THE DENISONINDEPENDENT

FEBRUARY 2018

ANDREW WILKIE MP - YOUR INDEPENDENT IN CANBERRA

100% Independent

poker machines increase crime Source: Tasmanian Government Third Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania & Australian Government Productivity Commission

poker machines increase child poverty Source: Australian Government Productivity Commission & Anglicare Social Action and Research Centre

poker machines increase suicide Source: Tasmanian Government First Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania & Victorian Coroner

poker machines increase domestic violence Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies

poker machine addicted people don’t switch to online gambling Source: Federal Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform

poker machines cost Tasmania up to 3 times the pokies tax collected Source: Tasmanian Government Second Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania

poker machines reduced the number of jobs in pubs and clubs Source: Tasmanian Government First Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania

poker machines are a dangerous product Source: Anglicare Social Action and Research Centre

poker machines are designed to addict Source: Monash University School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine

poker machines in the suburbs increased gambling addiction Source: Australian Government Productivity Commission

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Gambling expenditure of $1 million creates about 3.2 jobs. The same expenditure on sales of liquor and other beverages equates to 8.3 jobs. And spending $1 million on sales of food and meals generates 20 jobs.

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Source: Monash University School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine

Salmon farming must be sustainableThe salmon industry in Tasmania has enormous potential but the community needs to have confidence it is genuinely sustainable.

Community concern continues with the controversial new Tassal operation in Okehampton Bay, a delicate ecosystem in a world-famous tourism region. Recently Tassal had to explain a mass death of fish at the Okehampton farm on Tasmania’s East Coast in December to the Environment Protection Authority.

The community is demanding reform but the State Government, regulators and some in the industry have their heads in the sand. Huon Aquaculture to its credit is more alert to community concern and is trying to drive reform in the industry.

There should be a moratorium on salmon farm expansion while these concerns are addressed. Aquaculture is vital for Tasmania’s future but we need a salmon industry that is genuinely sustainable, financially viable and which meets the most stringent social and environmental criteria. This is the only way to protect jobs now and into the future. We can’t afford another industry collapse in Tasmania like the forestry demise.

New $190,000 Claremont Men’s Shed Just before Christmas, the Claremont Men’s Shed was granted $190,000 in federal funds to relocate from its temporary premises to a new building on the Claremont Village Green. The funding was awarded after Andrew lobbied Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull requesting this valuable support.

The Claremont Men’s Shed is accessed by many people who benefit immensely from the supportive environment, with participants devel-oping new skills while providing a service to the local community. It’s been going only a year but is already an integral part of the community. A substantial amount of volunteers’ time and effort has been put into making this shed a success and the Federal Government funding will ensure its continued operation.

RHH check upThe Royal Hobart Hospital rebuild is progressing and the new ten-story K-Block is steadily emerging on Campbell Street. However inside, despite the best efforts of staff, the RHH struggles to cope with patient demand. Health Minister Michael Ferguson promised improvements years ago but has failed to deliver.

The RHH Oncology Radiation Clinic is the latest pressure point and risks losing its accreditation due to low staffing. Andrew has lobbied Mr Ferguson and Labor Leader Rebecca White about the urgent need to improve staffing levels to reduce patient risk.

There’s still no solution to the mental health crisis at the hospital. The bottom line is people with mental illness should not have to fight to access health care. A holistic solution is needed. A person in crisis should be assigned a caseworker to help them navigate the myriad of services including hospitals, housing and Centrelink. Support in the community should include supported accommodation and more Crisis Action Teams. At the acute end, the state political parties must commit funding to stage two of the RHH Master Plan which includes a new purpose-built mental health building. The RHH cannot be left in perpetual crisis.

ANDREW WILKIE MP - YOUR INDEPENDENT IN CANBERRA

The Claremont Men’s Shed will get a new home due to a $190,000 federal grant.

Tassal workers heading out to maintain fish farms in Tasmania’s south.

The Federal Government this year plans to force Australians to sign up to its controversial internet health record. People who don’t opt out of a My Health Record will

automatically get a personalised account detailing their medical records. Privacy groups are concerned about the security of a national online database containing the

sensitive health information of Australians including abortions and mental illness and the risk it will be shared with the tax office, police or health insurers.

Andrew sees the obvious merit in better information sharing between health professionals but believes registering for a My Health Record should remain opt-in and strictly voluntarily. He’ll be arguing this case with the Federal Government and will let you know when the opt-out deadline is announced.

Boost school funding nowThere’s no better investment than a child’s education yet recent reports reveal the dire underinvestment in this sector. The Tasmanian Liberal Government boasts of record education spending but the Australian Government Productivity Commission tells a different story. It looked at real state and territory government recurrent expenditure for government schools and found Tasmania had actually cut its budget for government schools by $??m in 2015-16 compared to 2014-15. So as the Federal Government has been propping up education budgets under the Gonski deal, some states and territories including Tasmania have been ripping funding out and using the federal boost to claim record investment. It’s political trickery at its worst.

