Owner cleared of shop arson

A HOBART businessman yesterday walked free from court after being found not guilty of arson.

Ian Robert Cooksey, 42, of Lauderdale, was acquitted by a Supreme Court jury after it deliberated for almost eight hours.

The case centred on a fire at Mr Cooksey's Aqua Scuba Dive shop in Elizabeth St on April 2, 2011.

Firefighters took more than an hour to control the blaze and the building was extensively damaged.

The Crown alleged Mr Cooksey's business was not doing well, the fire was deliberately lit and he was in the building just before it started.

Defence lawyer David Barclay said the jury needed to look carefully at the evidence for a possible alternative explanation.

He said the keys to the case lay in the timing of the fire, the evidence of where the fire started and the true state of Mr Cooksey's finances.

The jury retired to consider its verdict on Thursday afternoon but by 7pm had not reached a decision.

Yesterday morning it sought clarification on three issues and asked to review video footage from part of the trial.

It returned a not-guilty verdict shortly after lunch.

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Alzheimer's study leap

Researcher Dr Kaylene Young, left, with Bubbles Haynes, of Kettering, whose husband suffers from Alzheimer's. Picture: KIM EISZELE

A TASMANIAN scientist has found that crucial insulating cells in the nervous system can be made throughout life, providing a new lead for Alzheimer's research.

Menzies Research Institute Tasmania researcher Kaylene Young was the study's chief investigator and worked with Japan and United Kingdom scientists.

She said there was now evidence these cells may not just be "passive by-standers".

The research showed new insulating cells were made from an immature cell type found in the brain and new insulation was added to brain circuits every day.

"This process is likely to be very important for learning, memory, vision and co-ordination," Dr Young said.

"This finding may have important implications for sufferers of Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders."

In Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, many nerve cells die, causing patients to progressively lose their ability to think clearly and remember things, and they can have problems with movement and co-ordination.

Dr Young's team was now investigating ways to hijack the natural ability of the immature cells to make new insulating cells, and repair the insulation damage.

"We expect that increasing brain insulation, to re-wrap the nerve cells, will prevent more nerve cells from dying."

Bubbles Haynes's husband John was diagnosed eight years ago and has recently moved to a Snug secure dementia unit, which Mrs Haynes has praised for his care.

"It's researchers like Dr Kaylene Young who give us the chance to hope, which is absolutely beautiful," Mrs Haynes said.

The work was published in Neuron and supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council Australia, Alzheimer's Society UK, BUPA Foundation, and Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia.

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Trawler lawyers warned

LAWYERS fighting a two-year ban on a super trawler operating in Australian waters have been warned by a Federal Court judge to cast their nets with care when making allegations against federal Environment Minister Tony Burke.

Seafish Tasmania wants the court to overturn a ban imposed by Mr Burke on the trawler Abel Tasman. An expert panel is considering the ship's possible impact on the environment.

In documents previously lodged with the court, Seafish said the minister was advised that the impacts were known and any risks could be managed.

Seafish alleges Mr Burke was keen to ban the vessel and was searching for some power to justify his actions.

The trawler has since been sold and left Australia on Thursday.

In his opening statement yesterday, Justice John Logan warned the company's lawyers their statement of claim risked breaking the Parliamentary Privilege Act, which emanates from the centuries-old Bill Of Rights. Under the Act, questions cannot be asked of ministers in court about their behaviour in Parliament.

"Your statement of claim is scandalous, is it not, in asking this court to do what has been forbidden since 1689?" Justice Logan said.

He suggested he might strike out sections of the claim.

"Such is the constitutional importance of the separation of powers between the state and the law," he said.

Roger Derrington, SC, told the court he had no intention of questioning what the minister said in Parliament and did not call into question his motivation.

The case has been set down for trial on June 25.

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Great hopes for new Pope

TASMANIAN Catholics have weoclomed the quick election of a Pope and found his choice of the name Francis inspiring.

They hope Pope Francis can draw strength from the example of St Francis of Assisi, who lived a life of Christ-like poverty and simplicity.

After daily Mass at St Joseph's Church in Hobart yesterday, Catholics spoke of their joy and surprise at the election of not a Vatican insider but a man from the margins, who lived far from Rome and who, as a cardinal, has championed the poor and forgotten in Latin America.

Archbishop Adrian Doyle said the Pope's election was generating a lot of excitement.

"It came somewhat unexpectedly, a little earlier than we anticipated," he said.

Archbishop Doyle had never met the Argentinian cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio -- the 76-year-old who yesterday became Pope Francis I -- but said he could relate to him in a number of ways.

To learn more about the new pontiff, click here

"He's a month younger than I am and he's starting a new life when I'm on the verge of retirement," he said.

