from the Department of Primary Industries and Water has conceded the system is not ideal. He has been quoted in the media (The Australian 21 April 2009) that the sites tested were not necessarily the best for detecting contamination: “Monitoring sites exist because they are sites surveyed for other purposes. If you wanted to look at triazine contamination you would want to look at different sites.” While the scientific community is yet to reach conclusive agreement on these matters, there is growing concern in the community about the potential effects of pesticide and chemical contamination on human and environmental health. In order to respond to this concern and base an assessment soundly on scientific monitoring we must be vigilant on the extent of any waterway contamination. We must have up to date measurement of what is being found in our waterways and ground water, but also link this data to known patterns of usage. We will also assess the viability of a pilot program of ‘marking’ user’s chemicals to identify where chemicals are coming from should they be detected. This may help us to identify the path chemicals take through the environment. Should a renewed science-based pesticides monitoring program reveal ongoing problems of concerning levels in particular waterways or catchments, the improved data will allow the Government to work with chemical users in the area to progress mitigation techniques and ensure better outcomes for all land managers, the environment and human health. We need a clear picture of where and to what extent chemicals are present in our environment so that we can approach mitigation strategies from a factual, and not emotive, standpoint. Results of testing must always declare the extent to which the amount of any particular contaminants compares with the relevant applicable national standard. A Hodgman Liberal Government will work constructively with all stakeholders be they recreational, Local Government, agricultural or industry users and regional water authorities, together with key health and environmental organisations. We will do this to develop robust, science-based approaches to improve risk-based chemical monitoring and reporting, complemented by improved education, information and enforcement. Education is a critical part of chemical use. It is vital that all chemical users, in whatever industry, have a thorough understanding of chemicals, their application, and their movement through the environment. It is also important that the wider community is informed so that chemical users are not unfairly accused of causing water contamination. Continued development of programs which predict the optimum application times should be pursued. What this policy means for pesticide and chemical testing in Tasmania This policy requires a rethink of the current testing regime. The new testing process should be based on a risk assessment that considers testing based on the following grounds: Identification of industry and agricultural sectors with a known or likely propensity to use pesticides and other chemicals and their relationship to waterways; The chemicals likely to be in use and their characteristics with regard to mobility; The historical data of chemicals used in catchments; The seasonal factors that may influence possible contamination such as rainfall and patterns of usage; The sensitivity of the surrounding environment and pesticide use is included in integrated catchment management plans. It should consider the likelihood that any water contaminated above acceptable levels may be digested or make contact with people; A risk assessed, strategic approach to testing is far more likely to give an accurate picture of the scope of chemicals in our environment than the current regime. This information is essential if we have any hope of understanding the potential human and environmental health problems that may be caused by recreational, agricultural and industrial chemical usage and any necessary chemical policy reforms that may ensue from this, for example chemical substitution. Improved risk assessments, testing and reporting must be backed up by real action. Effectively dealing with this issue requires improved education and information for users, neighbours and the community as well as increased capacity to properly investigate potential complaints and incidents. A Hodgman Liberal Government would therefore increase funding to a revamped Spray Information and Referral Unit, currently within the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, to provide additional staff capacity and an improved spray referral hotline. After more than 11 years of Labor... The issue of dangerous chemicals cuts across three Ministerial portfolios and none of the responsible Ministers appear to have the issue on their radar. Last year the Environment Minister claimed that she is “quite convinced” that Tasmania’s pesticide regulatory measures are up to scratch. This claim conflicts with the publicly stated view of her own departmental officers and the stance of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, who have said that chemicals