The Tasmanian Greens today delivered to Police on their request all the reassembled shredded documents and remaining shreddings received by them from a whistle blower, which originated from the office of former Deputy Premier Steve Kons and are integral to the Shreddergate affair that saw Mr Kons resign his portfolios for lying to Parliament.

Greens Member for Bass Kim Booth MP who received the shredded documents is co-operating with Police and will also be making a statement when he attends the Police headquarters in Hobart. (more…)

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today welcomed the news that the Rudd government will begin the process of same-sex law reform later this year.

“This is good news but The Greens believe that same-sex couples should not face any discrimination in federal law,” said Senator Nettle.

“The Greens will continue to push for the removal of all discrimination, including in relation to marriage. (more…)

(councillor contribution for April edition of the Palerang Bulletin)

In early April I attended, for the first time, the Australian Local Government Women’s Association Conference, this year hosted by Rockdale City Council in Sydney (next year it will be Queanbeyan’s turn). The program comprised almost all plenary sessions and government/bureaucracy contributions came from Anthony Albanese, Leader of the House, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Ross Woodward, Deputy Director General, NSW Department of Local Government; Paul Lynch, Minister for Local Government etc; and Frank Sartor, Member for Rockdale and Minister for Planning etc.

It wouldn’t be hard to feel isolated when you are the only woman councillor, especially if you don’t go to the pub after and sometimes before meetings, or do the pre-meeting lobbying that seems to be such an integral part of “the way things are done”. So it was comforting though simultaneously somewhat alarming to repeatedly hear complaints about “the boys’ club”, which seems to dominate so much of local government, both elected and managerial. (more…)

(letter to local papers, April 2 editions)

In a recent letter to this paper, I concluded by saying “as for the cost to the ratepayers of these developments, well that’s another question again, and will only be answered in future rates notices.”

Council is in the process of determining the Management Plan and Budget for the coming year/s and rates and some charges are set to rise again, with the motion to apply to the Minister for a Special Variation which will fund a number of roadworks having been approved at the last meeting.  Council subsidisation of the OOSH ($8 901) and the CTC (now the grant has run out, Council would need to start funding the management of this facility to the tune of $31 825) seems to be causing quite a problem, yet the issue of the cost to the community of development is not addressed at all. (more…)