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Open-air asbestos waste dump exposed after bushfire at Tasmanian iron ore plant A bushfire exposed an open-air waste dump containing asbestos at a north-west Tasmanian mineral processing plant, but the issue was quietly buried without informing residents or one of the unions repr...

After a bushfire exposed an open-air waste dump containing asbestos at a Tasmanian iron ore plant, it was quietly buried without informing residents. The Environment Protection Authority warned the company about health risks, but not the public. #politas

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The text states: "Tassal, the largest salmon producer in Tasmania, was fined $4040 for creating an environmental nuisance and failing to manage fish waste in accordance with licence conditions for its Triabunna processing plant. The EPA also issued six warning notices to Tassal over environmental licence breaches at processing plants and fish farms. In June 2025, Tassal was warned for failing to notify the EPA director of an incident at its Triabunna plant, failing to manage polluted stormwater, and breaching a licence condition regarding the management of fish waste."

#Tasmania's EPA fined Tassal $4040 for licence condition breaches at its Triabunna #salmon processing plant

+ EPA issued 6 warning notices to Tassal over other breaches at the plant & the Okehampton & Soldiers Point leases #politas #auspol

Full details 👇

tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/mining-...

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Miner tops list of Tasmanian environmental licence breaches A mothballed mine on Tasmania’s west coast, topped a list for the most recorded environmental licence breaches across the state, according to the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) annual report...

Mining company Greenwing Resources had the most environmental licence breaches in Tasmania during 2024-25, says the EPA’s annual report. Tassal and Cadbury also ranked high on the list of companies fined or issued warning notices. #politas

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Tas EPA says 9000t of smelter slag reuse lacked approval The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has banned the use of waste from a manganese smelter outside the Bell Bay industrial area after an investigation found 9000 tonnes was used in road and const...

🏭 Tas EPA has banned the use of waste from a manganese smelter outside the Bell Bay industrial area after 9000t were used for landfill without approval. Another 8000t of slag have gone to 10 more sites, but the locations have not been made public. #politas

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Tasmanian salmon farm faces audit as wildlife death toll rises The mounting wildlife death toll at a southern Tasmanian salmon farm will be investigated as part of an audit of the company’s sustainability accreditation. Eight cormorants were found dead in July an...

Another eight cormorants have been found dead at a #salmon farm in #Tasmania. The wildlife toll at one lease of 43 birds and two seals in 2025 far exceeds the maximum limit set by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council of nine deaths over two years. #politas

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Ex-MP’s role sparks call for Tasmanian lobbying law change. An independent MP says the appointment of a defeated Liberal MP to head a Tasmanian lobbying firm highlights the need to improve the government’s appointment diaries disclosure scheme and legislate a ...

Tasmania's Integrity Commission has a code of conduct that bans former parliamentary secretaries and ministers from lobbying on matters they dealt with in the year before they left office. Now an ex-MP turned lobbyist sparks call for a new law. #politas

tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/ex-libe...

Unauthorised land clearing impacted endangered crayfish, EPA finds A creek in northern Tasmanian known to be home to the endangered giant freshwater crayfish has sustained "serious environmental harm" from land clearing and earthworks, the Environment Protection Agen...

ABC News has picked up the issue Cement Australia's unauthorised earthworks near Railton (originally reported by #TasInq) -- with additional material from Mount Roland Land Care president Greg Taylor and additional comments from Todd Walsh #politas #auspol

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Tasmanian Greens MPs | Alarming Relevations of Environmental Damage at Railton Revelations that unauthorised works caused detrimental damage to threatened species habitat again show the need for stronger environment laws and more transparency by the EPA

Tas Greens issued a media release on Cement Australia's unauthorised works near the Railton #cement plant #politas

tasgreensmps.org/media-releas...

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Endangered Tasmanian crayfish habitat damaged by unapproved works The habitat of an endangered native crayfish in northern Tasmania was damaged by unauthorised earthworks and land clearing by a cement company, according to an order issued by the Environment Protecti...

Unauthorised earthworks and land clearing by a cement company in northern Tasmania has damaged the known habitat of endangered freshwater crayfish and snails, smothering creek beds with silt. #politas

tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/cement-...

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Tasmanian Inquirer’s previous stories on pokies are here
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New Tasmanian Liquor & Gaming Commission data on #pokies:

* $17.98 million lost in Aug – $7.5m lost in Federal Group’s 2 casinos

* $196.7m lost in the last year

* $1.34 billion lost since 2018 ‘pokies’ state election #politas #Tasmania #gambling

Data here
www.treasury.tas.gov.au/liquor-and-g...