should not be present in ground water (chemicals were detected at several ground water test sites in 2009). If a senior responsible officer has conceded the testing regime is less than optimal then it is the responsibility of the State Government to seek improvements, which it has failed to do. Not only is the detection of chemicals in our watercourses potentially damaging to the environment and our brand, but there are many people in the community who are increasingly concerned about the possible impacts on human health – Labor has ignored this but a Hodgman Liberal Government will not. The policy offers a real change and a better monitoring regime into the future. Four-Lane Midland Highway tag:www.renehiddingmp.com,2010:/whats-hot//2.182 2010-03-05T02:47:12Z 2010-03-05T01:48:24Z The Midland Highway and Bass Highway form part of the National Highway Network and are the major freight and passenger route in Tasmania. Between 2001 and 2005 almost 40% of all Tasmanian crashes occurred on the National Highway (Bass and... Rene www.renehiddingmp.com The Midland Highway and Bass Highway form part of the National Highway Network and are the major freight and passenger route in Tasmania. Between 2001 and 2005 almost 40% of all Tasmanian crashes occurred on the National Highway (Bass and Midland Highways). Over the past 5 years, the Tasmanian Corridor Strategy has found that Tasmanian container freight has grown by 10.5% a year, but even with a more conservative 6% a year growth, Tasmania would experience a doubling of container freight in 10 years (by 2017). Whilst population growth is not great, Tasmanians are moving from the centre of towns to urban fringes. The Strategy finds that there will be increased passenger travel. Passenger travel for education and services will also increase. Patient transport and travel by University of Tasmania staff and students are prime examples. General Freight transport by road is expected to double over the next 20-25 years. Tasmania will continue to have the highest level of car ownership per capita of any State. Between 2005 and 2030, freight movements are forecast to increase by 70% and passenger movements by 40%. Freight carried by rail is forecast to increase by over 120% over the same period. Historically, the Port of Hobart was the main trading port for Southern Tasmania. The Tasmanian Corridor Strategy has found that over the last 20 years, the Hobart port’s throughput has significantly declined, while the freight task between Southern Tasmania and the northern ports has continued to increase with more than 30% of containers leaving our northern ports originating from the south. State and Federal governments have recognised this trend with the progressive upgrade to dual carriageway of the Bass Highway between Devonport and Burnie (now completed). Since the Tasmanian Liberals committed to a long-term four-lane Midland Highway plan, Labor has made many incorrect and deliberately misleading claims about the project, effectively seeking to sabotage efforts to attract federal funds for this project and sending a message that Tasmanians don’t deserve quality infrastructure. Claim #1: The Infrastructure Minister suggests the Liberal plan would cost “over $2 billion”. Fact: This seems to be a figure plucked out of the air, based on a fresh new 4-lane road on a new route, with new bridges, etc. Proof of the unreliability of this assertion is that, when asked to justify it, the Minister pointed to the cost of the Brighton bypass. This is totally misleading: the Liberal plan does not propose a new route, nor does it propose a new 4-lane road. Claim #2: In attempts to criticise the Liberal plan for a four lane Midland Highway, the Infrastructure Minister has suggested “a second carriageway would need to be provided between Pontville and Breadalbane – a distance of about 160 kilometres”. Fact: This ignores the existing 11 four lane stretches which already exist between Pontville and Perth (totaling 20 km) and the over 16 km of stretches with 3 lanes already built. Australian Transport Safety Bureau figures put the parts of the Midland Highway which are not dual carriageway at about 120 km. Claim #3: The Minister also suggests bypasses of Campbell Town and Perth would add to the cost, as would new bridges in both towns. Fact: The Liberal plan does not include bypasses of either town. Indeed, in regard to Campbell Town the highway provides an important economic base and the town provides a desirable ‘driver reviver’ centre for food, petrol, conveniences and a children’s playground. Claim #4: The Infrastructure Minister says that traffic volumes in the centre of the Midland Highway are about 5,000 vehicles a day. Fact: His own department’s Tasmanian Corridor Strategy predicts increases on all sectors of the Midland Highway over the next 25 years, including: a 34% increase in passenger transport between Perth and Conara; a 72% increase in freight transport between Perth and Conara; a 34% increase in passenger transport between Conara and Brighton; and a 67% increase in freight transport between Conara and Brighton Plus significant increases