ABC shuts Tasmanian unit

ABC managing director Mark Scott has today announced the closure of the public broadcaster's Tasmanian production unit.

UP to 17 jobs will go from the ABC's Hobart office after the public broadcaster today announced it was closing the local production unit.

ABC managing director Mark Scott informed staff of the move today.

As a result of the closure, Auction Room and Collectors will not be recommissioned.

Mr Scott justified the cut by saying Tasmania did not have the scale needed for its own internal production unit.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy today called on the ABC to reconsider its decision.

"This is an extremely disappointing decision by the ABC," Senator Conroy said.

"I call on the ABC board to ensure that the broadcaster upholds its clear obligations in relation to cultural diversity and local programming.

"Cutting its production facilities in Tasmania could result in a dramatic reduction in the telling of Tasmanian stories, something that diminishes the ABC and short-changes the people of Tasmania."

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War of words over mining rally

THE fallout from Saturday's heated pro-mining rally continued today with the State Opposition claiming Premier Lara Giddings had been rattled by the hostile reception she received in Burnie.

Ms Giddings fired back saying Opposition Leader Will Hodgman's failure to attend the rally had been noted.

Mr Hodgman was at the Huon Show.

Mr Hodgman had asked to speak at the Australian Workers Union-organised rally but his offer had been refused, his office said today.

Braddon Liberal MHA Adam Brooks attended the rally but was not given a spot on the podium.

Before the rally, Mr Brooks said Lara Giddings was too weak to stand up to Greens colleagues and the public was now venting its frustration.

In Parliament today, Speaker Michael Polley ejected Mr Brooks from the Chamber for 24 hours during heated debate about mining in the Tarkine.

Ms Giddings said she was proud to attend the rally to demonstrate the government's commitment to the mining industry.

"We have sent a clear message to the Commonwealth that we do not support blanket National Heritage listing of the Tarkine," Ms Giddings said.

Read more in tomorrow's Mercury.

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Baby seat safety alert

UP to 1200 Tasmanians are believed to be affected by a recall of faulty baby seats and capsules announced today by Australia's consumer watchdog.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission estimates more than 60,000 seats and capsules with faulty anchor kits and brackets have been sold nationally since April.

Tests have shown the parts used to secure baby seats could fail during a car crash, increasing the chance of a child being injured.

Four major brands -- IGC Dorel, Chicco, Tomy and Hemco -- have recalled the brackets and anchor kits. Most of the affected car seats and capsules were imported by Hemco Industries.

The kits have batch numbers 022 or 023 stamped on the product. All other batch numbers are not included in the recall.

RACT communications manager Vince Taskunas said the state's peak motoring body was contacting customers whose seats had been installed by RACT staff.

"The only brand RACT sells and recommends is Britax Safe n Sound, and Steel Craft by Britax," Mr Taskunas said.

The faulty parts are used in older vehicles, station wagons, four-wheel drives, hatchbacks and some newer cars.

The ACCC has urged consumers to check their vehicles, regardless of the brand of car seat or capsule that they use.

Anyone with the specified anchor kit or bracket who does not know where it was bought from should contact Hemco Industries on 1300 065 057 or email servicehemco.com.au to arrange a replacement.

More information about the recall, including how to tell if you have one of the affected anchor kits or brackets, is available on the Recalls Australia website.

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Team to assess freight options

A NEW $1.5 million cross-industry taskforce has been set up to tackle Tasmania's freight woes.

The Freight Logistics Co-ordination Team, funded from a $20 million federal assistance package for local exporters, will investigate avenues for Tasmanian business to export to interstate and international markets.

The team of 20 was announced by Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne this morning.

He said the team had been put together from a list of 40 people who had applied via an expression of interest process.

"We've assembled a well-qualified team that represents rail, port and infrastructure providers, as well as shippers and producers," Mr O'Byrne.

"The team will provide expert logistics and supply chain advice, and help us complete a long-term Tasmanian freight strategy."

