This week in Launceston

PLEASE NOTE
Forwarded Message
From: Emma - GetUp! <info@getup.org.au>
Reply-To: <takeaction@getup.org.au>
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:37:03 +1000
Subject: This week in Launceston

Just three weeks ago Patrick, Susie, Clive, Tim, Jillian and Marion started working together.   Since then, this small group of Bass GetUp members have got to know one another, learnt what drives their motivations for a just Australia, and banded together to prepare for a meeting with your new MP, Ross Hart. In Launceston on Tuesday, the team talked to Mr Hart about the whopping 4077 GetUp members who live in Bass,and the value of building an ongoing relationship and dialogue with him. Here's what Patrick had to say about the meeting:

"Mr Hart told us he's particularly concerned about rising inequality, and said it would be the issue he'd champion within his own party. He's well across health, education and social welfare issues.   We spoke about the risk of losing federal funding for Mersey Hospital. Mr Hart told us he supports continued federal funding because without it the health system of the entire north-west will collapse. The meeting went really well and Mr Hart was very congenial. He is absolutely aware of GetUp members' involvement during the election and acknowledged that without us a different outcome could have been possible."
The meeting went so well that Mr Hart emailed the team just hours after the meeting to thank them and say:

"Please encourage [GetUp] members to communicate with me freely on any issue, as I look foward to continuing our relationship and ensuring that a robust dialogue will encourage the healthy democratic process here in Bass."

Strong lines of communication between the local GetUp community and Mr Hart's office are important because when crisis strikes on the issues that matter, we'll need him to answer the phone, respond to our emails and listen to our concerns. So let's make sure Mr Hart knows we appreciate this meeting with GetUp members and look forward to more. Can you send Mr Hart a quick email or tweet to let him know you appreciate this excellent meeting? E

https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/meet-your-mp-2016/mp-thank-you/thanks-for-meeting-with-bass-members?t=6j0B53CZA2&utm_content=15353&utm_campaign=This%20week%20in%20Launceston&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email mail Mr Hart <https://

Tasmania's Humpty Dumpty Club Membership Grows Daily

3 councillors have withdrawn
from the flawed mediation process!

Sep 19, 2016

Two more councillors have followed Mayor Peter Coad in announcing their withdrawal from the flawed unworkable mediation process, that was part of the 7 directions handed down by Minister Peter Gutwein ....... The mayor said that he had told Mr Gutwein, in a letter on Tuesday (September 13), that he was no longer willing to participate in the mediation process ordered by the Minister on June 15 last, in which Huon Valley Council had been ordered to implement seven Ministerial Directions. - See more ...  http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/pr-article/i-have-no-intention-of-resigning/#sthash.4O03LKRm.dpuf
http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/pr-article/i-have-no-intention-of-resigning/...... In the Mercury today (Sept 19th, pg3) the minister stated he would not provide a running commentary and stood by his call for the mayor to stand down. The Premiers response was less than enthusiastic.... “We remain hopeful that once the process has gone through its full course then those who do want to be part of this council are able to demonstrate that and the people of the Huon can be confident they’re getting the right level of service out of their councillors,” Mr Hodgman said in .... Are Tasmanians happy with all this? ..... The regulation in the Local Government Act allows for an ‘all or nothing’ approach to dismissing councils; everyone or no-one.

HOWEVER, Huon Council is not alone in the Local Govt. Recalcitrance Stakes.
There’s a growing groundswell that’s saying enough is enough!
Actually it’s a bit like Humpty Dumpty actually! All the King’s horses
and all the King’s men are not going to be able
to put all this little googy egg back together again.

BUT it might just be possible to get another egg if we go looking for one!

JOIN THE HUNT
watch this space
eMAIL  yoko7250@bigpond.com
for more information

change.org has petition going that you might want sign
Here is the link ... https://www.change.org/p/implement-the-major-recommendations-of-the-huon-valley-board-of-inquiry?tk=B-Pw0T5DC_wFDUOL6ttWisFAJ-MBxPtTLctMqEbibV4&utm_source=petition_update&utm_medium=email

A New Player On The Field ... WHERE WILL THIS GO?