The Archbishop, an Italian speaker, also noted the new Pope's Italian background and the fact that Buenos Aires and Hobart were about as far away from Rome as possible.

"Coming from the world of South America, which has a huge presence in the Church, I think is most significant," he said. "Being a member of the Jesuit order is a first. The Jesuit order has been a wonderful contributor to the church over many centuries.

"I think the most important and significant thing is the name he has taken.

"There could be two meanings to that. One is St Francis of Assisi, the great saint who lived a life of poverty and simplicity.

"The other Francis is St Francis Xavier, who was a Spaniard companion of the founder of the Jesuits, St Ignatius, who spread the Gospel in Asia in the 16th century.

"I think what the last few days have shown is that the church, with all its faults and weaknesses, is still a most significant presence in the world and the role of Pope is still a most significant role.

"The Pope exercises enormous influence in the world scene.

"The Pope is our leader, our principal shepherd, our teacher and our guide and all the directions he gives will be transmitted down the line.

"Each Pope brings their own special gifts and talents. Pope Benedict was a teacher.

"This new Pope may be able to address some of the issues around the structure of the church and the way the church operates and bring a greater simplicity to that.

"The message that is coming across about his own lifestyle, living a very simple lifestyle, I think that will be a very powerful message if he is able to show that in the new circumstances."

Archbishop Doyle said Pope Francis faced a huge challenge in heading such a large organisation.

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TMAG ready for big reveal

Tasmania Museum andArt Gallery director Bill Bleatham says the new TMAG is ready to wow. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

SEVEN years and $30 million since it was first announced, the public will be able to judge if it was money well spent when the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery redevelopment is officially opened this morning.

Thousands are expected to visit the new-look museum this weekend and they're in for a visual treat, with 12 fresh exhibitions spread over more than 2000sqm of new space.

TMAG collection gallery

Members of the media were given a sneak peek yesterday, after 300 guests from across Australia attended an invite-only opening party on Wednesday night.

Highlights of the redevelopment include a new entrance via the historic Watergate on Dunn Place, the raised ceiling in the new Central Gallery (formerly the Zoology Gallery), the opening up of all four levels of the Bond Store, and new cafe and toilet facilities.

"The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery was already a much-loved attraction, but this redevelopment has transformed it into a truly world-class facility," Premier Lara Giddings said.

TMAG director Bill Bleathman said the redevelopment had made the best bits of the museum more accessible to the public, helping exhibition curators share Tasmania's unique stories with visitors.

"The redevelopment has enabled us to showcase the objects and buildings that have fashioned the very essence of what it is to be Tasmanian," Mr Bleathman said.

"Our collection is the broadest of any single cultural institution in the nation and is now more accessible."

It is hoped the redeveloped TMAG will draw 50 per cent more visitors than before 450,000 a year, up from 300,000 with more than 1200 activities and events planned over the next 12 months.

And the redevelopment opening today is only stage one of a multi-million dollar mega-makeover planned for the future.

The TMAG will be open to the public from 10am-5pm daily from today. Admission is free. For more information about what's on, click here. To find out about Ten Days on the Island events at TMAG, click here.

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MKR dishes up Tassie disaster

TASMANIA has suffered a double disaster this week with best friends Ali and Samuel eliminated from My Kitchen Rules last night.

The pair's shock exit comes after Tassie father and son duo Mick and Matt Newell were eliminated from the Channel 7 cooking show on Monday night.

Ali and Samuel, of Hobart, ran into big problems with their entree of polenta with flathead and red capsicum salsa.

Their main of masterstock lamb with brussel sprouts and steam buns fared no better.

The pair scored a dismal 26 out of 60 in the sudden-death cook-off. They were beaten by Victorian housewives Angela and Melina whose Italian-themed menu scored 34 out of 60.

"I'm absolutely gutted," Samuel said.

"We had a great game plan, we were confident with our menu, but it all came down to a simple mistake.

"I mucked up the polenta. Something that would usually take 10 minutes took 40 minutes.

"The lamb was so chewy you could roll it up and kick it like a footy."

Hosts Manu Feildel and Pete Evans and guest judges including Liz Egan and Guy Grossi, heaped scorn on the Tassie team's entree and main.

"That's not braised meat, that's ruined meat," Egan said.

Ali's dessert of pistachio and almond tart with orange ice-cream was the shining star.

"The ice-cream is sensational," Grossi said.

"It has that lovely richness in its base with lovely cardamon and orange flavours through it."

Samuel, a public servant, is hoping his appearance on My Kitchen Rules will lead to media work.

The 34-year-old is also hoping there will be love on the horizon.

"A lot of close friends are engaged, married, have children, so the next girl I am with, I will be looking for those things," he said.

