May 2020
Tasmanian Government the Most Generous for Immediate COVID-19 Emergency Relief
A new report from The Australia Institute has found the Tasmanian State Government has spent a far larger proportion of its Gross State Product (GSP) than any other Australian state. The new analysis collates publicly available data, with at least some traceability, on state responses to the COVID-19 induced economic emergency, between March 23rd and
Building Back Better: Criteria for Tasmania to Make the Most of COVID-19 Stimulus
The Australia Institute has released a new report looking at how key economic criteria can be used to assess the effectiveness of future stimulus measures in Tasmania. The report has been sent to all Members of the Tasmanian Parliament, some members of the Premier’s recovery taskforce, industry and community leaders and unions. “As stimulus money
April 2020
Broad Alliance of Tasmanian Organisations Call for Establishment of NZ-Style Multi-Partisan COVID-19 Parliamentary Oversight Committee
A prominent group of Tasmanian individuals and organisations have today called for the establishment of a multi-party parliamentary oversight committee to ensure adequate scrutiny of the COVID-19 response while the Tasmanian Parliament is not sitting. Such a body has already been established in New Zealand to help fill the accountability gap. Known as the Epidemic
March 2020
Tasmanian Hydrogen Plan: Good for Tasmania and Good for the Planet
The Australia Institute welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s announcement to invest into the hydrogen industry. ‘Green’ hydrogen is produced by splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen through a process of electrolysis. “Hydrogen has been touted as a renewable energy source, but that is only true if the energy used to create it in the first
February 2020
Bushfire Response: International Experts Open Letter Call for Native Logging Ban
An open letter signed by Australian and international forestry and climate experts, published by the Australia Institute today, has called for the immediate nationwide cessation of all native forest logging in response to the climate, fire, drought and biodiversity loss crises currently facing Australia. The letter, signed by scientists from countries including Australia, USA, Canada, New
January 2020
New Tasmanian Leader an Opportunity to Change Direction on Privatisation, Transparency
The Australia Institute wishes Premier Will Hodgman, one of Tasmania’s most popular premiers, all the best for his future endeavours. The Premier can be proud of many of his achievements, particularly leading the government into a pro-renewable energy stance. Will Hodgman’s retirement will present both a challenge and opportunity for the Tasmanian Government, The Australia
October 2019
Voters still back a Takanya/Tarkine national park over logging
A Ucomms poll commissioned by the Australia Institute of 1,136 residents across Tasmania on the evening of 22nd October, found almost two thirds of Tasmanians want to see takayna/Tarkine protected rather than logged. Despite state government plans to log old growth and rainforest in takanya/Tarkine, support for preserving the forests in a national park remains
Midlands coal, the wrong project in the wrong market at the wrong time
Several market and physical challenges exist for a new proposed coal development in Tasmania’s southern midlands, according to a new briefing paper released by the Australia Institute Tasmania today. The company seeking to develop the project, Midland Energy, is looking to raise capital in the U.S.A. where it is claiming coal demand is “rampant” in Asia
August 2019
Fire and Forestry: How Intact Forests Can Work As Buffer to Bushfires
“More than any other state, Tasmanians live in and on the edges of the bush,” said Leanne Minshull, Director of the Australia Institute Tasmania. “As the severity of fires increase, so does the impact on our homes, our communities and our economy, we need to look at this problem holistically to have any chance of
July 2019
Tasmanians missing out on revenue from fish farms
The Tasmanian government may have forgone millions of dollars in potential revenue from the rapid growth in the fish farming industry according to a new report from The Australia Institute. Key Findings: Annual lease and licence fees paid by the salmon industry to the State Government, represented 0.1% of the total farm-gate production of the
June 2019
WTF2050 Episode 13 – Andrew McPhail – Independent Film Producer
Andrew introduces us to the term ‘weightless exports’ – think digital services and games rather than wood or food. Inspired Leanne and Anna sat down with Paris Buttfield-Addison, cofounder of Hobart based Secret Lab – Secret Lab builds video games and mobile apps, and teaches game and app development through books and online training. Secret
WTF2050 Episode 12 – Frank Cuypers – Destination Think
Prof. Frank Cuypers is a marketing and tourism academic brought to the island by Tourism Tasmania to share his thoughts on the future of tourism. He talks about the strength of our clean and green Tasmanian brand and the global hunger for authentic experienced based Tourism. Also in the episode an interview with Charles Munn,
WTF2050 Episode 11 – Louise Morris – Insect Farmer, Rebel Foods, Derby Tasmania
Louise’s insects are on the standing menu at MONA Faros restaurant, as featured on many fine menu’s across Tasmania. Her Protein Plus Nut Butter blends stocked at East Coast Village Providore (St Helens) and newly opened Derby Providore. In this episode Anna & Leanne discover organic insect farming from inside a shipping container on a
WTF2050 Episode 10 – Rosie Martin – Speech Pathologist, Criminologist And Tasmanian Of The Year 2017
Rosie Martin – speech pathologist, criminologist and Tasmanian of The Year 2017, starred in our first series of WTF2050 where shared her big idea – no prison (as we know them in 2050), to emphasize rehabilitation not punishment. To expand on the theme we spent a morning at Risdon Prison with inmates taking part in
