Category: Tasmania

Tassie Resource Minister Blames Lodging Error for Controversial Chinese Mining Lease

Tasmania’s Resources Minister Guy Barnett has blamed a lodging error for his incorrect granting of a lease to a Chinese owned mining company at the site of a contentious mining proposal. Chinese-owned company MMG was granted the lease on an access track in the state’s northwest, near where it wants to build a new heavy…


Tasmania to Reopen Border to Most States in Mid-October

Australia’s smallest state has announced its plan to welcome travellers from states and territories with a low risk of COVID-19 from mid-October. Within a month, people coming from across the country, except from the state of Victoria, will be allowed to enter Tasmania, Premier Peter Gutwein said on Friday. “We won’t open up to the…


Union Pushes Back Against Environment Group’s Claims Against Tasmania’s Salmon Industry

The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) is fighting for Tasmania’s billion-dollar salmon industry amid accusations of rampant environmental and animal abuse. The AWU has blamed environmental groups for inflicting devastating damage on the state’s Atlantic Salmon farming industry through the “significant and deliberate misinformation about its ecological and animal welfare impacts.” AWU Tasmania Branch Secretary Ian…


Australia Halts China Owned Mine Expansion in Tasmania Over Environmental Outcry

The Australian Federal Government has temporarily ceased plans to prolong the life of a majority Chinese state-owned mine in Tasmania following public outcry over its proposal to decimate a section of rainforest. The plan to extend the shelf life of Minerals and Metals Group’s (MMG) 85-year-old Rosebery Mine for another 40 years was put on…


Tasmanian Labor Leader Resigns After Accusations of Sexual Harassment

Tasmania’s State Labor opposition leader has resigned after allegations he sexually harassed a woman over a decade ago. David O’Byrne’s resignation comes just weeks after his ascension to the party’s leadership in the island state. O’Byrne is awaiting the results of an internal investigation by the Labor Party into the matter. He has been accused…


Tasmanian Labor Leader Appoints Long-Time Education Unionist as Chief of Staff

The new leader of Tasmania’s opposition, David O’Byrne, has appointed former unionist Grahame McCulloch to be his chief of staff despite concerns over the influence of left-leaning factions within Tasmanian Labor, which are believed to have driven voters away from the Party at the previous elections. McCulloch, who was the National Tertiary Education Union leader for…


Gas Leak in Tasmanian Salmon Facility Leaves 20 People Hospitalised

More than 20 people have been hospitalised following a gas leak at a Tasmanian salmon processing factory. The incident occurred at Tassal’s Strathblane facility near Dover in southern Tasmania, with staff evacuating the premises at approximately 11:30 a.m. on May 30. An initial assessment by the Tasmania Fire Service found the gas leak was likely…


Tasmania’s Labor Leader Rebecca White Steps Down After Election Loss

Tasmania’s Opposition leader Rebbecca White, who has led the state’s Labor party to two election losses, on Saturday announced that she’s stepping down. “There’s no doubt that after the election last week we needed to reflect on what had occurred and I see the change in leadership for the state parliamentary Labor Party as a…


Liberals Win Tasmania Election

Tasmania’s Liberal Party has claimed a historic third straight election win but whether it can govern in majority probably won’t be known for days. Premier Peter Gutwein is confident but not assured of winning the 13th seat needed to deliver the government a majority in the state’s 25-member lower house. Counting continues after Saturday night’s…


Tasmania Votes After Snap Election Call

Tasmanians are heading to the polls for an election where leaders of the two major parties have pledged not to govern in minority. The Liberal government is seeking a historic third term on Saturday after calling the election a year ahead of schedule. But there is an increasing feeling the level of support for the…