One of the team's key duties will be finding strategies to help attract an international carrier back to Bell Bay.

"We've been working with industry and lobbying the Federal Government on these challenges for 18 months," Mr O'Byrne said.

Team member and Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association chief executive Jan Davis said local producers were spending millions of dollars investing in the State Government's irrigation schemes making clear routes to their markets integral.

Freight Logistics Co-ordination Team:
Phil Clark (Chair) -- DIER
Gary Swain (Deputy Secretary) -- DIER
Robin Philips -- Tasmanian Transport Association
Jan Davis -- Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association
Damien White -- TasRail
Tony Stewart -- Toll Group
Neil Armstrong -- Harvest Moon
Ian Newman -- Australian Maritime College
Chas Kelly -- SeaRoad
Neil McKinnon -- TCCI
Leigh Titmus -- Webster
Phil Cooke -- Tas Ports
Tim Hess -- Petuna
Gary McCarthy -- Port of Melbourne Corporation
Ray Mostogl -- Bell Bay Aluminium
Steve Henty -- Net Sea Freight
Arnold Willems -- Norske Skog
Craig Fraser -- Veolia
Satyajit Warty -- Cadbury/Kraft

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Burke extends trawler ban

The Abel Tasman berthed behind razor wire at Port Lincoln, South Australia, in September. Picture: IVON PERRIN

A BAN on commercial fishing in Australian waters by the super trawler Abel Tasman will be extended for two years while the environmental impacts are assessed, the Federal Government says.

Environment Minister Tony Burke said the extension would take effect from midnight today.

Mr Burke made an interim declaration on September 20 prohibiting this type of fishing activity for 60 days.

"During this time I invited and considered written submissions from fishing businesses," the minister said in a statement.

"After considering the matters raised in the submissions, I am of the view that there is uncertainty about the environmental impacts of this type of fishing operation and it is appropriate to prohibit it while it is assessed by an expert panel."

The decision could lead to legal action being brought against the Government by the trawler's operator, Seafish Tasmania.

"The company have made clear, public and personally, that if they thought they needed to they would pursue all legal options available to them," Mr Burke told reporters in Canberra.

But he said the Government was on "completely strong legal ground" to counter any compensation claims or legal challenges.

It was not uncommon for commercial projects to be held up by environmental regulations while checks were carried out, Mr Burke added.

In its submission, Seafish Tasmania attempted to appease the Government by offering to use less than half the factory ship's freezing capacity and to move on from fishing areas once a certain tonnage was caught.

But Mr Burke said his department had gone through each of the arguments put forward by the company and still remained dissatisfied with "genuine uncertainty" around the vessel.

The Abel Tasman's ability to remain in one location for an extended period, storing its large catch in on-board refrigerators, was highlighted as a key area of concern for the Environment Minister.

Mr Burke and Fisheries Minister Joe Ludwig will now establish an expert committee to study the environmental impact of super trawlers over the next two years.

Once the panel has assessed the science, the Abel Tasman could in theory recommence fishing if given the green light.

For now, however, the 142m-long, Dutch-owned ship, remains stuck in Port Lincoln, in South Australia.

Mr Burke denied the Government's decision created sovereign risk issues for Australia.

"The nature of environment legislation is that you have tough thresholds that companies need to be able to meet," he said.

"There are occasions where companies fall short."

Australia's fisheries management, which is to undergo a root and branch review, "stacks up well" when compared with the rest of the world but wasn't able to deal with everything, he said.

Read more in tomorrow's Mercury

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Arrest over Hobart assaults

TASMANIAN detectives have arrested a man in Melbourne over alleged assaults on two men on Hobart's waterfront in early September.

Detective Sergeant Phil Curtis said the man, formerly of Launceston, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court today and was granted bail to appear before the Hobart Magistrates Court on December 17.

"Hobart CIB wish to thank the members of the public who provided information in relation to the matter after images were released of two men of interest in the investigation," Det Sgt Curtis said in a statement.

