Latest news with #Burnie
ABC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Requirement for professional carpet cleaning at end of lease ruled invalid in Tasmania
Tasmanian tenants are not necessarily required to have their carpets professionally cleaned when they vacate their rental property, despite "almost all" leases saying they are, a ruling has found. In a recent bond dispute regarding a Burnie property, the Residential Tenancy Commissioner found the tenant is only required to have the carpet professionally cleaned if they leave it in a worse state than when they began their lease. "A tenant is not responsible for carpet cleaning performed as a matter of general practice as opposed to any real need or genuine failure of the tenant, in accordance with their obligations," it states. The Tenants Union of Tasmania, which represented the tenant, said this was the first definitive ruling on the matter and was a legally enforceable decision. "It really shines a light that a blanket clause in standard tenancy agreements that says you have to have premises professionally cleaned is invalid," Tenants Union senior solicitor Andrew Smith said. "A tenant has the right not to do it, if they've left it in the same condition as when they moved in and there's proof of that. Mr Smith said despite the ruling, the condition to have carpets professionally cleaned was appearing in leases "all the time", as it was in the standard lease provided to landlords by the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania. "It is in the standard Real Estate Institute lease almost all real estate agents will use and a lot of private landlords will choose to use, even some social housing providers are using these leases," he said. The Real Estate Institute of Tasmania has declined to comment. In the case that led to this ruling, the Residential Tenancy Commissioner said the owner had provided a photo of a "small yellow stain on the carpet of one of the bedrooms, which was not recorded in the ingoing condition report". But no other photos had been supplied showing the condition of the carpet at the end of the tenant's lease. Hence, the commissioner said the tenant was only responsible for the cost of cleaning that one stain. "I will award an amount I consider reasonable given the stain in question is very small, even when photographed close up," the ruling states. "The owner is awarded $25 for carpet cleaning." The case also dealt with the cost of fumigating the property, given the tenant had a pet. The tenant had argued the same principle should apply to fumigation as carpet cleaning, but the commissioner took a different view. "While I understand they seem similar in nature, carpet cleaning is predominantly cosmetic and the requirement can be determined based on outgoing photographs," the ruling says. "Fumigation is considered a necessary measure to return the property to a hygienic state and remove pests, dander and other allergens associated with pets in the premises. "Therefore, I am satisfied that a requirement for fumigation at the end of a tenancy is reasonable and is not inconsistent with the [Residential Tenancy] Act." The Tenants Union said it did not agree entirely with the commissioner's interpretation of the law. "We think it's a similar issue and that clauses requiring professional fumigation unconditionally are also invalid if they're not required by the condition of the premises," Mr Smith said. "Say if the tenant had a dog that always stayed outside or simply a fish in a fish tank, why is a tick and flea spray required inside the premises?"
Sky News AU
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
PM Anthony Albanese urged by Jewish leaders to visit Israel instead of 'throwing mud or criticising through words'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being encouraged to visit Israel to see what is unfolding in the region and to work closely with the nation again amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Israel's President Isaac Herzog spoke to Australian media on Thursday about how he hoped the Labor leader would fly over to see the issues the unstable region faced. Mr Albanese has this week been stern towards Israel amid its conflict with Gaza, claiming the nation's "excuses and explanations" for blocking aid from entering the enclave were "unacceptable". Some of the 2.3 million displaced and hungry Palestinians on Wednesday rushed to the city of Rafah where aid was being distributed by a US-backed group approved by Israel. Israeli soldiers were forced to fire warning shots due to the sudden influx of immense crowds. Executive Manager at the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, Joel Burnie, said Mr Albanese should visit Israel first before "throwing mud or criticising through words". "So we've had the recent comments by the Prime Minster, which again continue the perceived one-sided criticism of what used to be a very close friend