McKim mocked for comparison

TASMANIAN Greens leader Nick McKim has been lambasted for linking forest protesters arrested in Tasmania this week to civil rights activists Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi.

Mr McKim, right, took to Parliament yesterday to defend the right to protest amid calls from the Opposition for Premier Lara Giddings to ditch him from Cabinet.

The calls come after Ms Giddings labelled protests that stopped work at two of Ta Ann's mills this week as "appalling".

Mr McKim called for a matter of public importance in Parliament yesterday to get on the record his support for the protesters.

"The Greens will always back people's right to protest because throughout history major and massive social advances have been driven by people who have protested, often contrary to the law of the day at the time," Mr McKim said.

"Exhibit A, the suffragettes, of which my great-grandmother was one, a fact I am extremely proud of.

"Exhibit B, Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for over a decade for protest action and simply expressing his views.

"Exhibit C, Mahatma Gandhi, who was tried in India for peaceful protest that the government of the time believed was illegal under the laws of the day.

"Exhibit D, Martin Luther King.

"These people all conducted protest activities that the governments of the day believed were illegal at the time and whose actions resulted in massive advances socially for humanity."

Tasmanian Communities Australia state spokesman Barry Chipman said current protesters were not Gandhi.

"If they are, history needs to be rewritten," Mr Chipman said. "If my reading of history is correct, Nelson Mandela's fight was to gain freedom for a race of people.

"And here you have Nick McKim supporting activists and law breakers that are trying to take freedom and rights away from workers' freedom to work a day's work.

"He should be on the side of the families that have lost their freedoms.

"History shows Nelson Mandela fought for the freedom for people to go about their life.

"He [Mr McKim] is now supporting those that are trying to do the opposite."

Liberal leader Will Hodgman said Ms Giddings must "show some leadership and sack Mr McKim from her Cabinet for cheering on illegal forest protests which are threatening the viability of businesses such as Ta Ann".

Deputy Premier Bryan Green defended people's right to protest but said Labor did not support the current protests holding up work at Ta Ann.

Five people were arrested at Ta Ann's Lonnavale site on Wednesday and three at its Smithton plant on Tuesday.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

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Possum a magic taste

TASMANIANS appear to be warming to the idea of eating possum meat and there are hopes of creating an export market for the fledgling local industry.

Carlton based artisan food producer Mic Giuliani recently cooked up a possum curry and was blown away by the taste and texture of the slow-cooked meat.

Last Sunday, Mr Giuliani trialled a possum confit, made by flavouring the meat with local herbs for 24 hours and then slowly cooking it in duck fat for at least 10 hours, to offer it at his Sirocco South stall at the Farm Gate market, in experiments that created plenty of interest.

"I found some local duck fat so I decided to try a confit," Mr Giuliani said.

"It is rich as all get out and cooked in the duck fat it is just divine."

His wife Jo declared "nobody will eat that", but after some initial negative responses to the idea, customers were won over by the taste.

"The thought of eating possum is a turn-off, I think because they're quite cute and unless they've destroyed your roses, you don't have a real beef against them," Mr Giuliani said.

With last week's batch a sell-out, Mr Giuliani is boosting production ahead of tomorrow's Farm Gate market.

"I hope to triple it this week and take it from there ... " he said.

"There could be a bit of an export market in it because it is a uniquely Tasmanian thing; this is the only state that you're allowed to eat them."

Mr Giuliani sources his possum from Richard Clarke from Bruny Island Game Meats, who also supplies to a growing number of butchers and food stores including bold foodies, The Aproneers at Lindisfarne.

The meat can also be purchased at Kingston Town Meats and Hill Street Grocer, New Town.

"People who try it love it but the big step is getting them to try it," Mr Clarke said.

sally.glaetzer@news.com.au

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Highway bottle throw admitted

A CLAREMONT man has admitted throwing a bottle from an overpass on the Brooker Highway which shattered the windscreen of a car travelling at 100km/h.

