Tasmanian election shaping up to be ‘return to dysfunction'
Tasmanians are heading to the polls on Saturday to decide on the state's next government as Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Opposition Leader Dean Winter battle it out for the state's top job.
'(It's) really sad for the Tasmanian people; hung parliament, dysfunction, people playing games,' Mr Falinski told Sky News Australia.
'It resembles a student representative council at university rather than a state government with serious issues and serious jobs to do – that's a shame to be honest.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
4 minutes ago
- Perth Now
‘Hostile:' Bishop hit with damning claims
Australian National University Chancellor Julie Bishop has been accused in a Senate hearing of bullying a staff member to the point of 'near suicide' following a private meeting where the former Liberal minister allegedly laughed at her and blocked her from leaving the room. In an emotional statement to a Senate committee on the quality of governance at universities, former ANU council member Liz Allen accused Ms Bishop of threatening behaviour after she was wrongly accused of leaking information about ANU's leadership to the media. Dr Allen alleged the bullying she suffered due to senior leadership, including Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell and Ms Bishop, pushed her into contemplating suicide, and senior leadership failed to support her after she suffered a miscarriage. 'ANU leaders behave with impunity, keep counsel in the dark and fail to adequately disclose conflicts,' Dr Allen told the Senate committee. 'Since 2024 I've experienced threats, intimidation and bullying because I sought greater probity of council conduct. 'I was bullied into near suicide. I miscarried a much wanted baby. I've lost the opportunity of a promotion. I fear for my job, and my career has been derailed.' Former Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop, is now the Chancellor of Australian National University. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Under university leadership structures, the council acts as an institution's governing body and is chaired by the chancellor. Dr Allen told the Senate committee during one council meeting in February, Ms Bishop specifically accused herself and another council member of leaking to the media – claims she rejects. 'I take my obligations extremely seriously and would never compromise my integrity,' she said. 'When I defended myself in this meeting, the chancellor suggested I defamed her. The repeated public allegations and increasing aggression was so distressing I cried and began to hyperventilate during the meeting.' She said Ms Bishop 'further berated me' and another elected council member in a private room following the meeting, in which Ms Bishop threatened a legal investigation, and said she would call 'a journalist to confirm I wasn't leaking' and blocked her from exiting the room. 'I became further distressed with the continued pursuit of false leaking allegations,' she said. 'Chancellor Bishop laughed incredulously at my emotional response, and at one point blocked me leaving the room. 'I was so distressed I couldn't breathe and struggled walking.' ANU demographer Dr Liz Allen said she had been bullied into 'near suicide'. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Dr Allen, who was pregnant at the time, told the committee the 'traumatising' meeting affected her 'so deeply' that she 'decided to kill myself' while driving home from the meeting. Two weeks later, she also suffered a miscarriage, after she was told her baby son's 'heart stopped beating'. 'I pulled over to write final goodbyes to my children and my partner. I emailed my supervisors so they knew I hadn't done anything wrong,' she said. 'A call from my husband stopped me taking my life I was pregnant at the time of these incidents.' Dr Allen told the committee 'further bullying and threats' continued after she launched a workplace complaint following the meeting, and alleged the chief people officer 'implied' she had 'mental health problems and dismissed the dysfunction of council'. She was also told by ANU Pro Chancellor Alison Kitchen that her 'position was untenable' and that she had a 'duty to resign all because I had no confidence in the council'. While Ms Bishop and Prof Bell were invited to the inquiry, they were unable to attend. ANU chief operating officer Jonathan Churchill said Ms Bishop was unable to attend the inquiry due to commitments as the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on Myanmar, while Prof Bell was 'on sick leave' with the flu. Neither Ms Bishop or ANU Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell attended the inquiry. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia While he didn't make specific reference to the claims, he said 'a number of the statements' made against ANU did 'not appear to be correct'. 'We have listened carefully to the proceedings from earlier today and the allegations made against the university. We take what has been said very seriously,' he said. 'We will examine all of the statements made and respond with particularity in writing to those assertions.' He also withdrew from commenting on allegations put forward by Dr Allen, adding that it could compromise the current grievance procedure launched by Dr Allen. Prior to Mr Churchill's appearance, inquiry chair and Labor senator Leah Blythe said that should ANU's representation not be able to 'answer senators' question' the inquiry would 'reserve our right to recall those witnesses at a later date'. 'Our inquiry goes till December, so I'm sure we will be able to find a time which is suitable for all, if that is required,' she said. In a statement during questioning, Greens' higher education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi said she was 'shell shocked and shaken' by Dr Allen's comments, and questioned Prof bell and Ms Bishop's future at the university. 'I feel no other pathway here but for Vice Chancellor Bell and Chancellor bishop to resign or be sacked,' she said. mental health helplines
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'We're still all set': AFL boss on Tasmania 2028 start