Visit James WRIGHT’s FACEBOOK site and see where this
candidate came from and where he got to
 https://www.facebook.com/jameswrightcampaign2016/

The Press ... Social Media ... AND UTAS PERFORMANCE

JS wrote: "Those figures are appalling. I couldn't agree more, UTAS should lift their game, learn how to run a university properly, provide appropriate courses and improve the retention rate instead of wasting time and money moving to a new campus." - Reply to this comment . ............... [1] ............... Facebook [1] ............... JS [2] commented on Speak Up Launceston [3]'s post [4]. [5] ............... JS [5] ............... 9 September at 16:28 Those figures are appalling. I couldn't agree more, UTAS should lift their game, learn how to run a university properly, provide appropriate courses and improve the retention rate instead of wasting time and money moving to a new campus. Like [6] Comment [7] ............... View on Facebook [8] And another comment on the dropout rate of first year students after the semester census date. Wonder the dropout rate is if ALL the first year enrolments were included. And what might it be for second and third year students? ............... ............... Speak Up Launceston's post. ............... AB wrote: "If an other organisation was performing poorly because of loss of customers due to poor satisfaction with the service they receive then you can't imagine another organisation resolving that by spending a lot of money to relocate! They would visit the internal issues and improve current customer satisfaction. Word of mouth is a strong marketing tool so if your current customers aren't happy you won't grow as well as you could with new customers." - Reply to this email to comment on this post. [1] ............... Facebook [1] AB [2] also replied to JS [3]'s comment on Speak Up Launceston [4]'s post [5]. [6] ............... AB[6] 9 September at 17:17 ............... If an other organisation was performing poorly because of loss of customers due to poor satisfaction with the service they receive then you can't imagine another organisation resolving that by spending a lot of money to relocate! They would visit the internal issues and improve current customer satisfaction. Word of mouth is a strong marketing tool so if your current customers aren't happy you won't grow as well as you could with new customers. Like [7] ............... Comment [8] .... What Speak Up Launceston is Saying CLICK HERE

VOTEflux: Is Change In The Air?

-

In the news
https://voteflux.org/press/

NSW Local Elections Tomorrow
There is a reminder out to all NSW members that council elections in NSW are tomorrow for most shires. For people not in Byron Shire unfortunately there are no candidates pledging to use the Flux system, however...

Byron Shire Council Candidate
James Wright is running in the Byron Shire election and has pledged to use the Flux System if he is elected there tomorrow. James made the same pledge when running as an independent Senate candidate at the last federal election. We’re supporting James’s campaign and if you're in the Byron Shire, be sure to vote for **Group E** tomorrow. If you're interested in helping with How To Votes tomorrow please send an email through to campaign@ejameswright.com or give him a call on 0424 386 192.

Upcoming Public Meeting
On September 19th (tentatively 6:30 pm) we're going to hold a public meeting to discuss the party structure and plans going forward. If you're interested in contributing to Flux we'd encourage you to attend, or at least watch the recording later. This is going to be an early-stage kick off to a much longer discussion so there's plenty of chance for input and sharing ideas, even if you can't make it on the night. To cater to as many people as possible we're going to livestream a hangout, via YouTube, and there will be opportunities to contribute via text (though not via the hangout itself as they can't support more than 10 participants). We'll email more in the way of details before the 19th.

Upcoming State/Territory Elections
At a state level, the next elections on the horizon are the ACT Legislative Council election in October, as well as the WA election in March of next year. If you’re in the ACT and would like to get involved or run as a candidate please respond to this email. More to come on the WA election in the coming weeks!

What is Flux?

More a celebration of democracy than a party
Really you’re the brains of this operation. Flux is the tool Australians can use to directly participate in parliament. Flux is a party come election time but once we have elected MP’s and senators that’s where the difference begins. Your Flux representatives give up their autonomy and vote according to the people. They cast their votes in line with the outcomes produced by the Flux ecosystem comprised of ordinary Aussies like you.

It’s still democracy, it’s just Governance 2.0
Flux will operate in the form of an app you can access right from your computer or smartphone. You’ll be given a vote on every bill put before Federal Parliament, and can use that vote immediately on the issue at hand, give it to a trusted third party to cast on your behalf, or save it for an issue you care more passionately about later.

It won’t matter where politicians stand when the floor is yours
Flux as a party is a vehicle for driving this systemic political change, with no policy platform beyond parliamentary reform. Flux is a tool for changing how policy is shaped. It will allow more voices to join the conversation, empower specialists to become politically involved in their fields, and grant Australians direct access to producing better policy for a better Australia.

