May 1, 2019
The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to supporting our police
officers, who put themselves at risk to protect Tasmanians everyday.
That’s why I have today tabled the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation
Amendment Bill 2019. This fulfils the Government’s election commitment to
remove workers compensation step-down provisions for police officers who are on
workers compensation as a result of operational-related injuries, meaning they
will continue to receive 100 per cent of their pay.
Policing is a unique occupation and this Bill recognises that a police
officer’s duty requires them to put public safety ahead of their own. They do
so in circumstances where the injuries sustained can be a consequence of being
violently attacked.
Policing is not an occupation where risk mitigation measures can always be
put in place. This reflects the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the
situations police officers are so often faced with.
The Government acknowledges there are other occupations whose members suffer
injuries while providing services for the public. However, policing is the only
occupation where members actually take an oath of office to cause the peace to
be kept and preserved and to prevent all offences against persons and
properties in Tasmania.
This oath often requires our sworn police officers to routinely attend
situations of violence, which they are unable to retreat from and where it is
common for that violence to be redirected at and targeted toward them.
The Liberal Party has been fighting for this change to the law since 2008,
based on the uniqueness of policing, and has been opposed by Labor.
This week, we are also debating legislation to ensure that off-duty police
officers have the same legal protections as on-duty police officers, an
important legislative protection that Labor have indicated they will oppose.
The Government thanks our hardworking police for their dedication to
protecting Tasmanians and keeping us safe.
Apr 27, 2019
The Hodgman Liberal Government greatly values the contribution of our 5500 emergency service volunteers, which is why we are supporting them with a $2 million Volunteer Support Fund.
The extra funding for volunteer Tasmania Fire Service brigades and State Emergency Service units allows them to apply for non-essential equipment, training, recruitment activities and station upgrades.
Today we can announce that $256,000 has been allocated in Round 1 of the 2018-19 grants program with 66 volunteer brigades and 9 SES units successful in gaining funding for items like high pressure cleaners, microwaves, generators and white goods to make volunteer stations more functional and comfortable.
(more…)
Apr 25, 2019
Returned service men and women; Families of service personnel; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen; Boys and Girls –
Love has the power to cause a genuine response in every human heart.
You may have heard these
words: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three. But the greatest of
these is love.”
In the hateful theatres
of war in Western Europe, North Africa, South East Asia and the Middle East,
each conflict came at a huge cost to peace-loving Australian communities during
every quarter of the 20th Century.
And yet, those many
Australians and her allies caught up in the defence of our freedom, have been
people who loved their country and loved their families back home.
(more…)
Apr 13, 2019
A new round of statewide Healthy Tasmania community grants are set to promote better health so more Tasmanians can live happier and longer lives.
Twenty-four successful applications were awarded seed funding of up to $25 000 to promote physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation and building community connections.
All projects will draw on existing community strengths, services
and resources to make healthier choices easier in homes, workplaces, schools
and in the broader community.
The projects demonstrate innovation, forward thinking and
inclusiveness, and involve a wide range of Tasmanians right around the state.
In the longer term these initiatives will help keep many
Tasmanians healthier for longer and out of the health system.
These second-round grants are part of the State Government’s Healthy Tasmania Five Year Strategic
Plan $1 million allocation for small-scale preventive health projects
over four years.
The Healthy Tasmania Community Innovations grants support
community partnership approaches to introducing new and innovative ways to
improve health.
Through Healthy Tasmania we intend giving Tasmanians the
information, encouragement and tools to help them make healthy lifestyle
changes.
Healthy Tasmania is a Tasmanian Government and community partnership.
Visit www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/innovationgrants for the full
list of successful applicants.
Dec 6, 2018
The latest AIHW report shows elective surgery average waiting times in Tasmania are the lowest they’ve been in five years.*
It also highlights an improvement for the longest waiting patients. In fact, Tasmania is now better than average and in the top four in the nation.#
This is driven by Tasmania having the highest per capita rate of surgery of any state or territory in Australia. This shows our additional funding for elective is working to reduce waiting times. (more…)
Nov 30, 2018
The Hodgman Majority Liberal Government has delivered the most productive parliamentary election year since 2002 and the nation’s best performing economy in 2018.
Under the strong leadership of Premier Will Hodgman we have delivered on our first-year agenda, passed more than 50 pieces of important legislation, and created thousands more jobs to deliver record levels of employment in Tasmania.
We’ve invested record amounts in health and education, hired hundreds more health staff, more teachers and more police.
Meanwhile, the Labor-Green alliance has broken records of their own (more…)
