Familiar face returns for election as stadium divides
Among those putting their hands up ahead of the Tasmanian election are former Liberal state attorney-general Elise Archer, who will run as an independent at the July 19 poll.
The snap election, which will be the state's second in 16 months, was called after Premier Jeremy Rockliff refused to resign following a successful no-confidence vote in his leadership.
Ms Archer is contesting the Hobart-based seat of Clark after she was dumped from her frontbench role and quit parliament following bullying allegations. She denies any wrongdoing.
She said she decided to run after being frustrated about the state's financial situation and poor governance under the Liberal-led minority administration.
Minority government seemed "inevitable" and sensible but experienced independents were needed, Ms Archer said.
Mr Rockliff declined to comment on his former colleague's tilt as an independent while unveiling the Liberals' seven candidates for the seat of Lyons on Sunday, but he reiterated only a majority government could provide stability.
"A vote for an independent is a vote for politics and instability," he said.
The premier was in Launceston on Sunday, announcing a pledge to expand women's healthcare service The Bubble and reduce the need for women and girls in the north to travel for care.
The Greens, which could have a role in deciding who forms government in the 35-seat lower house, have called on both parties to clarify their position on the controversial Macquarie Point stadium.
The stadium in Hobart is a condition of the AFL granting the island state a team licence and has been backed by the Liberals and Labor, but the Greens and some independents oppose the project due to its potential $1 billion price tag.
The Greens insist York Park in Launceston, which hosted 15,000 people for a Friday clash between Hawthorn and Adelaide, should be the home of football.
Mr Rockliff said his party supported the stadium as it would keep the state economy strong.
"We keep investing in people, in infrastructure that grows our economy, so we can fund those essential services that all Tasmanians care about," the premier said.
Labor Leader Dean Winter said his party was consulting with stakeholders over legislation allowing the stadium to bypass planning and development approvals, but he reiterated support for the project.
"We understand that that's the link between the AFL team that Tasmania has desperately wanted," he said in Old Beach, north of Hobart, to announce a plan to slash development rules in half to get housing built faster.
Ms Archer said she couldn't support the stadium due to the cost, noting "no other AFL team has had such strict requirements placed on it like Tasmania".
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ABC News
27 minutes ago
- ABC News
Just a week out from a parliamentary deadline, both Labor and Greens sticking to their guns
During every AFL trade week, there are a couple of deals that go down to the wire. One club boss insists their player is so skilled that there's no way they'll be traded, at least unless they get a bounty of draft picks or some good players in exchange. The other club boss says they value the player but can't pay the king's ransom being demanded. Occasionally, the gulf between the teams is so great that no deal can be struck. Other times, one club caves and pays too much, or accepts below-market value for their prized player. But mostly, after weeks of posturing and chest beating, both clubs agree to meet somewhere in the middle, usually right before the trade deadline. Tasmanian politics is in its own trade week era — and at the moment, the protracted negotiations are between Labor and the Greens. Labor needs the Greens to agree to their motion of no-confidence in Premier Jeremy Rockliff's government, and provide confidence in a Labor minority government. In return, the Greens want Labor to throw some policy concessions their way. Maybe start with matching the Liberals' ban on greyhound racing and go from there. So far, there has been the same amount of bluster you'd expect from AFL trade week. Labor insists it won't do a deal with the Greens, it won't compromise on its values and doesn't expect those it is negotiating with to do so either. But if it forms government, it will consider each idea for policy change on its merits, through a "sensible policy framework". Labor has mostly opted for the "greater good" argument — that the mostly progressive crossbench would be better off under a Labor Party that independents and Greens share some core values with, such as integrity, fixing the budget, health and housing. It's asking whether the crossbench really wants to leave the Liberals, and new Treasurer Eric Abetz, in charge of the state's finances. Especially when it could have Labor and its would-be treasurer, respected independent MLC Ruth Forrest. And whether the Greens really want to trust a premier that it voted no-confidence in just two months ago. The Greens so far have told Labor Leader Dean Winter to buzz off, and to come back when he's serious. Greens Leader Rosalie Woodruff drew a big line in the sand on Tuesday. Unless Labor offers up more than it is at the moment, she said the Greens cannot support Mr Winter as premier. Dr Woodruff