TAS


Stoned wallabies, not aliens, damaging poppy crops

The mystery of crop circles in and around Tasmania’s legal opium poppy fields may have been solved. It’s not aliens, but junkie wallabies hopping around in dazed circles.

Tasmania plans TV show to promote state

The Tasmanian Government is planning to pay a TV broadcaster to develop, make and air a series promoting the state as an exciting place to live and do business. Good luck with that.

Violence and extinction in Tasmania’s forests

It’s been a bad for Tasmania’s forests and for those responsible for administering them, writes Tim Hollo.

First Dog Special News Bulletin…

Pay careful attention because this is quite complicated

Kennett: hand outs good for Hawks, but not lazy low income earners

Mr. Kennett thinks $15 million is better spent on his football club, rather than on those lazy low income earners and welfare bludgers who sleep rough every night, writes Greg Barns.

Greens go soft on Dick Smith

Why aren’t Bob Brown and his colleagues in the Tasmanian Greens outraged at the aggressive tactics of millionaire adventurer and developer Dick Smith?, asks Greg Barns.

Tasmanians are struggling as much as their trees

Tasmania is Australia’s Mississippi or Alabama, writes Greg Barns.

Tassie police join island corruption club

There is nothing transparent about a police commissioner being investigated by his own officers, writes Greg Barns.

Tasmanian politics and the unfortunate vignette of Paula Wriedt

In the aftermath of Paula Wriedt’s attempted suicide, let’s consider the state of affairs in Tasmania in terms of both ministerial workloads and parliamentary representation, writes Bruce Montgomery.

Back to square one on the Mersey Hospital

Ten months later and hundreds of political bickering days after the infamous Federal Government takeover in the marginal electorate of Braddon in North West Tasmania, today the Mersey Hospital is back under State Government control, writes Mike Walker.

Paul Lennon just couldn’t bring home the Bacon

Paul Lennon’s greatest failing was to not break from the political culture of Jim Bacon, writes Tasmanian Times editor Lindsay Tuffin .

Richard Farmer’s political bite-sized meaty chunks

Meaty snippets from the home of government plus the daily reality check and the pick of other people’s political coverage. Richard Farmer writes.

Lennon goes anti-gay to woo Church votes

As the Lennon Government in Tasmania tumbles in the polls it needs to find a new constituency, one it hasn’t reached out to before - the Religious Right, writes a Tasmanian politics insider.

Kons rolled by tenacity and sticky tape: a Tasmanian view

As a long time Tasmanian media professional, I have enjoyed reading commentator Greg Barns’ take on the extraordinary events of the past week in Tasmanian politics. There is, as always, more to the story. By Cassy O’Connor.

New deputy puts Paul Lennon on notice

Tasmania’s new Deputy Premier, David Bartlett, stands ready to mount a challenge against Paul Lennon if the hapless premier doesn’t improve his standing before the end of the year, writes Greg Barns.

Lennon loses another deputy: once is careless, twice …

Tasmanian deputy premier Steve Koms has resigned. The blame lies with Paul Lennon, writes Greg Br=arbns.

Tassie Libs hold fire on big party donor

The Liberal Party in Tasmania has never been too keen on its members publicly lashing the party’s leadership – unless of course you happen to work for a major party donor, writes Greg Barns.

Polling in Tasmania: every head counts

Here’s a quick refresher course in electoral history. Bob Hawke won in 1983 and 1984 without winning a single seat in Tasmania. We hear a disproportionate amount about the state at election time, writes Christian Kerr.

The Greens simply don’t want any forestry in Tasmania

The Greens are entitled to their view, but with no more than 20 percent of the vote in Tasmania and 9 percent nationally, they are not entitled to force it on the rest of the community, writes senior consultant at ITS Global Khalil Hegarty.

That was the week that was…

The week in one-liners and First Dog On The Moon examines what John Howard actually stands for these days.

Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups

Garrett, Gunns and Tasmania … polls and polling … Howard, APEC and a hangover cure … Janette Howard … Trading Post … Helen Razer … the PM’s joke … bank fees …

PM’s intervention a nightmare for Tasmania

This is a nightmare proposal for Tasmania — and for Australia. The Commonwealth gave up hospitals and handed back the Repatriation hospital years ago because they could not run them, writes a Tasmanian health insider.

Crikey Policy Comparison Pt 1: Broadband, schools, forests

Is Federal Labor the Liberal Party by another name? Is Kevin Rudd actually John Howard? And come election day, will there be sufficient difference in the policies of both parties to offer voters a choice? Here’s your chance to play spot the policy difference.

Give Gunns a chance, says Lennon

The pulp mill proposed for the Tasmania’s Tamar Valley has been off the front pages for the last few weeks, but that could be about to change.