THIS DEVELOPMENT JUST MIGHT HAVE AN APPLICATION 

 WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN TASMANIA

A UNIVERSITY FORUM: Tides of Change Tues Sept 13

University of Tasmania
Organiser of Tides of Change: The future of Launceston’s waterfront

The University's Public Lecture and Forum program provides an opportunity to
engage with our broader community to provide a platform for ideas, debate and discussion.

Launceston is a small regional city and one with a rich and long history. As is the case for all settlements, its physical form has been shaped by the natural, cultural, political and economic environment in which it was established and grows. One key natural feature that shaped Launceston's development is the river system on which it is located. Recent waterfront projects such as Seaport and Inveresk are converting former industrial sites into places for sport, education, housing, tourism and business. A number of additional projects are soon to commence on site or are in planning. It is timely, therefore, that we consider how the city might develop over coming years to improve its liveability by improving the wellbeing of its citizens.

The forum will explore the future of Launceston, its waterfront and its built environment through the lenses of social, cultural and ecological amenity and history, climate change and the political and economic opportunities and constraints afforded by business.

http://www.utas.edu.au/architecture-design/events/2016/september/tides-of-change-the-future-of-launcestons-waterfront
FREE
CLICK ON THIS URL TO REGISTER
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/tides-of-change-the-future-of-launcestons-waterfront-tickets-26870659867#tickets

http://lcc63.blogspot.com.au/

FACILITATED BY

eMAIL: launcestonPR@bigpond.com

The Australian Blows UTAS Cover Story

Well if you listen to the 'Uni Sprookers' you'll come to learn that is black is indeed white and that all this is something of a mistake. Well that's this week! Some time ago UTAS was telling the Council that they had a plan to turn this kind outcome around and all that it would take would be some .... wait for it ... FREE LAND.

Apart from that no plan has been sighted and events have unfolded. There has been a concept document but no business plan yet. The THREE AMIGOS [1] [2] [3] have been unelected despite their securing money to implement "THE PLAN". AND the new Govt. that now has a majority of ONE still has it on its 'to do list' – funding THE PLAN that is.

There are very good reasons for this less than adequate educational outcome for Tasmania and quite a bit of it is to do with there being the lack of a plan. 

After that there is another series of issues that  can be worked through if there was a preparedness to look beyond the status quo. That opportunity may have passed!?  

Tasmania actually needs courses that people want to do and that they can afford and that provides them with real opportunities. 

Spending all the 'promised money' that is notionally on the table in Tasmania will set off a bit of a building spree and some builders and developers might make a buck. After that who knows?

Watch this space for developing issues as there might be some!

 CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO ENLARGE

LAUNCESTON RATES AND ACCOUNTABILITY

LETTER TO THE EDITOR AT THE EXAMINER

RATES: THERE has been a motion (14.2) dated May 23, 2016 put forward to the Launceston City Council by Alderman Hugh McKenzie supported by the general manager Robert Dobrzynski and corporate service director Michael Tidey stating “rating of residential properties owned by charitable organisations” is to be reviewed. Their objective is to collect council general rates from elderly individuals living independently in not for profit retirement villages. Their main argument is that residents who are living in private homes are bearing the rate burden.

I refute this argument. Retirement villages charge their residents a  weekly “service fee” which covers refuse collection, lighting, roads, footpaths, upkeep of community areas including pools and exercise facilities, libraries etc,  wages of maintenance and garden workers, water and sewerage rates.  Therefore  the use of council  facilities by retirement village residents are  in most cases limited to the  facilitation of the purchase of  personal necessities such as food, clothing etc all of which supports the local economy and although we have no problem with the council providing bicycle lanes,

playgrounds, subsidising sports centres, propping up the Aquatic Centre or even granting $5 million of council land to UTAS (who do not pay rates), we feel that as we have been full ratepayers for most of our lives we should continue to be exempt from the general rate. 

Generally individuals in retirement villages have sold their homes  in order to enter the villages and are now regarded as leaseholders. Consequently  there are limitations of the use of the property  they occupy, for example they are unable  to use the property as collateral for loans and they do not have the authority to make structural changes.  Also as deemed as leaseholders those who are pensioners or part pensions are not entitled to any rate remissions. The gentlemen mentioned above should be ashamed of themselves for attempting to target the elderly and vulnerable in this manner and I appeal to the  Launceston City Council not to pass this motion.

William Dabner, Norwood.