The AFL remains confident of a 2028 start date for its Tasmanian team, despite ongoing political instability in the state. League chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday that "with a bit of luck", the Tasmania Devils' provisional licence would be granted by the end of the year. But that hinges on the state government going ahead with construction of the new stadium in Hobart that would be home to the team. The Liberals under premier Jeremy Rockliff were returned to power after last month's state election, but they remain a minority government. A motion of no-confidence in the Liberals and confidence in Labor would be moved when state parliament resumes on August 19, Labor leader Dean Winter said. The Greens and some independents oppose the $1 billion stadium project. "From there (the return to parliament next Tuesday), we'll get more of an understanding as to the timing for the planning process and then the building of the stadium," Dillon said. "Once the parliament gets commissioned, we have an agreement with the Tasmanian government, whoever that is of the day, to build the stadium, to fund the team. "We have a massive investment ourselves in football in Tasmania. "We're still all set ... as I stand here now, there's nothing that dissuades me from the 2028 start date." Dillon was asked when the provisional licence might be granted to the Devils, confirming they are the AFL's 19th team. "It really depends on the planning process and then the building contract," he said. "It's not weeks, but it could be months ... (by the end of the year) with a bit of luck, yeah." The AFL is yet to announce details of the list concessions around the formation of the new team and Dillon conceded the election had been a factor in the delay. "It had maybe a small part to do with it, but we're really clear that we'll get those lists rules out before the trade period," he said. The AFL remains confident of a 2028 start date for its Tasmanian team, despite ongoing political instability in the state. League chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday that "with a bit of luck", the Tasmania Devils' provisional licence would be granted by the end of the year. But that hinges on the state government going ahead with construction of the new stadium in Hobart that would be home to the team. The Liberals under premier Jeremy Rockliff were returned to power after last month's state election, but they remain a minority government. A motion of no-confidence in the Liberals and confidence in Labor would be moved when state parliament resumes on August 19, Labor leader Dean Winter said. The Greens and some independents oppose the $1 billion stadium project. "From there (the return to parliament next Tuesday), we'll get more of an understanding as to the timing for the planning process and then the building of the stadium," Dillon said. "Once the parliament gets commissioned, we have an agreement with the Tasmanian government, whoever that is of the day, to build the stadium, to fund the team. "We have a massive investment ourselves in football in Tasmania. "We're still all set ... as I stand here now, there's nothing that dissuades me from the 2028 start date." Dillon was asked when the provisional licence might be granted to the Devils, confirming they are the AFL's 19th team. "It really depends on the planning process and then the building contract," he said. "It's not weeks, but it could be months ... (by the end of the year) with a bit of luck, yeah." The AFL is yet to announce details of the list concessions around the formation of the new team and Dillon conceded the election had been a factor in the delay. "It had maybe a small part to do with it, but we're really clear that we'll get those lists rules out before the trade period," he said. The AFL remains confident of a 2028 start date for its Tasmanian team, despite ongoing political instability in the state. League chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday that "with a bit of luck", the Tasmania Devils' provisional licence would be granted by the end of the year. But that hinges on the state government going ahead with construction of the new stadium in Hobart that would be home to the team. The Liberals under premier Jeremy Rockliff were returned to power after last month's state election, but they remain a minority government. A motion of no-confidence in the Liberals and confidence in Labor would be moved when state parliament resumes on August 19, Labor leader Dean Winter said. The Greens and some independents oppose the $1 billion stadium project. "From there (the return to parliament next Tuesday), we'll get more of an understanding as to the timing for the planning process and then the building of the stadium," Dillon said. "Once the parliament gets commissioned, we have an agreement with the Tasmanian government, whoever that is of the day, to build the stadium, to fund the team. "We have a massive investment ourselves in football in Tasmania. "We're still all set ... as I stand here now, there's nothing that dissuades me from the 2028 start date." Dillon was asked when the provisional licence might be granted to the Devils, confirming they are the AFL's 19th team. "It really depends on the planning process and then the building contract," he said. "It's not weeks, but it could be months ... (by the end of the year) with a bit of luck, yeah." The AFL is yet to announce details of the list concessions around the formation of the new team and Dillon conceded the election had been a factor in the delay. "It had maybe a small part to do with it, but we're really clear that we'll get those lists rules out before the trade period," he said.
Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Severe blow': October 7 attacks show there is ‘no legitimate partner' for peace
Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin discusses the Albanese government's recognition of a Palestinian state. 'There's a feeling of great fatigue, everyone wants peace, but October 7 dealt such a severe blow to that,' Mr Ryvchin told Sky News Australia. 'That showed Israelis that there is no legitimate partner for peace, and giving up territory only endangers Israelis more.'