reeled off a range of policies she would like movement on: ditching the proposed Macquarie Point AFL stadium, stronger environmental laws, and increasing the royalties paid by the salmon and mining industries to repair the budget. And in a classic trade-week manoeuvre, she pointed out Labor's weakened bargaining hand — that the guy doing the negotiating failed to win a quota in his own right in the seat of Franklin, while his party suffered a 3.1 per cent swing against it. And that while Labor doesn't need every individual crossbencher on board, it cannot form government without the Greens. The Greens also have the benefit of time. They can reject Mr Winter's bid for power now, tell their supporters they've extracted a greyhound racing ban from a Liberal party that just a month ago was telling the industry how valued it was, and will consider a further no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff if he doesn't do what he has promised or makes decisions that outrage them. They know Labor are likely to come back and want to form government if they're unsuccessful this time. But if the Greens vote for Mr Winter to become premier now, they know it will lead to a partnership that will be awfully hard to end. The Greens see they're giving Mr Winter a blank cheque to govern if they side with him this time. And Dr Woodruff continues to argue the party will not do that without claiming some prized assets in return. We're fairly and squarely in the chest-beating part of trade week. A week out from deadline, both parties are sticking to their guns. But which end scenario will play out on Tuesday when parliament resumes? Will the Greens and Labor remain so far apart that neither bends — and Mr Rockliff remains premier? Will Labor concede enough that the deal becomes palatable to the Greens? Or will the Greens decide that when push comes to shove, they would prefer the Labor Party in charge over Mr Rockliff? After all, Dr Woodruff used her election night speech to point out the Greens have much more in common with Labor than the Liberals. With five days until deadline day, there's still plenty to play out. And while the Greens have displayed a willingness to return to the negotiating table, Dr Woodruff put plenty of caveats on her lack of support, starting every sentence with a "for now", or "at this stage". The scene is set for a tense and highly anticipated return of the state parliament. And despite all the bluster, every possible scenario remains on the table.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
China duties on Canadian canola may advantage Australia
China has announced preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian canola imports in a new escalation in the year-long trade dispute that began with Canada's imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports last August. The provisional rate will be set at 75.8 per cent, effective from Thursday, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. Canola Council of Canada president Chris Davison said that rate makes the Chinese market effectively closed for Canadian canola, to which Canada exported about C$5 billion ($A5.60 billion) of the oilseed crop in 2024. ICE November canola futures fell as much as 6.5 per cent to a four-month low after the announcement. "This really came as a surprise and a shock," trader Tony Tryhuk of RBC Dominion Securities said. China, the world's largest importer of canola which is also known as rapeseed, sources nearly all its supplies of the product from Canada. The steep duties would likely all but end imports if they are maintained. "This is huge. Who will pay a 75 per cent deposit to bring Canadian canola to China? It is like telling Canada that we don't need your canola, thank you very much," one Singapore-based oilseed trader said. China imposed tariffs on canola oil and meal in March. Canada is now in a trade conflict with the world's two largest economies, as it also faces tariffs on goods from the United States. Canada's number one canola market is the US, followed by China. China's Ministry of Commerce said an anti-dumping probe launched in September 2024 had found that Canada's agricultural sector - particularly the canola industry - had benefited from substantial government subsidies and preferential policies. The Canadian government and canola industry have previously rejected allegations of dumping. The industry believes China's complaint is based on other ongoing trade and political disputes, Davison said. A final ruling could result in a different rate, or overturn Tuesday's decision. The decision marks a shift from the conciliatory tone struck in June when China Premier Li Qiang said there were no deep-seated conflicts of interest between the countries during a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. "This move ... will put additional pressure on Canada's government to sort through trade frictions with China," said Trivium China agriculture analyst Even Rogers Pay. Canada's trade, agriculture and prime minister's office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Canada has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminium. Separately, China also launched an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian pea starch and imposed provisional duties on imports