TAS:2014/Legislative Council Q and A

Legislative Council elections for the Huon and Rosevears divisions are happening on Saturday 3 May, 2014. Official information about the elections is available from the Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Some less official (but rather more interesting) information can be found in Dr Kevin Bonham's blog.

In the interests of transparency, the Tasmanian Crew of Pirate Party Australia sent the following questionnaire to all candidates on Monday 28 April. Candidate responses will be published here once they are received.

Questionnaire for Legislative Council Candidates
Dear [MLC Candidate],

I am writing on behalf of the Tasmanian members of Pirate Party Australia. The Pirate Party is a political party based around the core tenets of freedom of information and culture, civil and digital liberties, privacy and anonymity, and government transparency.

We are contacting all candidates in the upcoming Legislative Council Elections to ask a few questions of particular interest to our membership, so that our members can cast an informed vote. This email and all responses from candidates will be published publicly on the Pirate Party's wiki at https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/TAS:2014/Legislative_Council_Q_and_A.

1) Where can we find out more about you online? For example, your website, Facebook page or Twitter profile? What is your preferred means of contact?

2) What, if any, are your political party affiliations, both past and present?

3) What do you consider the role or duty of the Legislative Council to be?

4) What are your views on the National Broadband Network rollout in Tasmania?

5) The Right to Information Act 2009 promotes the proactive release of information by public authorities and Ministers. Do you believe the various government bodies are doing enough in this regard? What more can be done do increase the ability of Tasmanians to participate in governance?

6) Do you think there has been enough transparency around forestry agreements in Tasmania? Have all stakeholders been consulted? Has the public been kept adequately informed?

7) What is your opinion of the state government's plan to scrap suspended sentences?

8) Are there any other comments you would like to make?

Thank you for your time, and good luck with the election.

Kind regards,

Tim Serong Tasmanian Coordinator Pirate Party Australia

ARMSTRONG, Robert
(no reply yet)

BELL, Jimmy
1) Where can we find out more about you online? For example, your website, Facebook page or Twitter profile?  What is your preferred means of contact?

My website is http://www.jimmygetsthingsdone.com/ or you can try my Upper House Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jimmygetsthingsdone. You can contact me either by phone on 0428 641 310 or by email at the address to [mailto:jandrbell@internode.on.net this email].

2) What, if any, are your political party affiliations, both past and present?

None.

3) What do you consider the role or duty of the Legislative Council to be?

To examine the merits of legislation and to provide a Parliamentary check on the Government of the day.

4) What are your views on the National Broadband Network rollout in Tasmania?

To be honest with you I have not had much exposure to the NBN and would be lying if I told you anything other than I know that the rollout had stalled but was now progressing slowly.

5) The Right to Information Act 2009 promotes the proactive release of information by public authorities and Ministers. Do you believe the various government bodies are doing enough in this regard?

NO.

What more can be done do increase the ability of Tasmanians to participate in governance?

Without being elected as a politician or employed as a public servant, Tasmanians should have a much more user friendly government website whereby they can gather relevant and up to date information on specific issues and then be allowed and able to make constructive and pertenant comment for consideration, and if necessary future discussion and or implementation. After all, there are many people outside of politics who should be able to express and present their thoughts with the intention of benefiting all Tasmanians.

6) Do you think there has been enough transparency around forestry agreements in Tasmania?

NO.

Have all stakeholders been consulted?

As as far as I am aware, NO.

Has the public been kept adequately informed?

Not entirely.

7) What is your opinion of the state government's plan to scrap suspended sentences?

I currently work with diadvantaged and "At Risk" youth trying very hard to divert them from crime and reconnect them with home, school and the community. I strongly believe we should endeavour to assist them on the outside and only as a last resort put them on the inside. More thorough detail would need to be presented to me before I could consider accepting this plan.

8) Are there any other comments you would like to make?

Unfortunately with our many pressing appointments and campaign commitments leading up to the election it is difficult to provide you with other comments at this stage. Should I be succesful in being elected I would like to extend an invitation for you to have a chat with me so as I can become more familar with your issues and converely you can find out more about me.