BEWARE THE ELECTION PROMISE!

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ONLINE

The $150million Pork Barrel Now

Jul 3 2016 at 2:08 PM Updated Jul 3 2016 at 8:25 PM By Tim Dodd

The election's uncertain outcome means we don't yet know whether the Coalition will be in a position to push ahead with its preferred option for university reform which would allow universities to deregulate fees in a limited number of designated "flagship" courses.

But there is one higher education promise that has no barrier in the way of implementation. That's the $150 million Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said he would give to the University of Tasmania to build new campuses in Launceston and  Burnie.

What reason is there to suppose this particular election promise is one that will stick? That's because Labor promised it, too. So no matter which side of politics forms the next government Tasmania's $150 million should sail through with bipartisan support.

At a time when there is no systematic plan for funding universities' capital needs – Labor's Education Investment Fund has ended and budget exigencies mean it won't be reactivated – why the rush to send money to Tasmania?

Well that would be because Tasmania happens to have a swath of marginal seats. Labor – sensing the Liberals' vulnerability in the state – made the $150 million pledge to the University of Tasmania  in April.

Turnbull, no doubt driven by mounting panic about his Tasmanian seats as polling day grew closer, matched the promise eight days before the election.

From the purely political point of view he should have saved his effort and saved taxpayers the money. It made no difference to the election result. The Liberals lost all three seats they held in Tasmania – Bass, Lyons and Braddon.

Setting aside the political calculus: from an education point of view does it make any sense to invest $150 million in new university infrastructure in northern Tasmania?

There's no doubt Tasmania has intractable education problems, and they are not just in tertiary education – they start in schools.

The proportion of its students who complete year 12 – 50 per cent compared to an average of 72 per cent Australia-wide – is abysmal. This means that fewer students have the preparation to go on to university to learn skills they need in the new economy.

Meanwhile Tasmania's traditional manufacturing jobs are disappearing. Just recently the Caterpillar plant in Burnie said it was closing. As a result, in the depressed north of the state youth are struggling to find good options either in education or jobs.

University of Tasmania vice-chancellor Peter Rathgen believes his rebuilding plan for his campuses in Launceston and Burnie will address this problem. He says it will build "a new model of higher education that is suitable for the north and north-west of Tasmania".

His new model aims to sidestep the problem of insufficient students finishing school by aiming to bring in more older students who realise the need for qualifications if they are to succeed in the workforce.

"What happens is they leave school at the end of year 10, find themselves jobs, and by their mid-20s, when they are starting to settle down with a family, they suddenly realise they have no career prospects," he says.

"That's the cohort of students who will come back to university to upgrade their skills, in many cases I suspect sponsored by their companies to do precisely this."

The university will offer them two-year associate degrees, which can lead on to full bachelor degrees, that are matched to workforce needs in areas such as tourism, health, aged care and early stage engineering.

It's a very laudable objective. But is this the best way for government and education institutions to deal with Tasmania's education deficit? Or is the university just levering the state's education problem to obtain funding for shiny new buildings when the money could be better spent in other ways.

Will the 20-somethings, who have only reached year 10 at school, be ready to move into higher education? Why not directly address the year 12 completion problem? Part of the problem is the state's system of senior secondary colleges. There too few of them where they are needed.

Or why not make a concerted effort to fix up vocational education in the state, which would be directly relevant to students who are struggling to finish school and could set them up for a university degree later?

And why not test the merit of the University of Tasmania plan in a pilot program before throwing in the blatant pork barrel of $150 million to build new facilities?

Professor Rathgen says the new building in Burnie and the new campus in Launceston, which replaces an existing one, are integral to the plan. It's hard to see why.

But what is true is that Tasmania has got yet another poorly thought through political handout. It's a pity it's not better directed to solving the state's very real problems.

ENDNOTE  The message in this story for Northern Tasmanians seems to be “be very very careful what you wish for and get ready to make your own luck” ... Someone-In-Power-Once 

GET YOUR PETITION FORM VIA eMAIL NOW

PETITION FORMS are now available to be sent to you via eMAIL in a PGF format. 

This allows you to print off the forms you need to collect signatures in your street and among your friends and associates who are on the ELECTORS ROLL FOR LAUNCESTON. 

Please request an email with the form attached now!

ADDRESS: launcestonprojects@bigpond.com

SEE: http://lcc63.blogspot.com.au/p/electors-poll-petition.html