Deal hits road block

STANDSTILL: The forest industry is waiting on the outcome of peace talks.

TASMANIA'S powerful Upper House is deadlocked on whether to support the state's historic $378 million forestry peace deal.

After a marathon 13 1/2-hour debate yesterday, MLCs were divided 7-7 as they called it a night about 11pm.

As it stood, seven members had expressed their desire to vote for the forest agreement that the State Government has promised will create a more sustainable future for Tasmania's ailing forest industry.

However, members opposed to the deal are today expected to push for a select committee to look into the legislation, delaying the deal for months and almost certainly scuttling the forest peace agreement.

If the push for a select committee is unsuccessful, the Upper House is expected to start tabling amendments this morning to cover concerns about sovereign risk, future protests and the exact location of proposed reserves.

Nelson MLC Jim Wilkinson or Huon MLC Paul Harriss are expected to call for the Bill to be overlooked by a select committee.

A select committee would not be expected to start until February, sparking fears forest protests will ramp up over the summer and timber company Ta Ann could leave the state.

Federal minister Tony Burke who announced an additional $102 million in federal and state funding for the agreement on Tuesday warned the Upper House members were taking a huge gamble if they were to push for a select committee.

"It's an extraordinary gamble to take with Tasmanian jobs," he said.

"Effectively it's daring a number of businesses to continue to lose millions of dollars or make commercial decisions which would ricochet around the entire industry. From everything I have heard, it's hard to see what the difference is between a delay to February and an outright rejection."

During a fiery debate, Upper House members were split between those who were scathing of the legislation, those who wanted to give peace a chance and those resting somewhere in the middle.

Western Tiers MLC Greg Hall accused Mr Burke and Premier Lara Giddings of scaremongering in briefings on Tuesday afternoon.

He said: "We don't respond to blackmail nor a gun to our head."

His call followed comments by Mr Burke, who said the Upper House had previously requested details of additional funds be presented before members started debating the legislation.

Mr Hall was joined by Nelson MLC Jim Wilkinson, Apsley MLC Tania Rattray, Pembroke MLC Vanessa Goodwin, Windermere MLC Ivan Dean, Huon MLC Paul Harriss and Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor.

All indicated they'd vote against the legislation.

However, Hobart MLC Rob Valentine was the first yesterday to pledge support for the Bill arguing there was no alternative.

Others to pledge their initial support were Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage, Derwent MLC Craig Farrell, Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch, Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest, Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney and Rumney MLC Tony Mulder.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

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Three generations of abuse

AN AGED pensioner has been jailed for abusing three generations of young girls from his own family over a 45-year period.

The 79-year-old southern Tasmanian man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in the Supreme Court in Hobart today.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault, four counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person, one count of attempted rape and two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

Crown Prosecutor Linda Mason told the court the man had abused his sister, daughters, granddaughters and a niece.

At the time of his crimes, they were all aged under 13.

The man abused his sister in the mid-1950. He went on to abuse his daughters on an almost weekly basis in the mid-1960s.

He had sexual intercourse with one of his daughters, aged 11 or 12, on three occasions while he pretended to be tucking her into bed.

The man abused another daughter aged between 10 and 13 in the early 1970s, a niece aged seven or eight, and four granddaughters aged six and seven between 1986 and 1997.

Ms Mason said the man has been confronted about the abuse some years ago and had admitted touching his daughters.

His wife was also aware of his offending around the time but the secret had been kept within the family because he had agreed to get help, she said.

After several of his victims gave statements last year, the man was interviewed by police and admitted the bulk of his offending.

The court heard the man had admitted to investigating officers he still found young girls attractive.

His lawyer Amber Mignot said he accepted he was likely to spend much of the remainder of his life in custody.

"The defendant's conduct has wreaked havoc on his family and caused incredible harm," Justice Peter Evans said.

Justice Evans jailed the man for nine years, with a non-parole period of four-and-a-half years.

The man will be placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years upon his release.

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Last-ditch $102m for forest deal

TASMANIA'S historic forest peace deal has been thrown an extra $102 million in a last-ditch effort to get the legislation underpinning the deal through the Upper House.

The State Government will go further into deficit by contributing $39.5 million to the deal.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke, right, said the Commonwealth would provide an extra $62.5 million.

The money is in addition to $276 million already set aside for the deal.

 About $140 million of that has been spent, leaving about $240 million of funding in the hands of Tasmania's Upper House after signatories agreed yesterday the extra money was all they needed to honour the forest peace deal.