So it’s no surprise the Australian Education Union reports less teachers and bigger classes in Tasmanian state schools. An AEU survey also found teachers and parents dipping into their own pockets to help pay for stationery, classroom supplies, library resources and even maintenance. This just entrenches disadvantage, the opposite of what the Gonski needs-based model was supposed to achieve. Australia is a rich country and we can afford a world-class education system. It’s time governments funded one.

Source: Australian Government Productivity Commission

Andrew secured $340m in federal funds for the RHH rebuild following the 2010 election and another $325m for the Tasmanian Health system in 2012

Online health records must stay opt-in

The sad facts 2012-2013 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

TASMANIAN EDUCATION BUDGET ($,000) $821,267 $819,789 $812,484 $???,???

People power wins As we head into a new year, it’s pleasing to reflect on some big wins for people power in recent months. Andrew and many in the community have been working hard for change on these issues for years so it’s won-derful to finally see public interest trump political self-interest. Let’s hope in 2018 politics continues to catch up with majority public sentiment.

It shows in politics you should never give up. Change could be closer than you think.

Delivered

3 Marriage equality

3 Banking Royal Commission

3 Hobart City Deal

3 ALP promise to remove poker machines from Tasmanian pubs and clubs

3 Glenorchy City Council cleaned up

Printed on 100% Australian-made environmentally-responsible paper Authorised by Andrew Wilkie MP 188 Collins Street Hobart 7000

Printed by Mark Media 1 Sunderland Street Moonah 7009

Want to get in touch with Andrew? · Feel free to drop by the office at 188 Collins Street Hobart · Phone 6234 5255 · Email andrew.wilkie.mp@aph.gov.au · Post GPO Box 32 Hobart 7001 · See him at his mobile office · Facebook at www.facebook.com/andrewwilkiemp · Twitter @wilkiemp or book a Skype call

www.andrewwilkie.org

Rentals neededMany people are struggling to find rental accommodation

in Hobart, including new families arriving in Tasmania via

the Humanitarian Settlement Program. If you want to help

with long-term accommodation for new families, the Migrant

Resource Centre is looking for anything from one-bedroom

units to five-bedroom houses in a rental range of $150 to

$450 a week. If you’re a private landlord or real estate agent

with rental properties available in greater Hobart, please call

MRC State Housing Officer Fran Jago on 0438 086 843

or email fjago@mrctas.org.au

Positive ageingThe Glenorchy City Council has compiled a great handbook for older people wanting to remain active in their community.  The Glenorchy Handbook of Positive Ageing is a guide to local activities for older people.  The activities are free or low-cost and age-friendly.   You can find something to do every day including French lessons, meditation, bingo and movies.

Contact the council’s Positive Ageing Officer on 62166800 or eryan@gcc.tas.gov.au and she can get a handbook to you.

Noise controlAndrew continues to pressure the State Government to address the traffic noise and pollution troubling residents living near the Southern Outlet. His efforts have drawn a com-ment from the Government to “consider” sound-absorbing barriers on the busy highway if there is a strong case for it. The Government will also start measuring heavy vehicle patterns on the road in consultation with noise experts from the Environment Protection Authority to inform the transport inspectorate.Concerned local residents report that noise and pollution, including visible soot on some houses, has worsened due to increased traffic. Andrew has met residents repeatedly and challenged the Premier Will Hodgman and Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding to visit their homes to hear the excess noise first-hand.

Save the Children has moved

The popular Save the

Children op shop in

Hobart has moved just

down the road to the

corner of Bathurst and

Murray Streets. It’s

already well-known

for selling quality,

pre-loved children’s

clothes, shoes, toys and everything else you need

for your little ones including prams, cots and bouncers.

It’s also expanded into pre-loved women’s clothes

and accessories including maternity wear. Your

purchases will help to create better lives for children

in Australia and overseas.

Donations are always welcome, especially

women’s clothing.

Visit 126 Murray Street Hobart or call 6231 9488.

Support jobs for people with disability

You can foster employment for people with disability

by buying goods and services through BuyAbility. This

website has a search tool for government and private

business to find socially-responsible Australian

Disability Enterprises that

employ people with disabil-

ity. There’s a wide range

of services and products in

the hospitality, retail,

manufacturing, recycling

and horticulture sectors.

www.buyability.org.au

Pokies are the problemNow you’ve read the facts about pokies, do you want to help get them out of Tasmanian communities? Show your support with a bumper sticker. Grab one from my office at 188 Collins Street Hobart. Or call 6234 5255 or email andrew.wilkie.mp@aph.gov.au and we can get one to you.

Community notice board

Authorised by Andrew Wilkie MP 188 Collins Street Hobart 7000 • Printed by The Works Printing Group 61 Lampton Avenue Derwent Park 7009