Glenorchy City Council has dropped its support for the community precinct committees even though they have for years provided a terrific service in the City. They have allowed residents to get together and discuss issues important to them and been a way for concerns to be taken directly to the Glenorchy City Council. In addition the precincts have run countless events such as arts and craft groups, community libraries and lunches.

In Andrew’s view it was very disappointing that the Council dropped its support for the community precinct program. The precincts repre-sent a tiny cost to the Council’s budget but the benefits they provide to the community are enormous.

Of particular interest to Andrew is how the precincts have been an important mechanism for greater scrutiny and transparency of the Council’s performance and conduct.

Whether or not the precincts can be saved is unclear, although Andrew has committed to offer whatever support he can to keep them going.

More broadly the problems plaguing the Glenorchy City Council continue. It’s important that the State Government’s inquiry puts an end to the dysfunction that we’ve seen over the last two years. The community expects governments at all levels to get on with governing and put squabbling and infighting aside.

Federal electionI’m thrilled to have been re-elected as the Independent Member for Denison. I remain committed to not doing any deals and have not pledged my support to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull or Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

I will continue to approach all issues on their merits. Due to my genuine independence Denison is in a better position than the rest of Tasmania and I’m confident the electorate will benefit during this Federal Parliament.

I will continue to stand up for Denison and to speak out on the big issues, and in particular health, education and jobs. I’ll also tackle the matters the Liberal and Labor parties ignore like gambling reform, animal welfare, asylum seekers and foreign and security policy.

THE DENISONINDEPENDENT

SEPTEMBER 2016

ANDREW WILKIE MP - YOUR INDEPENDENT IN CANBERRA

Glenorchy precincts axed

100% Independent

Voted to keep the precinctsAld Kristie Johnston (Mayor)

Ald Harry Quick (Deputy Mayor)

Ald Jan Dunsby

Ald Matt Stevenson

Voted to scrap the precinctsAld Jenny Branch-Allen

Ald Christine Lucas

Ald Haydyn Nielsen

Ald Stuart Slade

Ald David Pearce

Ald Steven King

ANDREW WILKIE MP - YOUR INDEPENDENT IN CANBERRA

Census problemsThe 2016 national census was a shambles. There was confusion in the community about how to complete the census, the phone lines to request paper forms were jammed and many in the community were concerned about being fined.

Andrew’s office was inundated by people with concerns about privacy and the security of their sensitive personal data.

Andrew supports the census and its important role in data collection, but believes last month’s ordeal was a waste of taxpayers’ money. The results are going to be virtually worthless because they won’t provide an accurate snapshot of Australia specifically on 9 August.

The current results should be abandoned, the census must be redone, and Australians need to be assured that their personal information is secure.

RHH rebuildMany in the community including Andrew were disappointed to hear the Royal Hobart Hospital rebuild is running six months late. The current hospital is in very poor shape and the community will enjoy much improved health care when the rebuild is complete. The delays are due to problems with the temporary building in the forecourt as well as the need to remove asbestos from some old buildings. A consolation is that the cost of the delay will be borne by the contractor who is also contractually bound to pay a substantial financial penalty if there is a failure to deliver the project on time. Demolition work will soon make room for the construc-tion of the new K-Block towers. This 10-story inpatient precinct will deliver improved patient care as well as 250 beds, seven more operating and procedure rooms, a helipad and a new hyperbaric chamber. A new entrance on Campbell Street will provide a one-stop arrival and departure area for patients. Andrew secured $340m in federal funding for the redevelopment as part of his negotiations after the 2010 election.

Gambling reform back on the tableThere is an urgent need for action in the new parliament on problem gambling, and having Nick Xenophon and myself in key crossbench positions creates the perfect opportunity. We will be introducing legislation to rein in the harm caused by poker machines, including by implementing the Productivity Commission’s recommendations of $1 maximum bets. We’re also focusing on the scourge of gambling advertising and have called on the Government to ban sports betting advertising during G-rated television periods.

On the Tasmanian front, the State Govern-ment’s monopoly deal with Federal Hotels will soon expire. The Government is committed to establishing a new arrangement from 2023 with Federal retaining a license to operate poker machines in its two casinos while all machines in pubs and clubs will be put out to tender for a separate license or licences.

One option of course is for the Government to not issue a separate license or licenses, thereby seizing this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make all pubs and clubs pokies-free as is the case already in Western Australia. We know that the community overwhelmingly

want this - four out of five Tasmanians want the number of pokies reduced or want them out of pubs and clubs altogether. A strong and growing coalition of Tasmanian organisations are calling on Premier Will Hodgman to restrict pokies to the two casinos and they have launched an open letter which can be signed by members of the public at www.sarc.good.do/getthepokiesoutoftasmaniaspubsandclubs/letter/

The Community Voice on Pokies Reform Coalition pushing for restricting pokies to the casinos includes: Anglicare, Brain Injury Association of Tasmania, Brighton Council, CatholicCare, City of Hobart, Colony47, Community Legal Centres of Tasmania, The Country Women’s Association in Tasmania, Glenhaven Family Care, Glenorchy City Council, Hobart City Mission, Holyoake, Kingborough Council, Launceston Benevolent Society, Launceston City Mission, Lifeline Tasmania, Meander Valley Council, Men’s Resources Tasmania, Mental Health Council of Tasmania, Mission Australia, National Council of Women Tasmania, Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania, Relationships Australia, The Salvation Army, SU Tasmania, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Southern Midlands Council, Tasmanian Baptist Churches, TasCOSS, UnitingCare Tasmania, Uniting Church in Tasmania, Youth, Family and Community Connections, and Youth Network of Tasmania.