Ali had just separated from her partner of 14 years.

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Alliance calls for class action

CLASS sizes are creeping up and a lack of school psychologists is hurting children, says Tasmania's Public Education Alliance.

A report on the alliance's vision for public education was handed to Premier Lara Giddings outside Parliament House today.

The groups said implementing the national Gonski recommendations -- of which Tasmania would be a major beneficiary -- was vital.

State School Parents and Friends spokeswoman Jenny Eddington said class sizes were rising significantly and a cap on numbers was needed.

"With recent cutbacks … are class sizes are creeping up. For example, a teacher was telling us that her class has gone up from 24 to the low 30s. That's a significant amount of children to be added to a class," she said.

The alliance named six priorities:

• Implement the Gonski recommendations, a national model that would fund each school according to the needs of its students;

• Improve outcomes for vulnerable students;

• Reintroduce funding to cap primary school class sizes;

• Fund more school psychologists;

• Build school and community partnerships; and

• Reintroduce indexation to school budgets.

Education Minister Nick McKim said while everyone wanted classes to be as small as possible, class size was not the primary driver of educational outcomes.

He said every student had access to a school psychologist.

The alliance is made up of the Tasmanian Council of Social Service, the Tasmanian State School Parents and Friends, the Association for Children with Disability Tasmania, and the Australian Psychological Society.

Other member organisations include the Local Government Association of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation for Education, and the Australian Education Union.

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Cup winner back on home turf

BROADMARSH-trained stayer Norsqui has arrived home in great shape after comfortably winning Monday's $400,000 Adelaide Cup.

The Walter McShane trained gelding handled the trip across the Bass Strait with aplomb and Tasmania's best two miler will now be set for the $500,000 Group One Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 29.

"How he has travelled back is crucial to what happens in the near future as far as the Sydney Cup is concerned," McShane said today.

"I'm happy with the way he got off the truck and he looks as though he has travelled really well.

"In fact it surprises me at how well he does travel because he's such a light eater at the best of times and these long trips can take it out of them, especially lightly framed horses like him."

Shortly after Norsqui had arrived back on familiar soil at Broadmarsh he was in his paddock having a pick on his favourite grass.

Moments later his father (Matsqui) came strolling over to see what all the fuss was about.

Within seconds both horses were communicating as only horses can.

The long-term plan for Norsqui will be the 2013 Melbourne Cup -- providing all is well with the son of Matsqui.

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Jobless figures steady

TASMANIA'S unemployment rate stabilised at 7.1 per cent in February with the loss of 300 jobs for males offset by a gain of 200 jobs for females.

The number of people employed was stable at 232,800 in trend terms, although the number of unemployed dropped by 100 to 17,800, the Australian Bureau of Statics said.

But in the more volatile seasonally adjusted measure unemployment fell from 7.7 per cent to 6.6 per cent in Tasmania.

Nationally, unemployment was stable at 5.4 per cent.

The numbers come after fall in the ANZ job ad series but some improvement in retail trade figures in January.

Finance Minister Scott Bacon said the figures showed a more encouraging outlook for jobs in Tasmania.

"We need to continue to work with the private sector to grow jobs -- that is why we announced the Tasmanian Jobs Package which will bring forward $375m of new investment and support more than 3000 new jobs," Mr Bacon said.

He said many measures of the package had only just taken effect and their impact would not be reflected in the current figures.

Liberal Treasury spokesman Peter Gutwein said the state had lost 3000 fulltime jobs in the past 12 months.

"It's little wonder that Tasmania continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the nation," he said.

Victoria posted a big drop in its unemployment rate, to 5.5 per cent from 6.1 per cent, while in South Australia the rate declined to 5.8 per cent from 6.1 per cent.

In the Northern Territory it eased to 3.9 per cent from 4.0 per cent.

Unemployment rose in NSW to 5.2 per cent from 5.1 per cent, in Western Australia to 4.5 per cent from 4.1 per cent, and in Queensland to 5.8 per cent from 5.5 per cent.

In the ACT the rate rose to 4.6 per cent from 4.5 per cent.

nicholas.clark@news.com.au

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Risdon fire flares up

RISDON VALE residents were told to remain vigilant today as spot fires caused concern in windy conditions.

The Tasmania Fire Service warned earlier this afternoon that the out-of-control blaze on Hobart's Eastern Shore, which began in Downhams Rd last week, could affect communities around Cambridge.

It highlighted the danger of embers, smoke and ash falling on Cambridge, Mount Rumney and Acton Park because of the gusty conditions.

The "watch and act" rating on the fire was later downgraded to "advice".

For the latest information on the fire, visit the TFS website.

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