Big slump in full-time jobs

TASMANIA'S unemployment rate took a 0.6 per cent horror jump to 7.3 per cent in December as a result of a large loss of full-time jobs particularly among men.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics seasonally adjusted figures showed a jump from 16,700 to 18,200 unemployed persons from November to December.

The loss of nearly 3000 full-time jobs, from 147,700 to 144,800, was chiefly a result of the fall from 98,400 to 96,200 male full-time jobs.

Male unemployment rose from 6.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent, but female unemployment was steady at 7.0 per cent.

Jobs have been lost in the forestry industry following the collapse of Gunns Limited and in manufacturing and mining.

The number of people working or actively looking for work increased marginally to 60.2 per cent. However, Tasmania remained the state with the highest unemployment rate in the nation with the national rate rising by 0.1 per cent to 5.4 per cent.

The poor figures follow recent ABS job data that showed there were 8.1 people applying for each job vacancy in Tasmania.

Bank of America economist Saul Eslake said he believed Tasmania had come out of recession in the second half of 2012.

"If that is the case, there has been a weak upturn in terms of jobs," he said.

Mr Eslake said the strong Australian dollar, which made Tasmanian exports more expensive to their overseas importers, was hurting industries such as horticulture and agriculture, including wine and vegetable, as well as manufacturing.

Mr Eslake said Tasmania was the only state which had not "made good" the jobs lost during the global financial crisis.

Premier Lara Giddings said there were clear signs the labour market had begun to stabilise but the unemployment rate was still too high.

The data also revealed a hidden army of low-paid workers in part-time "junk jobs" is keeping a lid on Australia's unemployment rate.

More than 1.5 million Australians are hunting for a job or want to work longer hours.

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New hurdle to forests peace

FEDERAL Environment Minister Tony Burke fears the Tasmanian Forest Agreement may fall apart if the Legislative Council prevents a World Heritage nomination going ahead by the end of this month.

Mr Burke turned up the pressure on the Legislative Council to finalise its position, saying yesterday Australia had until the end of January to make the nomination part of the TFA.

However, the Legislative Council committee has scheduled hearings for the week after next and is unlikely to meet the deadline.

There was to be a World Heritage nomination for 130,000ha within 500,000ha of proposed reserves by January 31.

Mr Burke said he was not sure the agreement would stand up if a World Heritage nomination was made before the forestry industry achieved job and other gains. He said the spirit of the agreement was that gains by environmentalists and industry move in tandem.

"That means a decision needs to be made before the end of the month."

Mr Burke flew to Tasmania yesterday to talk to signatories about the looming deadline.

He met the Legislative Council president Sue Smith but said it was a coincidence his visit clashed with the Legislative Council hearings.

Mr Burke said he had not foreseen a situation where the Legislative Council did not pass the Bill and sent it to a committee.

"The change of timing throws that entire process on its head," he said.

"An end of January deadline is now extraordinarily difficult to navigate.

"Some people say that if a nomination does not go ahead it will blow the agreement apart, but if it were to go forward it runs the risk of upsetting the balance."

Mr Burke said that if a nomination went ahead it would not be withdrawn but it might be possible to get industry support by other means and it was likely he would come back to Tasmania before the end of the month.

Forest Industries Association chief executive Terry Edwards and Wilderness Society campaigner Vica Bayley could not be contacted for comment. Neither could Sue Smith or council committee chairman Paul Harriss.

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Cameras will see you: police

PETTY criminals, graffiti vandals and those responsible for anti-social behaviour have been warned: you will be caught.

Big brother is watching and his view has just improved dramatically with the roll-out of 20 hi-tech cameras in Glenorchy and five more in Sandy Bay. The new cameras mean Tasmania has reached a CCTV milestone with more than 500 tiny eyes now monitoring every move on the state's busiest streets.

Hobart's CBD and surrounds now boast more than 90 cameras. Launceston, Burnie and Devonport CBDs are equally wired up, and smaller municipalities in the South Kingborough and Clarence boast more than 20 cameras each.

For some, it is not enough.

"I'd have 190 if I could," Hobart Deputy Mayor and long-time CCTV camera proponent Ron Christie said.

"If it was up to me, they'd be monitored 24-7, especially on weekends."

Inspector Grant Twining, demonstrating the cameras' capabilities and crystal-clear pictures yesterday, said there was no doubt cameras constituted an excellent tool for police, both as a deterrent and an investigatory aid.

"It's right through from the serious crimes like armed robbery, to incidents such as a man drinking from a stubbie of beer in the bus mall yesterday at noon," he said.