Further money to compensate timber company Ta Ann for reducing its peeler quota will be determined soon.

Mr Burke joined Deputy Premier Bryan Green for the announcement yesterday.

He flew into Hobart to discuss the funding with members of the Upper House before they began debating the legislation about 7pm.

After about an hour the debate was adjourned until this morning.

At a briefing Mr Burke, Mr Green and Premier Lara Giddings outlined what the additional money would be used for.

Industry restructuring will get $28 million, and a further $25 million will be used in part to encourage innovation in the use of plantation timber.

The remaining money will be used for ongoing management of additional reserves and to support the implementation of the deal.

followed two days of briefings for the MLCs who had heard form all sides of the debate during the day.

Mr Burke said he had been told by MLCs last week they could not start to debate the legislation without knowing what additional money was available to ensure the agreement was viable.

"Today's announcement comes at a critical time when a number of industry players are making significant commercial decisions that will have lasting impacts on the Tasmanian economy," he said, referring to Ta Ann which has vowed to leave the state if the deal does not pass the Upper House.

"The Australian Government stands for Tasmanian jobs and a sustainable industry.

"We are pleased to be able to provide the funds required to manage this period of transition and also deliver significant conservation outcomes."

Mr Green said the agreement was critical to securing the long-term future of the forest industry and future jobs.

"We have worked closely with the Commonwealth and the signatories on the funding package to achieve all of the objectives of the agreement," he said.

The State Government's contribution announcement came one day after it was revealed it had fallen a further $44 million into deficit.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said the money was a sign the Government was hopelessly compromised and captive to the Greens.

"Yesterday the Premier announced $25 million to stimulate the economy. Today she has announced $40 million to shut the economy down," Mr Hodgman said last night.

Mr Burke said the Commonwealth funds would need to come, in part, from other environmental projects across the country.

"Times of transition are never easy but governments either step up and help people or let markets take care of themselves with the risk of serious and permanent adverse consequences."

matthew.smith@news.com.au

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Peace deal debate begins

TASMANIA'S Upper House has started debating the legislation underpinning Tasmania's historic forest peace deal.

Western Tiers MLC Greg Hall started debate by referring to the legislation as a "crock".

Mr Hall described additional money offered for the deal by Federal environment minister Tony Burke as bordering on blackmail.

"We don't respond to blackmail nor a gun to our head," he said.

Mr Hall raised concerns about additional reserves and the ability for the legislation to stop market attacks by environmentalists.

Hobart MLC Rob Valentine said he supported the legislation.

"The plan B is not there," he said.

Apsley MLC Tania Rattray said she would not be supporting the legislation.

Ms Rattray described the forest industry as at rock bottom.

"We are talking about keeping it at rock bottom," she said.

"We want to keep the trees but we don't want to keep the people."

Ms Rattray will join Pembroke MLC Vanessa Goodwin and Greg Hall to vote against the legislation.

Debate is expected to continue late into this evening.

For

Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch

Hobart MLC Rob Valentine

Derwent MLC Craig Farrell

Against

Western Tiers MLC Greg Hall

Apsley MLC Tania Rattray

Pembroke MLC Vanessa Goodwin

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Cash for jobs -- at a cost

THE State Government will slide further into debt in a bid to create hundreds of jobs and leverage much needed new investment.

Premier Lara Giddings yesterday announced the Tasmanian Jobs Package she hopes will deliver 3300 jobs and create about $375 million in private investment.

The package will cost the State Government $24.5 million over the next four years and $11.7 million this year, as the state slides a further $44 million into deficit.

As revealed in the Mercury yesterday, Ms Giddings has more than doubled grants for Tasmanians building their first home topping up the existing $7000 first-home buyers' grant with a further $8000 for those who opt to build.

The money will be available for Tasmanians constructing new homes beginning on January 1 and continuing for 18 months.

Ms Giddings said the First Home Builders Boost will help to build 1100 first homes and create 1800 new jobs.

The move was supported by the building industry and the State Opposition yesterday.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said the grant, that his party has been calling for, was a step in the right direction. "We are quite happy from Opposition to lead the Government when they have run out of ideas," he said.

HIA executive director Stuart Clues said in the past year 3000 jobs and 1000 projects have been lost.

"The State Government's announcement today could be the adrenalin shot in the arm the industry needs to start rebuilding in 2013," he said.