Peter John Denehey, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of recklessly throwing a missile to the danger of another person, destroying property and injuring property.

He pleaded not guilty to a second count of recklessly throwing a missile.

The court heard a driver travelling north on the Brooker Highway was hit by a bottle thrown from the Box Hill Road overpass at 5.15pm on August 10 this year.

The impact shattered her windscreen and caused damage to her bonnet totalling more than $2000.

Denehey, who is unemployed, told police he threw the bottle "for something to do".

He told Magistrate Olivia McTaggart he thought some young girls on the bridge might have thrown the first of the bottles he was accused of lobbing onto the highway.

"I only threw one bottle. I didn't try to purposely hit the car," he said.

The case was adjourned until December 19.

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'Blue' Sirens ready to roll

The South Island Sirens are fired up for their bout on Saturday night.

ROLLER derby returns to Hobart this weekend when the South Island Sirens battle Victoria's Latrobe City Rollers.

The Sirens have just returned from an interstate bout in Lismore.

They will adopt a blue theme for Saturday's High Voltage Roller Derby bout to raise awareness of depression and anxiety in the local community.

The skaters will "be blue" as part of their involvement in the Good Sports, Good Mental Health program.

South Island Sirens Roller Derby League president Rebecca Taylor said the Sirens were pleased to be able to promote such an important health message.

"This is an important initiative for us to be involved in. We will not only be helping our mates but our community too," she said.

The event is on at the Aurora Sports Stadium at 7.30pm. Tickets will be available on the door from 6.30pm and more information can be found at www.southislandsirens.com.

Good Sports, Good Mental Health is part of the Australian Drug Foundation's Good Sports program. For more information on the program visit www.goodsports.com.au

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Surf's up for rad festival

FESTIVAL goers will be hangin' ten and celebrating the beach culture of the state's East Coast this weekend.

Everything people love about the East Coast, from the food and wine to the tunes and the surf, will be on offer at Bicheno.

In its fifth year the annual Bicheno Food and Wine Festival will be incorporating the best producers exclusively from the East Coast.

"One of the best things about this community celebration it's truly regional," festival organiser, David Quon said.

"We have 12 different winemakers from Orford to St Helens and they'll all be here.

"It's a family friendly event with everything from a chocolate cake competition to helicopter rides."

There will be music performances all day from local musicians and for the first time an exhibition and show and tell of vintage surfboards.

There will be more than 60 boards, all from local collections and will feature 1970's "Turf" boards designed and made in Tasmania by Ben Richardson and Leigh Steven.

"These are 1970s classics," said veteran surfer, Ronnie McCulloch, of Falmouth.

"Surfboards are works of art and provide an insight into surfing history and culture.

"Old surfboards are being re-visited -- there are lots of retro designs around now."

Bicheno is about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Hobart. The festival will kick off at 11am on Saturday and wind up at 5pm.

Entry to the festival is $10 for adults, $5 for children aged 5 to 16. Children under 5 are admitted free. Entry tickets include live music, access to the Art Space and a chance to win a helicopter ride on the day.

For more information, click here.

alice.claridge@news.com.au

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Breaking in the bypass

Premier Lara Giddings speaks at the Bridgewater Civic Centre after the opening of the Brighton Bypass on Monday.

MOTORISTS travelling on the new Brighton Bypass have been urged to stick to the 80km/h speed limit or risk damaging their cars.

Tasmania Police said loose gravel on the road had already resulted in several broken windscreens.

The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources has set the temporary limit to allow the road surface to settle.

"The speed reduction is also for the protection of wildlife in the area until they become more familiar with the new highway running through their natural habitat," Sergeant Penny Reardon said in a statement today.

"The road surface is continually being assessed and the speed limit will be increased as soon as it is deemed safe.

"At this stage, DIER anticipates increasing the 80km restriction by November 23."

She said the area would also have a "visible police presence" in the next few weeks.