University student Saul Lopa, 22, was allegedly punched and kicked repeatedly in the head by two young men who approached him and his two friends as they walked down Murray St towards the Salamanca taxi rank about 5.30am on Sunday, September 2.

He suffered two fractured eye orbits, a broken nose and a suspected cheek fracture.

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Arrest over home invasion

POLICE have arrested a man who allegedly punched a woman in the face during a violent home burglary in Bellerive earlier this month.

The 30-year-old man was apprehended in a public park at Rosetta, in Hobart's northern suburbs, about noon yesterday.

Police say a media campaign was instrumental in the man's arrest.

The man was captured on CCTV when he allegedly tried to use stolen credit cards from the November 10 burglary to buy goods from Hobart shops last week.

Police received 10 phone calls with relevant information about the accused.

The man was being held in custody overnight to appear in court again this morning.

He has been charged with aggravated robbery, unlawfully possessing a dangerous article in a public place, aggravated burglary, stealing, trespass, using a controlled drug, and attempting to obtain goods by false pretences.

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Tarkine row at boiling point

Circular Head deputy Mayor John Oldaker speaks at the Our Tarkine Rally at Burnie. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

TEMPERS in the Tarkine are set to reach boiling point this summer if yesterday's pro-mining rally is anything to go by.

The anger was palpable as 3500 people in Burnie chanted and screamed for Canberra to let new mineral projects go ahead in Tasmania's Tarkine.

Premier Lara Giddings and Resources Minister Bryan Green struggled to be heard as the crowd booed their arrival on the podium at the Australian Workers Union-organised event. Ms Giddings was hit with a barrage of verbal abuse by an angry placard-bearer as she approached the stage.

The retired miner was forcibly held back as he yelled at the pair.

A lone conservationist who hid his face with a mask was told to leave the rally by police as the mood turned ugly.

The protester said he was not representing any group but had come to the rally in the name of free speech.

A loud cheer erupted as the protester left.

Circular Head Deputy Mayor John Oldaker dared conservationists, who have threatened to mount a campaign to rival the bitter Franklin protest, to "bring it on".

"Let them come. But let them be warned we are bloody angry," Cr Oldaker said.

"Why can't Tasmania share in the national mining boom.

"We need (federal) Environment Minister Tony Burke to pay attention to what is being said today."

AWU national secretary Paul Howes told the crowd that Tasmanians, and Tasmanians alone, should have the right to determine their own future.

"This isn't a state of rednecks but decent hard-working Australians who want a fair go," he said to applause.

He said the local community did not want a blanket World Heritage listing imposed over 450,000ha of land in one of the most heavily mineralised parts of Australia.

"There must be protection of high-value conservation areas but there must also be opportunities for much-needed jobs and investment.

"The existing mines in the area must be allowed to continue operating and new projects must be given a fair chance to get up and running."

Mr Howes said the proposed Venture Minerals mine near Tullah would generate about half-a-billion dollars in revenue, with much of this pumped in to the local economy.

A delegation will travel to Canberra on November 28 to deliver a petition to Mr Burke, who is yet to make a decision on whether the Tarkine will receive a national heritage listing which would complicate plans for any new mines in the region.

Mr Burke also has on his desk the final approval for Shree Minerals' proposed mine at Nelson Bay River near Temma, in the Tarkine.

West Coast Mayor Darryl Gerrity labelled the attitude of environmental groups such as the Tarkine National Coalition, which is driving the heritage-listing campaign, as selfish and Neanderthal.

Burnie Mayor Steve Kons said the rally represented a turning point in negotiations in Tasmania. "We no longer want to negotiate with fringe groups," he said.

"We are digging in our heels and telling them they can no longer dictate what happens."

Speaking in Launceston after the rally, Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson disputed that the listing would have an impact on existing mines or mining communities.

"The message for Minister Burke today from Paul Howes was that Labor as a party should be putting short-term corporate profits and short-term jobs ahead of both the environment and long-term prosperity for Tasmanian communities," he said.