of Australia's," he said to Danica Di Giorgio hosting The Kenny Report on Thursday. "And essentially what the President is saying, (is) 'if you are so concerned about what is on here, how about you come and you visit' instead of throwing mud or criticising through words, how about you come here with your actions, see how things are going, see what's happening on the ground here and come up with practical solutions." Mr Burnie conceded he "highly doubted" the PM would fly over for the trip. Thousands of Israelis rallied in streets on Wednesday, calling for the release of the remaining hostages who have been held by Hamas militants for 600 days. There was potential movement for a ceasefire after Hamas agreed to 60-day truce in Gaza and the release of 10 captives, according to sources who spoke to Al Jazeera. The US, however, denied that report. Mr Burnie stressed Australia has to work closely with Israel again. "At the end of the day, we hear these comments from the Prime Minister, we see these comments (from) so-called allies of Israel. All of this conflict could come to an end if Hamas would lay down their arms and hand over the hostages," he told Sky News. "It's a simple demand to ask of them. Instead of criticising Israel, we should be working together with all of our allies just to do those two simple things. "That will bring an immediate end to this war." Mr Albanese previously told President Herzog that Israel blocking humanitarian aid from entering the enclave was "completely untenable and without credibility". The pair had spoken on the sidelines of Pope Leo's inauguration in Rome, Italy. Earlier this month Foreign Minister Penny Wong was also outspoken, releasing a joint statement condemning Israel for "blocking humanitarian aid for over two months". "Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted. The population faces starvation. Gaza's people must receive the aid they desperately need," it read. "Prior to the aid block, the UN (United Nations) and humanitarian NGOs (non-government organisations) delivered aid into Gaza, working with great courage, at the risk of their lives and in the face of major access challenges imposed by Israel." Senator Wong also called on Israel's government to "allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity." The foreign ministers of 24 nations also put pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages and allow aid distribution "without interference". Israel had approved the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to build hubs to distribute aid, bypassing the need to rely on international organisations who have been helping for months. On Tuesday it said officials had handed out about 462,000 meals, since Israel eased an 11-week-long blockade amid mounting pressure from the international community. There have been heartbreaking scenes with Palestinians seen running and scrambling in hopes of getting their hands on some of the 8,000 food packages to feed their families. Israel had also accused Hamas of diverting and seizing aid supplies. The terror group denied it was stealing aid. -with Reuters
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Tasmanian MP Craig Garland appears in Burnie court on drug driving charge
Tasmanian independent MP Craig Garland has not entered a plea after appearing in court charged with drug driving. The Braddon state MP was in Burnie Magistrates Court on Monday morning charged with one count of driving a motor vehicle whilst a prescribed illicit drug is present in your oral fluid. He appeared unrepresented in court before Magistrate Katie Edwards, did not enter a plea to the charge, and was granted an adjournment until next month. The former commercial fisherman, elected to state parliament at the 2024 election, told ABC Radio in November he had tested positive at a roadside drug test while on his way to Montagu, in the state's north-west, to go fishing. At the time, Mr Garland said he had used cannabis on and off for a long time — both as pain relief and recreationally — and had smoked cannabis the night before the test. In the context of the charge, the word prescribed refers to it being an illicit drug in Tasmanian legislation, not that it is a prescription drug. Magistrate Edwards told Mr Garland he would be required to enter a plea at his next appearance, on June 26, and to ensure he sought legal advice beforehand. Last year, before he was charged, the prospect of any potential convictions raised concerns about Mr Garland's eligibility to parliament. Under Section 34(e) of Tasmania's Constitution Act, a member of any house's seat becomes vacant if they are "convicted of any crime and is sentenced or subject to be sentenced to imprisonment for any term exceeding one year unless he has received a free pardon". However, Mr Garland only appeared on one charge of drug driving on Monday morning, the maximum penalty for which is a fine of two penalty units, or $404.