of halogenated butyl rubber, according to ministry statements. Replacing millions of tons of Canadian canola is likely to be difficult at short notice, analysts say. China uses imported canola to make animal feed for its aquaculture sector, as well as for cooking oil. The move provides an opportunity for Australia, which looks set to regain access to the Chinese market with test cargoes this year after a years-long freeze in the trade, Pay said. Australia, the second-largest canola exporter, has been shut out of the Chinese market since 2020 due mainly to Chinese rules to stop the spread of fungal plant disease. However, even if Australian imports increase, "fully replacing Canadian canola will be very difficult unless import demand drops sharply," said Donatas Jankauskas, an analyst with commodity data firm CM Navigator. Davison said his industry believes China will need Canada's canola to meet the sort of demand it has experienced in recent years. "I think the expectation would be that they could not meet those needs with a quality of a product and the volume that we provide," Davison said. Canadian farmers are about to begin harvesting canola and will not be happy to see prices plunge, Canadian Canola Growers Association president Rick White said. As long as the prohibitive duty is there farmers face suppressed prices. "It's going to certainly have a damping effect on price for farmers and they're going to be stuck with that," White said. China has announced preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian canola imports in a new escalation in the year-long trade dispute that began with Canada's imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports last August. The provisional rate will be set at 75.8 per cent, effective from Thursday, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. Canola Council of Canada president Chris Davison said that rate makes the Chinese market effectively closed for Canadian canola, to which Canada exported about C$5 billion ($A5.60 billion) of the oilseed crop in 2024. ICE November canola futures fell as much as 6.5 per cent to a four-month low after the announcement. "This really came as a surprise and a shock," trader Tony Tryhuk of RBC Dominion Securities said. China, the world's largest importer of canola which is also known as rapeseed, sources nearly all its supplies of the product from Canada. The steep duties would likely all but end imports if they are maintained. "This is huge. Who will pay a 75 per cent deposit to bring Canadian canola to China? It is like telling Canada that we don't need your canola, thank you very much," one Singapore-based oilseed trader said. China imposed tariffs on canola oil and meal in March. Canada is now in a trade conflict with the world's two largest economies, as it also faces tariffs on goods from the United States. Canada's number one canola market is the US, followed by China. China's Ministry of Commerce said an anti-dumping probe launched in September 2024 had found that Canada's agricultural sector - particularly the canola industry - had benefited from substantial government subsidies and preferential policies. The Canadian government and canola industry have previously rejected allegations of dumping. The industry believes China's complaint is based on other ongoing trade and political disputes, Davison said. A final ruling could result in a different rate, or overturn Tuesday's decision. The decision marks a shift from the conciliatory tone struck in June when China Premier Li Qiang said there were no deep-seated conflicts of interest between the countries during a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. "This move ... will put additional pressure on Canada's government to sort through trade frictions with China," said Trivium China agriculture analyst Even Rogers Pay. Canada's trade, agriculture and prime minister's office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Canada has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminium. Separately, China also launched an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian pea starch and imposed provisional duties on imports of halogenated butyl rubber, according to ministry statements. Replacing millions of tons of Canadian canola is likely to be difficult at short notice, analysts say. China uses imported canola to make animal feed for its aquaculture sector, as well as for cooking oil. The move provides an opportunity for Australia, which looks set to regain access to the Chinese market with test cargoes this year after a years-long freeze in the trade, Pay said. Australia, the second-largest canola exporter, has been shut out of the Chinese market since 2020 due mainly to Chinese rules to stop the spread of fungal plant disease. However, even if Australian imports increase, "fully replacing Canadian canola will be very difficult unless import demand drops sharply," said Donatas Jankauskas, an analyst with commodity data firm CM Navigator. Davison said his industry believes China will need Canada's canola to meet the sort of demand it has experienced in recent years. "I think the expectation would be that they could not meet those needs with a quality of a product and the volume that we provide," Davison said. Canadian farmers are about to begin