The long-awaited $191 million Brighton Bypass opened to traffic on Monday – four months ahead of schedule.

The 9.6km stretch of road was designed to improve safety and travel time on the Midland Highway by diverting traffic away from Brighton and Pontville.

To check out time-lapse vision of the Jordan River bridge being built, click here.

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Prison farm costs mount

Inmates were moved out of Hayes Prison Farm to Risdon several months ago.

THE State Government will spend $20,000 a month on security at the former Hayes Prison Farm until the property is sold.

Craig Farrell, the leader of Government business in the Upper House, today confirmed the Corrections Department would continue pay for an independent security firm to watch over the now-empty site.

Another $10,000 would be spent on fire reduction measures, Mr Farrell said after questioning from the Liberal's corrections spokeswoman Vanessa Goodwin.

Inmates moved out of the prison farm -- just outside New Norfolk in the Derwent Valley -- in early September.

Mr Farrell said the former prison would go on the market in the new year.

Corrections Minister Nick McKim had previously said the site would be placed on the market by the end of 2012.

Ms Goodwin asked why the "for sale" sign could not go up sooner.

"It is disappointing. Whenever they set timelines, they blow out," Ms Goodwin said.

"It seems to be a consistent pattern with anything to do with Corrections."

Corrective Services director Robert Williams said a number of operational and legal steps were required before Hayes could be decommissioned and sold.

"These processes were complete in September 2012 and included ceasing farm activities, hazard removal, and relocating prisoners to Risdon," he said.

"The relevant legal and procedural matters are currently being finalised before placing Hayes on the market.

"It is expected that the property will be placed on the market before the end of the year or early in 2013."

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Devils board 'Noah's Ark'

The wild population of Tasmanian devils has been devastated by facial tumour disease. Pictures: SAM ROSEWARNE

DISEASE-FREE Tasmanian devils will travel to Maria Island today in an effort to safeguard the wild population from extinction.

State Environment Minister Brian Wightman said it was one of the most significant national conservation projects ever undertaken for a single species.

It is hoped the island -- a former penal settlement off Triabunna on Tasmania's East Coast -- will provide a safe haven for the endangered Tasmanian devil.

Wild devil numbers have been massively depleted by a deadly facial tumour disease.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said the translocation program was a "method of last resort".

"It's part of making sure the Tasmanian devil never goes the way of the Tasmanian tiger," he said.

The 14 devils will be subjected to a long-term monitoring program run by the Tasmanian Government.

They have been sourced from "insurance populations" in Tasmania and interstate and were selected by the Zoo and Aquarium Association for their genetic suitability and behavioural traits.

A Save the Tasmanian Devil spokesman said Maria Island was selected for the rescue mission after extensive surveys and assessments of Tasmania's offshore islands.

"Maria Island has many potential benefits for devils compared with the potential impacts such an introduction may have," he said.

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Man accused of video heist

HOBART detectives have charged a 24-year-old man over the armed robbery of a video store in September.

Video Ezy, in Main Rd, New Town, was robbed on September 5. Police allege a man entered the store armed with a crowbar and demanded cash from an attendant.

Detective Inspector Peter Powell said a Huonville man had today been charged over the incident.

The accused is due to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on December 7.

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Roofer in critical condition

The Costas Logistics coolstore at Spreyton.

A DEVONPORT man who fell 6m from a roof at Spreyton remains in a critical condition at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

The 47-year-old was working on the Costas Logistics cool store when the accident happened early yesterday.

Workplace Standards is about to begin an investigation into the incident, which is the second such workplace accident in Tasmania in the past three months.

The man, who was employed by contractor SERS Roofing Services, is in an induced coma in the RHH and listed as critical.

There were five other workers at the site at the time of the fall and all have received counselling.

In August, a young apprentice from Launceston died after falling from the roof of the Homemaker Centre in Devonport.

Workplace Standards chief executive Roy Ormerod said it was important authorities uncovered what was going wrong with safety procedures in the construction industry.

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