in freight and passenger transport levels between Brighton and Bridgewater which are already being addressed by the vital Brighton bypass. A Hodgman Liberal Government will negotiate to apply AusLink funds to upgrade, where appropriate, those sections of the Midland Highway that are currently not dual carriageway. The Tasmanian Liberals have adopted as policy the progressive duplication of approximately 120 km of the Midland Highway which is not yet dual carriageway. We will seek to work co-operatively with the Federal Government of the day on this important infrastructure project. Bypasses of Perth and Campbell Town have not been considered and are not included in our proposal. Civil engineers have informed us that the current cost for one kilometre of a two lane road built to National Highway standards would be between $1M and $2M depending on topography. We have also added a contingency to ensure that land acquisitions, bridges and junctions were able to be funded. To ensure that we are prudent in our costing we have used the high end figure of $2M per kilometre and have added a 60% contingency (for a total of $3.2M per km). An example of recent works is that the duplication of the West Tamar Highway between Cormiston Road and Legana Park Drive cost in total $8M for a distance of 3.5 km. The cost per km was $2.28M. It is worth noting that these works include a major roundabout as well as an extra 2 metres of sealed shoulder on the outside of each carriageway for cyclists. Therefore based on 120 km of highway requiring duplication, our estimate of the current cost of this project is around $400M. This has been supported by the highly regarded Tasmanian civil contractor Alwyn Shaw who has said the figures are based on similar jobs his company has done on the National Highway including Hadspen to Launceston, Ulverstone to Penguin, the Sorell Causeway and Bass Highway bypasses. The Tasmanian Liberals have written to the Prime Minister to request that the Federal Government include an upgrade of the highway in its AusLink priorities over the next 20 years. Under AusLink arrangements the Federal Government usually funds 80% of the cost of the project. We received a response from the Federal Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese MP who did not rule out this project receiving funding. Planning for the upgrade of the Midland Highway will commence during the first term of a Hodgman Liberal Government and subject to achieving a commitment from the Federal Government for national Highway funding, a program of works will commence in 2014/15. Who’s leading with good police public policy in Tasmania? tag:www.renehiddingmp.com,2009:/whats-hot//2.148 2009-08-20T05:06:17Z 2009-08-20T05:26:29Z In response to a growing epidemic of dangerous driving and disqualified driving, the State Liberals produced a formal policy on vehicle impoundment.... Rene www.renehiddingmp.com In response to a growing epidemic of dangerous driving and disqualified driving, the State Liberals produced a formal policy on vehicle impoundment. view our policy here: Earlier this year the State Liberals released a formal policy paper that committed a Hodgman Liberal Government to the roll-out of high-visibility highway patrol cars in Tasmania. Following the release of this policy and the selling of the research of logic behind this policy, the Minister announced the adoption of the Liberal’s policy and even invited Rene Hidding to the public unveiling of the four specially marked HI-VIS patrol cars. Have you seen one of the new high visibility cars? Tell us what you think? See this policy here. The legislation introduced for drug testing of drivers under the influence of a drug was the result of much hard work and sustained pressure by the State Liberals. We aim to continue work on this area of policy as part of our commitment to ensure greater safety for motorists on Tasmanian roads The saga of the new $1.5million police vessel PV Fortescue was nothing short of a shambles. This process saw the avoidance of a public tendering process and the matter referred to the Auditor General by Rene Hidding and the result of that was an adverse finding. The State Liberals continued to pressure the State Labor Government on this issue. Rene Hidding revealed that the PV Fortescue had serious design and operational issues, despite the Minister protesting loudly that everything was fine with the boat and it was about to go into service. Following relentless public pressuring, the Minister finally informed the Parliament that the PV Fortescue would come out of the water and not be put into service until such time that it was satisfactorily rebuilt. Rene Hidding, over successive years of Police Estimates scrutiny, highlighted the dangers of unloading of the police Glock firearm. As a result of revealing a series of dangerous incidents, special metal unloading traps were installed in all police stations.
So given the State Liberals leadership and vision from Opposition, imagine what tremendous things we’ll be able to do when we get into Government in 2010?
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