"We see something happen on the screen and we can go straight out and deal with it.

"The message to those inclined to do the wrong thing is this we're watching."

Launceston City Council general manager Robert Dobrzynski is equally full of praise for the cameras.

"What we know from long experience is that if you have CCTV in an area where a crime occurs, the likelihood of that offender being caught is substantially increased," he said.

"CCTV is a part of life now, both in Tasmania and around the world. It adds a layer of reassurance to the community that their safety will be protected."

Ald Christie is among those who reject notions of gross privacy invasion, labelling the Australian Privacy Foundation's concerns as "total rubbish".

Foundation vice-chairman David Vaile said the concern was there was a lack of investigation into the true value of CCTV cameras compared with the public perception that they drastically increase safety.

"Vendors and proponents of CCTV cameras tend to sell them as a big emotional you'll-feel-better ploy but if people are still dying, you can't say they're this great safety saviour," he said.

Mr Vaile said the rape and murder of Melbourne woman Jill Meagher was a tragic example of the limitations of CCTV footage.

"Yes, the alleged killer was caught on CCTV footage," he said. "And that might help police, but did it help her? No."

Glenorchy Mayor Stuart Slade is a huge fan of the tiny cameras.

"It's been a 16-year labour of love, but we've done it. We've joined the ranks of other cities with CCTV," he said at the switch-on event yesterday.

"The concerns people had previously were how will we pay for it and who will monitor them.

"Both of those issues have now been solved we've used criminals' money via the Proceeds of Crime Fund, and Tasmania Police is watching."

Senator Carol Brown, who was instrumental in securing the $123,000-plus to pay for the high-definition tilt and zoom cameras at Glenorchy, said the roll-out was good news for Glenorchy residents.

The cameras would enhance public safety and facilities in the Glenorchy area," she said.

"And we are using money taken from criminals to clean up graffiti and stop it happening in the first place."

zara.dawtrey@news.com.au

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Pledge to restart city's heart

THE Hobart City Council has vowed to turn the CBD into a magnet for tourists, families and residents in 2013.

Amid concerns from retailers that opening on weekends and public holidays is too costly when the CBD looks like a ghost town, Lord Mayor Damon Thomas says rejuvenating the city centre is a priority.

More trees, more alfresco dining, better seating, better lighting and more events are all high on the agenda.

Mr Thomas said the first area to be rejuvenated would be a $2 million overhaul of Liverpool St to coincide with the redevelopment of Myer.

The Myer project is expected to have building approvals ticked off in coming days, with the first stage of the redevelopment due to be built by Christmas this year.

The approvals will pave the way for work to begin on the $100 million redevelopment of the department store giant, which has been stalled after a trove of archaeological treasure was found at the site.

The uninviting bus mall will also be high on the agenda, with a $250,000 study to consider if it is an appropriate location for the facility.

"Most modern sophisticated cities in the Asia-Pacific region are not placing in the centre of the city a bus mall like we have here," Mr Thomas said.

"They are usually provisioned two or three blocks away so that you have a much better amenity and not buses clogging up your main arterial route in the city itself."

Mr Thomas said the rejuvenation of the bus mall could be completed for an estimated $2 million.

A greater link between the Domain and the CBD, with a top-quality coffee cart on the railway roundabout, were high on the agenda, Mr Thomas said.

Deputy Mayor Ron Christie was still looking at the feasibility of a tram from North Hobart to the waterfront via the CBD, he said.

The Hobart Chamber of Commerce has been encouraging businesses to open on Sundays and public holidays to take advantage of record numbers of tourists arriving at the city on cruise ships.

Chamber chairman Ron Gozzi said yesterday there needed to be more done to entice people into the city.

"What we need to do is incorporate the city into the travel schedule while passengers are still on the ship," he said.

Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said a clean, tidy presentation and easy access to the CBD was integral to getting tourists into Hobart's CBD.

"Presentation in anything is important - whether it is a shop, an arcade or a website," he said.

Hobart has been ranked the seventh most family-friendly city in Australia, behind Launceston, which was ranked first.

Launceston City Council general manager Robert Dobrzynski said yesterday the council was doing a lot of work to encourage more people into the Launceston CBD.

"The Launceston City Council founded Cityprom in conjunction with CBD retailers to focus promotional activities, advertising and events on the CBD area," Mr Dobrzynski said.

"More recently, the council has introduced parking incentives like the free Tiger Bus, which operates on a 15-minute loop of the city each day, and two hours of free parking in the council-operated multi-storey car parks each afternoon."

He said the council was compiling a Greater Launceston plan that would guide the direction of the city for the next 25 years.