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Tourism ripe for funds

TripAdvisor has listed Hobart in its top 10 "destinations on the rise".

LOCAL tourism officials say now is the time for the State Government to spend up big on marketing the state to travellers following some heavy duty accolades.

Internet travel mega-site TripAdvisor has listed Hobart in its top 10 "destinations on the rise" hot on the heels of similar praise from travel guide Lonely Planet.

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said the Government needed to be convinced that dipping into a tough budget to pay for marketing would pay for itself and more.

"Research conducted last year showed spending as little as $4 million on marketing could result in up to $60 million coming back to the state through increased tourism," Mr Martin said.

"The attention we are now receiving is being driven by MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). It is now up to the rest of the tourism industry and the State Government to turn that attention into a reality of more interstate and international tourists.

"We have the product and the air and sea access. We now need to get the message out."

Mr Martin said private investors such as MONA's David Walsh would continue to spend if the Government did its bit.

"The renaissance which MONA has started has provided incredible exposure and now opportunities but that opportunity cannot be missed because of budget constraints."

TripAdvisor said destinations which made the cut had recorded the biggest increase in positive traveller feedback and interest over the past year.

Hobart shared the spotlight with Argentinian beach resort Mar del Platam, the Ukrainian city of Kiev, Sao Paulo and Western Australia's capital Perth as places emerging out of the tourism shadows. Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Moscow, Turin in Italy and Guadalajara, the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, also made it.

TripAdvisor's accolade comes on top of another from travel guide company Lonely Planet, which said the "beacon experience" of MONA had changed Hobart's image. It was now one of the world's top 10 must-see cities in its Best in Travel 2013 guide book.

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For the love of a mate

SHOW OF SUPPORT: Michael Liston with co-workers, from left, Katie Calvert, Annette Atkins and Cassandra Bryant. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

THE caring colleagues of a Campbell Town man have stepped in to offer his family crucial support in the worst of circumstances.

Flick Pest Control technician and volunteer firefighter Michael Liston was one of the first on the scene when his now 23-year-old daughter Vanessa was involved in a crash with a truck metres from their home back in October 2007.

Vanessa survived against all odds, but was left with a serious and life-changing acquired brain injury.

Two months ago Vanessa's sister, Lynette, 22, fell backwards down a flight of stairs while visiting a friend in Launceston, leaving her with a head injury so severe doctors were forced to remove a large section of her skull.

"When we got the call it was like Vanessa all over again," Mr Liston said.

"Lynette was lying in the [Emergency Department] at the Launceston General Hospital and so sick. They flew her to Hobart that day.

"My wife and I drove down asking 'What are we going to do'?"

Mr Liston had no sick leave available and the couple knew from experience they would need significant time off from their full-time jobs to be with their daughter while she fought for her life.

Help was at hand when Mr Liston's colleagues heard the bad news.

"We wanted to do something to help Michael is the kind of person everyone loves, who is always doing something for someone else," said Flick operations scheduler Katie Calvert.

She put out the word via email and within a short time everyone in the 18-strong Tasmanian office had donated their banked overtime, effectively giving Mr Liston two weeks' paid leave.

When the national office got word of the Listons' plight, Andrew Usher, general manager of ISS Australia, the company that owns Flick, sent a handwritten note of support to Mr Liston with a generous supermarket voucher.

He also advised the 21 branches around the country that the company would provide food for barbecues to be held at each branch to raise money for the family.

All up, Mr Liston's colleagues' generosity resulted in donations totalling several thousand dollars.

"When you're in the public [health] system, it gets tough once the crisis period is over in terms of accessing the care you need," Mr Liston said.

"The money raised has allowed us to buy Lynette a new laptop, integral to the rehabilitation when you have an acquired brain injury.

"I am just so grateful and humbled by what everyone has done."

State manager Cassandra Bryant said the family had the full support of the business and everyone was hoping for a positive outcome.

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