harvesting canola and will not be happy to see prices plunge, Canadian Canola Growers Association president Rick White said. As long as the prohibitive duty is there farmers face suppressed prices. "It's going to certainly have a damping effect on price for farmers and they're going to be stuck with that," White said. China has announced preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian canola imports in a new escalation in the year-long trade dispute that began with Canada's imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports last August. The provisional rate will be set at 75.8 per cent, effective from Thursday, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. Canola Council of Canada president Chris Davison said that rate makes the Chinese market effectively closed for Canadian canola, to which Canada exported about C$5 billion ($A5.60 billion) of the oilseed crop in 2024. ICE November canola futures fell as much as 6.5 per cent to a four-month low after the announcement. "This really came as a surprise and a shock," trader Tony Tryhuk of RBC Dominion Securities said. China, the world's largest importer of canola which is also known as rapeseed, sources nearly all its supplies of the product from Canada. The steep duties would likely all but end imports if they are maintained. "This is huge. Who will pay a 75 per cent deposit to bring Canadian canola to China? It is like telling Canada that we don't need your canola, thank you very much," one Singapore-based oilseed trader said. China imposed tariffs on canola oil and meal in March. Canada is now in a trade conflict with the world's two largest economies, as it also faces tariffs on goods from the United States. Canada's number one canola market is the US, followed by China. China's Ministry of Commerce said an anti-dumping probe launched in September 2024 had found that Canada's agricultural sector - particularly the canola industry - had benefited from substantial government subsidies and preferential policies. The Canadian government and canola industry have previously rejected allegations of dumping. The industry believes China's complaint is based on other ongoing trade and political disputes, Davison said. A final ruling could result in a different rate, or overturn Tuesday's decision. The decision marks a shift from the conciliatory tone struck in June when China Premier Li Qiang said there were no deep-seated conflicts of interest between the countries during a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. "This move ... will put additional pressure on Canada's government to sort through trade frictions with China," said Trivium China agriculture analyst Even Rogers Pay. Canada's trade, agriculture and prime minister's office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Canada has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminium. Separately, China also launched an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian pea starch and imposed provisional duties on imports of halogenated butyl rubber, according to ministry statements. Replacing millions of tons of Canadian canola is likely to be difficult at short notice, analysts say. China uses imported canola to make animal feed for its aquaculture sector, as well as for cooking oil. The move provides an opportunity for Australia, which looks set to regain access to the Chinese market with test cargoes this year after a years-long freeze in the trade, Pay said. Australia, the second-largest canola exporter, has been shut out of the Chinese market since 2020 due mainly to Chinese rules to stop the spread of fungal plant disease. However, even if Australian imports increase, "fully replacing Canadian canola will be very difficult unless import demand drops sharply," said Donatas Jankauskas, an analyst with commodity data firm CM Navigator. Davison said his industry believes China will need Canada's canola to meet the sort of demand it has experienced in recent years. "I think the expectation would be that they could not meet those needs with a quality of a product and the volume that we provide," Davison said. Canadian farmers are about to begin harvesting canola and will not be happy to see prices plunge, Canadian Canola Growers Association president Rick White said. As long as the prohibitive duty is there farmers face suppressed prices. "It's going to certainly have a damping effect on price for farmers and they're going to be stuck with that," White said. China has announced preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian canola imports in a new escalation in the year-long trade dispute that began with Canada's imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports last August. The provisional rate will be set at 75.8 per cent, effective from Thursday, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. Canola Council of Canada president Chris Davison said that rate makes the Chinese market effectively closed for Canadian canola, to which Canada exported about C$5 billion ($A5.60 billion) of the oilseed crop in 2024. ICE November canola futures fell as much as 6.5 per cent to a four-month low after the announcement. "This really came as a surprise and a shock," trader Tony Tryhuk of RBC Dominion Securities said. China, the world's largest importer