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Teen hurt in gorge tumble

A 16-YEAR-OLD girl was taken to hospital with a dislocated knee last night after falling down an embankment at Launceston's Cataract Gorge.

Police were called out at 8.30pm and arrived to find the teen about 500m from the suspension bridge towards the Duck Reach Power Station.

Officers said the girl had been attempting to climb out of the gorge when she slipped on rocks and fell 10m down an embankment.

Northern police rescue officers said it was necessary to "extract her from the gorge", because of her injury and the difficult terrain, and take her to Launceston General Hospital.

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All eyes on Glenorchy crime

FROM GRAFFITI bandits to seasoned criminals, those doing the wrong thing are now on notice -- the police are always watching.

Glenorchy Mayor Stuart Slade today turned on 16 fixed CCTV cameras and four mobile camera units designed to keep the city safe.

The cameras were made possible by a $123,000-plus Federal Government grant using money from the Proceeds of Crime Fund.

"We're using criminals' money to catch criminals," Alderman Slade said.

"It's been a long time coming but it's now very pleasing to see that the Glenorchy city -- like other Tasmanian cities -- is providing additional safety measures for its local community."

Demonstrating the cameras this morning at the Glenorchy Police Station, Inspector Grant Twining said police would monitor the cameras and deal with offenders caught red-handed.

The footage from all fixed cameras is recorded around the clock and will be stored for about a month.

"These cameras are a great tool for day-to-day policing and will also help police investigating serious crime," he said.

Tasmanian Labor Senator Carol Brown, who was instrumental in securing the funding for the cameras, said their installation was certain to enhance public safety.

"I want to congratulate the Glenorchy City Council and their partner organisation, the Moonah-Glenorchy Business Association, on the successful implementation of the project," she said.

"I know the council, in particular Mayor Stuart Slade, has been a tireless advocate for the introduction of CCTV cameras in the Glenorchy CBD."

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Tassie blaze menace returns

WARNING NOTE: TFS station officer and public information officer Phil Douglas addresses yesterday's community meeting at Ellendale. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

FIREFIGHTERS are going from house to house to work out which properties can be defended, as a large bushfire in the Upper Derwent Valley threatens to intensify later this week.

The Lake Repulse blaze has already destroyed more than 11,500ha and temperatures are forecast to hit the mid-30s tomorrow, with the dangerous combination of high winds continuing until Friday.

Those conditions constitute the worst-case scenario for the dozens of firefighters who have been battling the giant blaze for more than a week.

"This fire is burning in the worst possible terrain for firefighting," Tasmania Fire Service district officer Gerald Crawford yesterday told a packed community meeting at Ellendale, the township at greatest risk.

"We are here to give you the information you need to make the best decision on how to keep yourselves safe."

Ellendale residents were evacuated last week and are now this week faced with the same threat.

The majority of the fire, started by an unattended campfire on January 3, has been contained, but the TFS says this is a blaze that "is not playing by the rules".

Firefighting experts took to helicopters with thermal imaging equipment on Monday night to map the most dangerous spots still burning.

But lots of equipment was lost overnight when the fire jumped containment lines and destroyed hoses in its path.

"The message is 'Be vigilant, be extremely vigilant'," Mr Crawford told residents.

"I cannot guarantee the fire won't progress further south.

"Whatever we've got in our arsenal, we're using it ... but it might come further south."

The TFS warned residents it would not put crews in jeopardy and if properties were deemed undefendable firefighters would not put their lives at risk trying to save the unsaveable.

With his voice shaking, TFS station officer and public information officer Phil Douglas told the meeting that it was only good luck that no one had died in the devastating Dunalley blaze.

"We're doping it better [disseminating advice] but a lot of it was luck," he said.

He said when firefighters were battling bushfires they did not have the breathing equipment or protective gear to tackle structure fires.

Mr Crawford said the Lake Repulse blaze was in terrain that had not seen a fire probably since the 1930s and the fuel load was massive and very dangerous.

Ellendale residents and those in the surrounding communities of Ouse to Hamilton and beyond were urged to keep themselves updated from the TFS website and ABC radio.

"You need to be thinking about fire all the time," Mr Douglas said. "It needs to be part of your life.

"If you haven't made your property defendable by now, it is probably too late. But it is not too late to make sure your bushfire plan is in place, that you have nominated a safe place to go to and you know what you will do if the fire comes and it is too late to leave.

"It's happened at Dunalley. It could happen here."

Fires continued to burn across the state yesterday and the TFS made the most of cooler conditions before temperatures soar again.