ABC News
12-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Northern Tasmanian offshore salmon farming trial set to start, but opponents stand firm
The opponents of salmon farming off northern Tasmania may not have had the numbers of their southern counterparts, but they had equally strong convictions as they gathered on Monday afternoon. Many of the attendees at the Burnie Surf Life Saving Club came wearing bright red T-shirts emblazoned with the logo NO TOXIC SALMON. The group of about 50 was attending a public meeting hosted by Blue Economy, the cooperative research centre behind a trial testing offshore fish farming in Bass Strait. On Monday, Blue Economy began towing equipment for two fish farming pens to Commonwealth waters 12 kilometres north of Burnie. It says the installation of the pens will be completed in July when nets are added prior to the introduction of Atlantic salmon. Kingfish will be introduced to the site in October. Blue Economy is part of the CRC program which supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. Blue Economy policy director Angela Williamson was at the centre of the meeting to answer the group's questions about several controversies Tasmania's aquaculture industry has faced in recent years. Ms Williamson said the installation was a "significant step forward in sustainable aquaculture research for Commonwealth waters". She said it would be a three-year research project attempting to gather evidence about how fish farms might affect other species in Bass Strait, recreational fishing in the area, and the impact of the marine environment on aquaculture infrastructure. The project has been approved under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Initially, barges will be operating out of the port of Burnie to deploy the infrastructure, which includes a mooring grid to secure the pens in place, and two large, round floating "collars", like those in place elsewhere around the state. Ms Williamson said the company's research was being conducted on behalf of aquaculture companies, governments and other international research organisations. As well as members of the public, representatives from North West Tas for Clean Oceans attended the meeting alongside Bob Brown Foundation campaigner Scott Jordan, Greens candidate for Montgomery Darren Briggs, and Tasmanian independent Braddon MP Craig Garland. In the first hour of the meeting, no attendee spoke in support of the industry or the research project. Mr Garland said he believed the industry had "no social licence" and that residents of the electorate disliked salmon farms and "don't want them here under any circumstances". At the recent federal election, Braddon voters swung heavily to the Labor Party, which was emphatic in its support for the salmon industry. Prior to the election, the Albanese government introduced and passed legislation in part to protect salmon farming jobs on Macquarie Harbour where the endangered Maugean skate was being threatened. Meeting attendees on Monday afternoon referred to issues the industry had experienced in Tasmania in recent months, including the use of antibiotics in the water and the welfare of the fish. Questions were also asked about the transparency of the research results, and whether the public would have access to them, as well as concerns about how much information had been made available prior to the meeting. Ms Williamson vowed to provide the requested information, but was greeted with apparent scepticism from some in attendance. Speaking prior to the meeting, NW Tas for Clean Oceans president Cass Wright said she did not trust the fish farming industry and was staunchly opposed to the research being carried out. Ms Wright said she believed the industry was too environmentally damaging to be allowed to run a trial in Bass Strait. Mr Garland said the community did not support fish farming and therefore any research trial was unnecessary. "Why do we need research when we don't want them here?" he asked. He also said he was concerned about any pens — research or not — being installed in Bass Strait. Ms Williamson, however, said the project was strictly a "research trial site" and that all equipment would be decommissioned at the end of the trial in three years. Any commercial fish farming operation in Bass Strait would then be a question for aquaculture companies and would require further government approval. "There is a lot more work that needs to be done by the federal government on regulatory regimes, and what that would look like," Ms Williamson said. A spokesperson for industry peak body Salmon Tasmania said they backed Blue Economy's trial. "Tasmania's salmon industry encourages innovation, research and development," the spokesperson said in a statement. "The work being done by Blue Economy CRC to test infrastructure 12 kilometres offshore in the notoriously rough and exposed Bass Strait waterway is a testament to Blue Economy CRC and we look forward to monitoring the progress of the research." The spokesperson did not answer questions about whether the industry could or would be likely to move Tasmanian operations further offshore, or whether it believed the community was supportive of Bass Strait research.
Sky News AU
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Greens ran a ‘toxic and divisive' election campaign for Jewish voters
Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council's Joel Burnie provides his reaction to Greens Leader Adam Bandt potentially losing his seat in Melbourne due to the backlash against his strong anti-Israel point of view. Mr Burnie claims the Greens' 'obsession of Israel' was a 'key pillar' in their political campaign. 'They've gone from four seats in the lower house to potentially looks like zero,' Mr Burnie told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'It's a clear repudiation of the toxic antisemitism emanating out of the Greens Party. 'They ran a toxic and divisive campaign. 'Any tears from Abbie Chatfield or DJ Adam Bandt is irrelevant, they failed dismally in this election and the results are clear as day.'