A further 850 jobs are hoped to be created by offering payroll grants for businesses putting on new staff from today up until June 30, 2014 and maintained until June 30, 2015.

The payroll exemption for new jobs would give medium and large businesses the ability to save about $3000 a year on a new worker earning about $50,000 a year.

Acting CEO and the TCCI chief economist Phil Bayley commended the move that has been a proven winner in the past. "The TCCI has also been highlighting the impact of payroll taxes on employment for many years, so today's announcement of relief for new jobs is welcome," he said.

"This is a win for all employers, particularly those that are considering putting on new employees."

Ms Giddings said the relatively modest outlay will make a massive contribution to job creation and private investment. "The package is a key part of my agenda for 2013 which will focus on jobs, people and opportunities," Ms Giddings said yesterday.

"I look forward to seeing more Tasmanians find jobs as a result of the strong action we have taken today."

A further $2.5 million in additional funding for the Tasmanian Government Innovation and Investment Fund will be used to try to leverage $11 million in private investment and create 170 jobs.

The North will get a boost, with $2.8 million investment in projects, including the Seaport boardwalk expansion on the Tamar River in Launceston and the creation of the Hollybank Mountain Bike Park, for the combined creation of 80 new jobs.

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Hampered by high demand

TASMANIAN welfare agencies are having to turn people away as the demand for emergency assistance far outstrips supply.

The Salvation Army yesterday said it feared it would run out of food to distribute to those in need this festive season.

The Salvos said the amount of food donated for its Christmas welfare programs was way down on last year but the number of people asking for a hamper had increased by 20 per cent.

A Hobart woman, who did not want to be named, said she and her adult daughter had sought help from one welfare agency but were told the agency was not taking on any new clients.

Another charity could only give her $20.

"I was gobsmacked. How many people out there are doing it tough if this is the situation?" the woman said.

"Of course I did not want to have to ask for help, but sometimes there is no alternative. $20 does not help much at all."

Salvation Army Captain Craig Wood said the charity was only one third of the way through its hamper listings but had almost run out of food.

"Non-perishable food and groceries are desperately needed to assist over 200 families in southern Tasmania alone. On the North-West Coast, it is a similar story in Burnie," Captain Wood said.

The Salvos have now put out an urgent plea for non-perishable food to make up hampers.

The hampers traditionally contain small boxes of cereal, tinned fruit and vegetables, tea, coffee and sugar, tinned spaghetti, baked beans and soup, biscuits, cordial and long-life juice, pasta and rice and a few Christmas treats like tinned pudding, long-life custards and bon-bons.

Tasmanian Council of Social Service chief executive Tony Reidy said all member organisations were reporting a significant increase in demand.

Mr Reidy said a spike in the number of people who were underemployed was driving the bigger need for charity.

"People who are underemployed can't pay their bills, let along come up with disposable income for treats at this time of the year."

Mr Reidy said a lot of the people asking for help were doing so for the first time.

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Wait to question Burnie dad

A fire engine and a police car at the scene of a tragic car fire at Shorewell Park last week.

IT may be weeks before a Burnie man accused of attempting to murder his two young sons can be questioned by police.

The 49-year-old man from Shorewell Park and his two sons, aged five and eight, received burns to 25 per cent of their bodies last Wednesday in a car fire, which police say was deliberately lit.

Police say the condition of both children has stabilised in the past 24 hours but they remain in intensive care in the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.

Treating medical staff are hopeful the children will continue to improve.

Their father remains in a critical condition in intensive care at the Royal Hobart Hospital and is also receiving treatment for significant burns.

"It is expected to be some time, perhaps weeks, before his condition improves enough to be able to speak to police," Tasmania Police said today in a statement.

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Grunwaldt search resumes

The Bicheno Waste Management Centre where police are searching for a bicycle used by Nancy Grunwaldt.

POLICE have returned to a tip site in Bicheno as the investigation into one of Tasmania's most infamous missing persons cases continues.

Launceston detectives are using heavy machinery to excavate a section of the Bicheno Waste Management Centre – the same area that was investigated in February – as part of the search for German backpacker Nancy Grunwaldt.

Miss Grunwaldt was last seen south of Beamauris on March 12, 1993, near the scene of the horrific stabbing murder of Italian tourist Victoria Cafasso in 1995.

Police are searching for the bicycle Miss Grunwaldt was using at the time she was last seen.

The new search is in response to information given to police earlier this year by a local man who believed he saw a bicycle dumped at the site which matched the description of Miss Grunwaldt's bike.