Acting station officer Paul Symington said the main fires at Forcett on the Forestier Peninsula and Lake Repulse in the Upper Derwent Valley were still out of control yesterday.

"In the case of the Forcett fire, some edges have been tidied up but others are still burning and we're conducting backburning today ahead of temperatures increasing on Thursday and Friday," he said.

See www.fire.tas.gov.au for regular fire updates.

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My name's been cleared

THE Nubeena shop owners at the centre of profiteering allegations have had their names cleared by Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading and the Australian Federal Police.

Everyday Nubeena shop owners Branko and Roza Alilovic had been the subject of a social media campaign accusing them of profiteering as bush fires raged around the southeast township last week.

The accusations prompted IGA to strip the store of its branding and issue a statement on its Facebook page saying the franchise was appalled by the accusations.

Consumer Affairs Minister Nick McKim issued a statement saying he would use the full force of the law to deal with anyone engaging in profiteering.

But yesterday the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Director Chris Batt said the accusations Mr Branko had sold donated goods and overcharged for items in the days following the fire were without substance.

"Mr Alilovic has co-operated fully with our investigation, initiating contact and meeting with us voluntarily to address the allegations made against him," Mr Batt said.

"It was obvious in these discussions that he is deeply troubled by the allegations and has suffered greatly as a result of them, including being harassed and berated by people within the community and on social media.

"I am pleased to find that there is no evidence to suggest any dishonesty or profiteering on the part of Mr Alilovic."

Despite a harrowing week of bushfires and false allegations, Mr and Mrs Alilovic were yesterday looking forward to the future.

"We are very happy to be cleared of all allegations from all of the authorities," Mr Alilovic said. "But I don't have negative thoughts at all. They were all just rumours that were unfounded."

He said it was difficult dealing with rumours on social media.

"People can say whatever they want and you can't control it," he said.

Adding to a very difficult week, Mr Alilovic required three stitches to his head after a man hit him with a motorcycle helmet.

But the couple said they were comfortable they would continue to have strong support in the community.

"We want to say thank you to the local community, our loyal customers and our loyal staff," Mrs Alilovic said.

The couple have called the peninsula home for 10 years after first moving to Australia from Croatia in 1969.

"All of the people who live on the peninsula are very beautiful people," Mrs Alilovic said.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

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Cherry export coup for Tassie

ALMOST half the production of one of Tasmania's biggest cherry growers is now being exported to China.

From tomorrow, 20 tonnes of quality cherries will be sent daily to Beijing and Shanghai from Reid Fruits Packing sheds at Huonville.

After months of finalising protocols, the first shipment of 10 tonnes left today for Beijing.

The Tasmanian cherries, packed in 2kg and 5kg boxes, will be on Beijing supermarket shelves by lunchtime on Friday.

The importer for premium large cherries will pay up to $85 for a 5kg box.

"Every day to the end of the season we will be shipping 10 tonnes of quality cherries to each city," Reid Fruits managing director Tim Reid said.

"This is a big outcome for the Australian cherry industry.

"We have been working on this project for more than a decade.

"It will be a whole new market for the industry leading to more jobs."

The cherries are ripe for gift-giving as the Chinese celebrate New Year on February 10.

Mr Reid said Tasmania's disease-free status satisfied stringent quarantine requirements.

Fruit Growers Tasmania business development manager Lucy Gregg said the Chinese market presented huge opportunities for Tasmanian growers.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Tasmanian cherry growers and exporters to access another key Asian market. We currently have access to Taiwan, South Korea and Japan due to our area-free status for fruit fly and a range of other non-protocol markets across Asia, Europe and other regions," Ms Gregg said.

Ten Tasmanian growers have indicated that they would like to send cherries to China this season but more than 50 growers may consider sending fruit into the Chinese market next season.

Read more rural stories in Tasmanian Country, out on Friday.

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Standing by to sizzle

AFTER sweating through record-breaking temperatures earlier in the month, the mercury is set to rise again in Hobart this week, with a top of 30C forecast for Thursday.

Today the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a maximum temperature for Hobart of 25C.

Wednesday will be cooler, at 22C, before the state"s capital heats up on Thursday.

Meteorologist Michael Laczko said the higher temperatures were due to a warm northerly flow over the continent.

"It's being diverted over Tasmania by a high to our east and ex-tropical cyclone Narelle, which should pass to the south around Thursday,"" he said.

He said wind speeds also were forecast to strengthen at the end of the week.

"We're expecting them to pick up on Friday as a front passes by," he said.

Today: 25

Tomorrow: 22

Thursday: 30

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