Chilcot reportThe Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War has been released and it is damning of the British Government. By impli-cation it’s equally damning of the Australian Government.

The Inquiry found there was no imminent threat from Iraq, that the danger posed by any weapons of mass

destruction had been exaggerated, that peaceful alternatives to war were not exhausted before resort to force, and that warnings about the consequences of war were ignored. Andrew resigned from the Office of National Assess-ments, Australia’s senior intelligence agency, in 2003 due to concerns about the invasion of Iraq and was the only serving intelligence official in Australia, the UK and US to resign publicly before the invasion. He will continue to push for a proper inquiry in Australia similar to Chilcot’s to ensure that these matters are investigated.

Andrew is working on a Private Member’s Bill to crack down on political junk mail. Currently by law there is no way to opt out of receiving political material (like the Denison Independent), even if your letter box says “no unaddressed mail” or similar. Andrew’s Bill would force Australia Post to recognise residents’ wishes when delivering political leaflets. Let’s hope the major parties pay attention and support the Bill.

In the meantime, if you would like a “No junk mail – including political material” sticker – which can sometimes deter the posties from delivering political leaflets – please contact Andrew’s office.

Nick Xenophon, Andrew Wilkie and Tim Costello

Image produced by architects Lyons with Terroir and supplied by the RHH Redevelopment team

Banks out of controlThe big four banks made $15 billion profit in the first half of this year.

But they’re still refusing to pass on the Reserve Bank’s August interest rate cut in full to their customers. This is

disgraceful behaviour but sadly it’s just what customers have come to expect from the big four banks.

Andrew supports the call for a Royal Commission into the banks and has been a strong advocate for improved

regulation of the sector. He has tried to legislate both a mandatory banking code of conduct, and a crackdown on excessive fees, but received no support from the Liberal and Labor parties.

You can get this sticker from

Andrew’s office

Printed on 100% Australian-made environmentally-responsible paper Authorised by Andrew Wilkie MP 188 Collins Street Hobart 7000

Printed by Mark Media 1 Sunderland Street Moonah 7009

Sound Preservation Association The Sound Preservation Association of Tasmania aims to identify, collect and preserve recorded sound, equipment, literature, memorabilia and oral histories of Tasmanian origin. They will be holding a special concert to celebrate their 30th year on Sunday 27 November at 2pm at

the Rosny College auditorium. Tickets are $10 or $20 per family. Phone 6135 4814

Sustainable living Come along to the Sustainable Living Festival on

12-13 November at Princes Wharf 1 in Hobart.

The Festival brings together individuals, organisations

and businesses who care about living sustainably. It

will have places to sit back and relax, listen or dance,

engage with discussions, family friendly play areas,

sustainable shopping, educational interactive play,

sustainable food demonstrations, and opportunities

to share and gain practical skills and knowledge, or to

get creative.

Visit www.slt.org.au

Reaching outReachOut Australia has produced an online tool called ReachOut Next-Step to help 18-25 year olds navigate mental health services by recommend-ing personalised online and physical support options. They have also developed a game called ReachOut Orb for use in year 9 and 10 classrooms, which uses positive psychology to help students build resilience by identifying and using their strengths, as well as developing and sustaining positive relationships.

Visit reachout.com

Want to get in touch with Andrew?

· Feel free to drop by the office at

188 Collins Street Hobart

· Phone 6234 5255

· Email andrew.wilkie.mp@aph.gov.au

· Post GPO Box 32 Hobart 7001

· See him at his mobile office

· Facebook at www.facebook.com/andrewwilkiemp

· Twitter @wilkiemp

· Book a Skype call

www.andrewwilkie.org

Promoting our heritage

Congratulations to two outstanding heritage projects in

Denison for receiving federal grants. The Cascades Female

Factory in South Hobart will receive $35,000 for a new

interpretation centre, and the Narryna Heritage Museum in

Battery Point will receive $50,000 to create an events space

and serving kitchen. It’s fantastic to see these two very

worthwhile tourism projects acknowledged.

Golden anniversary

The Country Music Club of Southern Tasmania recently

held their 50th anniversary dinner. Congratulations to the

Club for being the oldest continuously run country music

club in Australia. If you’re interested in watching a con-

cert or even singing yourself then feel free to come along

every Tuesday night at the Golden Years Club at 314

Main Road Glenorchy, opposite the police station, from

7:30pm until 10:30pm.

Contact Michael Smith 0427 804 630

Community notice boardHealthy eatingThe West Moonah Community House and Goodwood Community Centre have joined forces to establish the First Choice Food Co-op. The Co-op will offer members a weekly $20 vegetable & fruit box contain-ing high quality, fresh and seasonal produce that is fair priced including vegetables, fruit and regular extras, such as seed packets, recipe sheets and healthy eating information. Phone 6273 2362 visit www.firstchoicefoodcoop.com or email foodcoop@westmoonahcommunityhouse.com