DILLON, Rodney
(no reply yet)

HODGMAN, Peter
(no reply yet)

LANE, Helen
1) Where can we find out more about you online? For example, your website, Facebook page or Twitter profile?  What is your preferred means of contact?

http://helenforhuon.wordpress.com/ [mailto:h.lane@bigpond.com h.lane@bigpond.com]  Phone 62347893 (my work number) 0418136837 (mobile)

2) What, if any, are your political party affiliations, both past and present?

I vote for the best person for the job regardless of party

3) What do you consider the role or duty of the Legislative Council to be?

A true house of review where all sides of the argument (whatever this may be) are heard discussed and then voted on in the best interests of the electorate

4) What are your views on the National Broadband Network rollout in Tasmania?

Poor management

5) The Right to Information Act 2009 promotes the proactive release of information by public authorities and Ministers. Do you believe the various government bodies are doing enough in this regard?  What more can be done do increase the ability of Tasmanians to participate in governance?

This is something that I have not thought of but hope to have the opportunity to come back to you with an answer. Perhaps talking to your local member might help, or me if I am in the position to do so.

6) Do you think there has been enough transparency around forestry agreements in Tasmania? Have all stakeholders been consulted?  Has the public been kept adequately informed?

I don't believe that the numbers given relate to any scientific information

7) What is your opinion of the state government's plan to scrap suspended sentences?

I would like to know more behind it, but I believe if anyone with a suspended sentence re offends then they should be made to serve the first suspended sentence plus any other handed down. Currently they just get another suspended sentence

8) Are there any other comments you would like to make?

Sure, I am a hard worker and like to excel in the things I undertake. If voted in I will undertake my duties with vigor and in the best interests of the electorate regardless of my personal views.

RUZICKA, Pavel
(no reply yet)

SMITH, Liz
1) Where can we find out more about you online? For example, your website, Facebook page or Twitter profile?  What is your preferred means of contact?

Facebook - Liz Smith for Huon. I am best contacted by email at [mailto:smiliztas@gmail.com this address].

2) What, if any, are your political party affiliations, both past and present?

I have no political affiliation or party membership. I resigned from the Tasmanian Greens Party in March because I strongly believe that members of the Legislative Council should not be directed in their voting by political parties.

3) What do you consider the role or duty of the Legislative Council to be?

Mostly review of legislation that has passed through the lower house. The Legislative Council assesses evidence provided to it through committee hearings, briefing and public consultation and can amend legislation.

4) What are your views on the National Broadband Network rollout in Tasmania?

It has been slow - I hope the final result will be of great benefit to Tasmania - there is certainly that potential.

5) The Right to Information Act 2009 promotes the proactive release of information by public authorities and Ministers. Do you believe the various government bodies are doing enough in this regard? What more can be done do increase the ability of Tasmanians to participate in governance?

I would like to see much more transparency at all levels of government. Government departments could release more information. Only when the public demands information will it become an issue and there is not sufficient demand at present for that change to take place. Education could be a key factor for this.

6) Do you think there has been enough transparency around forestry agreements in Tasmania? Have all stakeholders been consulted? Has the public been kept adequately informed?

Does this question relate to the Tasmanian Forest Agreement? It's not clear who was consulted and who was not - difficult when there are so many stakeholders. The public has probably not been as well informed as could have been possible - however the agreement is complex and it is difficult to explain it thoroughly.

7) What is your opinion of the state government's plan to scrap suspended sentences?

My understanding is that there is considerable evidence that suspended sentences are more effective in reducing repeat offences than imprisonment, especially for some types of offence.

8) Are there any other comments you would like to make?

The proposal to "rip up" the Tasmanian Forest Agreement and remove large areas of World Heritage-listed forest from the register will reflect very badly on Tasmania. One issue that you have not touched on in this questionnaire is climate change, which has potentially the biggest impact on our future.

FINCH, Kerry
(no reply yet)

MORRIS, Don
(no reply yet)

Authorised by D Judge, Secretary, Pirate Party Australia, 26 Emerton St, Evatt, ACT, 2617.