It's not known why the person did not come forward with the information earlier.

"He has shown us the area where he saw the bike and we are excavating that section to a depth of about 5m across an overall area of five square metres," Detective Inspector Scott Flude said in February.

The February search proved fruitless but police are now delving deeper.

"In the interests of ensuring the information is fully investigated, police have determined to return to the tip to excavate to an even deeper level," Det-Insp Flude said today.

"The tip will be closed to the public for the duration of the two-day excavation.

"We have spoken to Miss Grunwaldt's mother to inform her of the development."

Miss Grunwaldt was last seen riding the bicycle about 4km south of Scamander.

She has not been seen since.

A coronial inquest has resulted in no clear answer to the reason for her disappearance, although police suspect foul play.

If you have any information, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Seeking warmer waters

TROPICAL fish are venturing as far south as Tasmania in response to ocean warming.

Recent tropical sightings include turtles, a yellow-bellied sea snake, a green moray eel, tiger shark and a mahi-mahi dolphinfish.

The unusual sightings have been documented on the website Redmap, based on reports from divers, anglers and scientists.

Warmer waters are also attracting increasing numbers of big gamefish, such as marlin and yellowtail kingfish, which anglers say is a boon for the sport in Tasmania.

The "out-of-range" fish are being documented by Redmap so scientists can use sightings by recreational anglers and divers to help research into marine species' changing geographical range.

Redmap, the Range Extension Database and Mapping project, will extend from its current state focus when it goes national this week.

Redmap principal investigator Dr Gretta Pecl, from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, said all Australians would be able to report their unusual findings to Redmap after the national launch on Thursday.

Dr Pecl said the migrating tropical fish had been detected in increasing numbers over the past few years, and other popular fishing species from NSW and Victoria were becoming frequent visitors too.

"Some species that only appeared on the mainland, or only appeared in the north of Tasmania, are venturing further south," she said.

She said there were also growing numbers of eastern rock lobsters, including a population of about 35 living off the East Coast.

And snapper, not often sighted in the South until recently, is now so common it has a bag limit.

Dr Pecl said the migration of northern marine species could be for a range of reasons. While climate change was a major driver, other potential causes included changes in ocean currents, habitat availability, pollution and changes in mainland fishing activity.

The migration of new species has been welcomed by recreational anglers, who say the new species have created a boom.

Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing (TARFish) chief executive Mark Nikolai said anglers had noticed a rise in the number of popular sportsfish, including yellowtail kingfish, King George whiting, marlin and snapper.

He said these four species were extremely popular and would potentially increase fishing tourism to the state.

"It's all good news for Tasmania, as they expect more of these species to call Tasmania home," Mr Nikolai said.

He said the migrating sportsfish species were of little threat to local marine life, because the baitfish they ate moved down with them.

But Dr Pecl warned the warming oceans did attract some damaging species, such as long-spined sea urchins which were destroying habitats essential for rock lobsters and abalone.

Mr Nikolai said warmer waters had been detected by the CSIRO this year, as a result of the extension of the East Australian Current.

Data shows sea temperatures off the East Coast are warming at three times global average.

Redmap invites people to take photos of uncommon marine species and post them on www.redmap.org.au

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Ideas plan to lift Tassie

WHISKY and food trails, attracting more international students and bringing old industrial sites back to life are some of the ideas contained in three regional economic plans for Tasmania.

The regional plans were released last month, following 38 community consultations held around the state in March and April involving almost 700 people.

They followed the release of a statewide economic development plan in August last year and the establishment soon after of three regional reference groups.

The plans include initiatives already announced and suggestions about new projects to boost each region.

Economic Development Minister David O'Byrne said the economic plans were 10-year strategies focussing on diversifying regional economies and identifying potential growth industries.

He said: "In developing each regional plan, we've talked directly to Tasmanians living, working, studying and investing in each region. We know regional communities are under pressure. This plan is an economic strategy run by communities, for communities."

Mr O'Byrne said key drivers of Tasmania's southern economy included aquaculture, viticulture, agriculture and Antarctic and Southern Ocean science.

The North's key industries were advanced manufacturing, food and agriculture including poppies, dairy, fruit, meat, vegetables and wine, forestry and related products, minerals and mining.

In the North-West, key industries were also advanced manufacturing and food production, as well as floriculture, aquaculture, dairy and mining.

Tourism was identified as an area of opportunity in all three regions. Go to: development. tas.gov.au to view the plans in full.

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