In reality, the Department of Premier and Cabinet agreed to disclose then premier David Bartlett’s appointments diary in 2009 following a Freedom of Information request by the author. The details disclosed were comprehensive: meetings with departmental officials, other MPs, party events, and lobbyists, along with details of who attended the meetings, their purpose and duration. While the request was only for three months, Bartlett instituted the ongoing disclosure of the diary covering all his portfolios. Bartlett’s decision ensured Tasmania became the first jurisdiction in Australia to disclose the premier’s appointment diary. This continued during the Labor-Green government between 2010 and 2014, but was abandoned following the Liberal party’s 2014 election win. Tasmania’s example sparked interest in other states, with Queensland instituting disclosure in 2014 and New South Wales and the ACT following in 2015 and 2018 respectively. Victoria began disclosing ministerial diaries in February.

Comment: The Lib govt claimed it was the first to disclose ministerial appointments dairies - this is only half true

After a FOI request, in 2009 Labor Premier David Bartlett began disclosing his appoinments diary. It was a nation-leading reform that was later scrapped by the Hodgman govt #politas

Will Tasmanians get to see who government ministers really meet? | Tasmanian Inquirer Neither the Liberal nor Labor party have committed to reintroducing what was once Australia’s greatest level of public disclosure of ministerial meetings if they win government at this weekend’s elect...

The motion passed on the voices #politas #TasInq

There was no contribution on the debate by Labor MPs

Labor have baulked at committing to improvements to ministerial diary disclosure before when White was leader

tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/will-ta...

The leader of the Government defended the Rockliff's government's current approach to ministerial diaries disclosure and opposed the motion

Webb in response said she had 'steam coming out of her ears' about the goverment's position - said best practice elements are well known #politas #TasInq

Referred to Premier Rockliff's November 2, 2023 meeting with salmon industry representatives at a $4400 per head event #politas #TasInq

Details of that meeting and questions about it here:

tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/analysi...

Greens MP Cassy O'Connor said that all members say that all members of the Legislative Council should feel "disrepected" because two previous motions have been ignored by the government #politas #TasInq

Referred to the need to be able to see which lobbyists ministers are meeting

Ruth Forrest speaking in support of the motion #politas #TasInq

Said that greater transparency is not only good for increased accountability but offers protections for the ministers

"It is not a huge ask"

YouTube video by Parliament of Tasmania Legislative Council

The webcast of the Lego Co debate on the motion for improved ministerial diaries disclosure is here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=03jc...

#politas #auspol #TasInq

Ministerial appointments diaries | Tasmanian Inquirer

Earlier Tasmanian Inquirer articles on the topic are here
tasmanianinquirer.com.au/articles/min...

#politas #auspol #TasInq

Motion notes previous resolutions on the topic requesting the Tas govt for improvements and a review to "(a) ensure the process is informed by best practice examples of mandatory disclosure of Ministerial diary requirements established in other jurisdictions, including examples of oversight and compliance requirements; and (b) develop and publicly consult on a proposed Tasmanian mandatory disclosure of Ministerial diaries scheme. 2). That the Legislative Council further notes that: (a) The Tasmanian Government failed to report progress to this House by the 28 November last year as requested by the 10 September resolution; (b) public consultation on a proposed Tasmanian mandatory disclosure of Ministerial diaries scheme did not occur; and (c) despite the Tasmanian Government introducing quarterly routine disclosure of Ministerial diaries commencing with the January/March 2023 quarter; the current routine disclosures of Ministerial diaries system is not mandatory under statute; does not occur in a reliable and timely manner; and the format and details disclosed remain deficient. 3). That the Legislative Council also notes, given the failure to implement the Integrity Commission’s Lobbyist Code of Conduct reforms this year, the growing urgency for clear, timely and transparent disclosure of lobbying contact between government, advisors and lobbyists. 4). And that the Legislative Council calls on the Tasmanian government to: (a) undertake comprehensive and public consultation as a priority on a best practice mandatory disclosure of Ministerial diaries model, and that process is to provide for input into the design, disclosure details, timeliness, application, and any other related matter; and (b) report back to the Legislative Council by 5 December 2025 in relation to the above."

The Tasmanian Legislative Council has started debate on a motion by Meg Webb to improve the current system of ministerial diaries disclosure #politas #auspol #TasInq

The motion is below

A background paper on the motion by Webb is here
megwebb.com.au/wp-content/u...

The independent review into Tasmania’s Right to Information (RTI) framework has been released

The report is available here (note it is 346 pp with all the submissions included) #politas #auspol #FOI

www.dpac.tas.gov.au/__data/asset...

Tasmanian Inquirer publishes independent open-access public-interest journalism about #Tasmania

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Huon Aquaculture reported 4 dolphin deaths at salmon farms Four dolphins died entangled in equipment at Huon Aquaculture salmon farms in the first half of 2025, newly released Tasmanian government data reveals.

🐬 Four dolphins died at Huon Aquaculture #salmon farms during first half of 2025. Total number of dolphin deaths over the past two years is now seven, adding to a wildlife toll that includes 108 seals killed on salmon leases since 2018.
#politas #auspol

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