of canola which is also known as rapeseed, sources nearly all its supplies of the product from Canada. The steep duties would likely all but end imports if they are maintained. "This is huge. Who will pay a 75 per cent deposit to bring Canadian canola to China? It is like telling Canada that we don't need your canola, thank you very much," one Singapore-based oilseed trader said. China imposed tariffs on canola oil and meal in March. Canada is now in a trade conflict with the world's two largest economies, as it also faces tariffs on goods from the United States. Canada's number one canola market is the US, followed by China. China's Ministry of Commerce said an anti-dumping probe launched in September 2024 had found that Canada's agricultural sector - particularly the canola industry - had benefited from substantial government subsidies and preferential policies. The Canadian government and canola industry have previously rejected allegations of dumping. The industry believes China's complaint is based on other ongoing trade and political disputes, Davison said. A final ruling could result in a different rate, or overturn Tuesday's decision. The decision marks a shift from the conciliatory tone struck in June when China Premier Li Qiang said there were no deep-seated conflicts of interest between the countries during a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. "This move ... will put additional pressure on Canada's government to sort through trade frictions with China," said Trivium China agriculture analyst Even Rogers Pay. Canada's trade, agriculture and prime minister's office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Canada has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminium. Separately, China also launched an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian pea starch and imposed provisional duties on imports of halogenated butyl rubber, according to ministry statements. Replacing millions of tons of Canadian canola is likely to be difficult at short notice, analysts say. China uses imported canola to make animal feed for its aquaculture sector, as well as for cooking oil. The move provides an opportunity for Australia, which looks set to regain access to the Chinese market with test cargoes this year after a years-long freeze in the trade, Pay said. Australia, the second-largest canola exporter, has been shut out of the Chinese market since 2020 due mainly to Chinese rules to stop the spread of fungal plant disease. However, even if Australian imports increase, "fully replacing Canadian canola will be very difficult unless import demand drops sharply," said Donatas Jankauskas, an analyst with commodity data firm CM Navigator. Davison said his industry believes China will need Canada's canola to meet the sort of demand it has experienced in recent years. "I think the expectation would be that they could not meet those needs with a quality of a product and the volume that we provide," Davison said. Canadian farmers are about to begin harvesting canola and will not be happy to see prices plunge, Canadian Canola Growers Association president Rick White said. As long as the prohibitive duty is there farmers face suppressed prices. "It's going to certainly have a damping effect on price for farmers and they're going to be stuck with that," White said.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Mark Latham faces another Rosehill humiliation
For a place that, let's be honest, rarely crosses the mind of most Sydneysiders, Rosehill racecourse is punching above its weight in the Harbour City's news cycles of late. Responsibility for that partly lay with Chris Minns' well-intentioned plan to buy the site for $5 billion and build 25,000 new homes, a move rejected by most Australian Turf Club members keen to stick a middle finger up at the premier and Peter V'landys. The botched deal was the subject of many a deranged tirade from NSW upper house MP Mark Latham, one of its loudest opponents, for whom Rosehill has been the site of many a recent humiliation. On the day of the Rosehill vote, Latham separated from former girlfriend Nathalie Matthews, who later made a series of allegations of abuse against the former Labor leader. Latham has denied Matthews' claims. Rosehill was also the site of an earlier embarrassing incident for Latham, who in April launched into an expletive-laden rant against the ATC's head of corporate affairs Steve McMahon, a friend of Minns, when the two crossed paths in the members area. The ATC slapped Latham with a 12-month good behaviour bond, while the MP later rage-quit the club. Loading Racing NSW drafted in former Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission boss Michael Phelan to conduct its own investigation into the incident. This week, they charged Latham in connection with abusing officials. 'Some people have taken their defeat at Rosehill really hard,' Latham sniggered on X, with a picture of an email from the regulator's operations manager – integrity, Michael Cleaver, relating to 'charges issued by Racing NSW stewards'. Latham could face penalties in the form of a fine, or at the most severe, being 'warned off', which would leave the upper house rogue banned from racetracks, unable to have a punt and restricted from ownership of a horse.