WTF2050 Episode 9 – Sally Warhaft – Broadcaster, Anthropologist And Host Of The Wheeler Centre’s Fifth Estate
As a close political watcher and mother of twins Sally has spent a lot of time thinking about how far #metoo has gotten us and she shares her bold idea for 2050, one that could transform the lives of little girls everywhere. Wheeler Centre
WTF2050 Episode 8 – Luke McGregor – Comedian And Writer
Renewables, podcast voices and the pitfalls of being a super hero. Star of ABC TV’s Rosehaven and Utopia, Luke has become one of Australia’s most sought after comedians. Leanne and Anna caught up with Luke in his second home, Melbourne. Rosehaven Trailer
March 2019
Majority of Australians want Gov to help farmers to farm sun and wind
The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,536 Australians about government support to assist farmers to harvest solar energy and sell it directly to clients. Key Findings: Respondents were asked if they support allowing farmers who generate wind or solar power on their farms to sell it directly to other landholders. · Overwhelming
February 2019
New oil spill risk plan still shows potential disaster for King Island
A new Environment Plan from international energy company, Equinor, released today, shows that a spill in the Great Australian Bight could totally envelop King Island. The modelling has been released after a leaked document from the same company on the same drilling site in November of last year showed the potential catastrophic impact of an
January 2019
Trans Tarkine Track clips
Over the summer, we have been busy recording what Tasmanians think about a whole range of issues. Tassie is cool and tourism is hot – with our state having the largest rise in visitor numbers this quarter. Whilst some in the South and East are worried about over crowding and under funding of infrastructure, the
July 2018
Braddon: New Polling shows concern over Company Tax cuts, support for Penalty rates and a gain in the ALP Primary vote
The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to poll the federal seats of Braddon (700 respondents) on the evening of Friday 6 July. Key Findings: A rise in the Labor primary vote to 36.3 (compared to 33% in a Sky ReachTel poll at the beginning of June) A fall in the Liberal primary vote to 42.9 (compared
May 2018
Time to join the budding revolution in local power schemes
Everyone is saying Tasmania is a becoming a clean energy powerhouse, so how do we make sure ordinary Tasmanians get a piece of the action? [This article was first published in the Hobart Mercury on 9 Feb 2018 – here] One of the best solutions would be for communities to become investors and take power
April 2018
#WTF2050: What’s Tasmania’s future? (Scott Rankin)
First published in The Examiner, 15 April 2018 By 2050, everyone everywhere will have the right to thrive. (Yep, utopia). All communities are changing all the time. The future of our Tasmanian community is not like a book that has already been written, each chapter is emergent & authorship is our collective responsibility. The narrative
March 2018
#WTF2050 – Big ideas for Tasmania’s future
First published in The Examiner, 28 March 2018 On Tuesday, The Australia Institute Tasmania launched a new initiative cheekily titled #WTF2050 – What’s Tasmania’s Future? The project brings together some of the state’s best thinkers to answer the question – where do you want Tasmania to be in 2050? What’s your big hairy goal and
WTF2050 Episode 7 – Rosalie Martin
Rosalie Martin is a criminologist, speech therapist, Tasmanian of the Year 2017 & Founder of Chatter Matters. Rosie has been running literacy and parental attachment programs in Risdon prison and has been getting extraordinary results. Her WTF2050 goal is one that will initially shock – and then inspire.
WTF2050 Episode 6 – Kirsha Kaechele
Kirsha Kaechele is perhaps better known as the partner of David Walsh, founder of MONA. That is, however, the least interesting thing about her. Kirsha is an American contemporary art curator, artist, and founder of KKProjects and the Life is Art Foundation. Her WTF2050 goal would place Tassie at the center of the Internet Economy.
WTF2050 Episode 5 – Robin Banks
Robin Banks was Tasmania’s anti-discrimination commissioner for six years. In this episode Robin muses on her own career path and shares great examples of conflict resolution: how we can get conflict out of the room and solve problems while rejecting the often adversarial landscape.
WTF2050 Episode 4 – Posie Graeme-Evans
Posie Graeme-Evans first came to Tasmania after World War 2, at the age of 14. One of Australia’s most acclaimed TV producers (McLeod’s Daughters & Hi5), Posie is also a best selling historical novelist. As a master storyteller, her WTF2050 goal is, in part, inspired by her belief in the power of narrative.
WTF2050 Episode 3 – Scott Rankin
Raised on a Chinese Junk in Sydney Harbour, Scott Rankin came to Tasmania as a idealistic 22 year old & went on to found Big hART , one of the world’s most acclaimed Community Arts Companies. Big hART runs projects all over the world and Scott likes to think about Tasmania as an arts laboratory.
WTF2050 Episode 2 – Jo Cook And Jess Robbins
Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast attracted 100K people last year. Curator Jo Cook and friend Jess Robbins, from the Global Island Partnership, have a WTF2050 goal that is a perfect fit for an island that is fast becoming the center of the Southern Hemisphere’s foodie trail.
WTF2050 Episode 1 – Saul Eslake
#WTF2050 Hosts Leanne Minshull & Anna Bateman drop in on independent economist and proud Tasmanian, Saul Eslake. In this, our first episode, Saul gives us a tour of his home, originally built by convicts in 1820. While sharing his WTF2050 goal Saul provides some fascinating insights into Tasmania’s economic & social history, and finds time
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