Former premier says Tasmania's stadium proposal has been 'poorly' sold
By Lucy MacDonald

Peter Gutwein initiated the push for a stadium in Hobart, but he has had to watch the drama unfold from the sidelines. He says rejecting the proposal would be the biggest "lost opportunity" in the state's history.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-29/former-premier-peter-gutwein-hobart-afl-stadium-poorly-sold/106079926

#StateandTerritoryGovernment #Infrastructure #StateandTerritoryParliament #Sport #LucyMacDonald

Former premier Peter Gutwein says Hobart AFL stadium has been 'poorly' sold

Peter Gutwein initiated the push for a stadium in Hobart, but he has had to watch the drama unfold from the sidelines. He says rejecting the proposal would be the biggest "lost opportunity" in the state's history.

ABC News

The way Rockliff will be remembered inextricably tied to Hobart stadium's future
By Lucy MacDonald

With the vote to decide the fate of the Hobart stadium a week away, Premier Jeremy Rockliff's political legacy is in the balance.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-27/hobart-stadium-contentious-projects-not-new-for-tasmania/106031950

#Infrastructure #StateandTerritoryGovernment #StateandTerritoryParliament #Sport #LucyMacDonald

Rockliff's premiership tied to proposed stadium, but his is not the first to push a contentious project

With the vote to decide the fate of the Hobart stadium a week away, Premier Jeremy Rockliff's political legacy is in the balance.

ABC News

Tasmania's sports minister reneges on footy club funding
By Lucy MacDonald

Tasmanian Sports Minister Nick Duigan has admitted he reneged on plans to give North Launceston Football Club $100,000 after the club's president did a media conference with Labor.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-17/utas-stadium-funding-commitment-north-launceston-footbll-club/106018408

#GovernmentFunding #StateandTerritoryGovernment #Sport #LucyMacDonald

Sports minister admits he reneged on funding to football club after president sought bipartisan support

Tasmanian Sports Minister Nick Duigan has admitted he reneged on plans to give North Launceston Football Club $100,000 after the club's president did a media conference with Labor. 

ABC News

How is Tasmania's ambulance ramping 'ban' going?
By Lucy MacDonald

The Tasmanian government's "ban" on ambulance ramping was announced with much fanfare in 2024 — but there has been no effect on ambulance response times, and patients are still facing long waits in hospital emergency departments.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-17/tasmanian-ambulance-ramping-ban-no-impact-on-response-times/106013750

#HealthPolicy #AmbulanceService #HealthAdministration #LucyMacDonald

Ambulance response times sluggish despite Tasmanian ramping 'ban' promise

The Tasmanian government's "ban" on ambulance ramping was announced with much fanfare in 2024 — but there has been no effect on ambulance response times, and patients are still facing long waits in hospital emergency departments.

ABC News

Draft bill for 'extremely risky' insurance venture released
By Lucy MacDonald

Critics of a state-owned insurance company proposal say TasInsure has "no business case ... no financial modelling, and experts are saying it is extremely risky to the state's budget position", as draft legislation is produced for consultation.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-14/tasmania-government-releases-draft-bill-insurance-tasinsure/106009378

#Insurance #StateandTerritoryGovernment #LucyMacDonald

Tasmanian government forges ahead with TasInsure proposal despite lack of financial modelling

Critics of a state-owned insurance company proposal say TasInsure has "no business case ... no financial modelling, and experts are saying it is extremely risky to the state's budget position", as draft legislation is produced for consultation.

ABC News

Crucial upper house independents warn Hobart stadium may be unaffordable
By Lucy MacDonald

Two independent MLCs whose votes are crucial for the proposed Macquarie Point stadium have outlined their concerns about the project in budget reply speeches to parliament.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-12/tas-independent-mps-concern-over-stadium-before-vote/105998500

#StateandTerritoryParliament #SportsVenues #StateandTerritoryGovernment #LucyMacDonald

Key independent Tasmanian MLCs concerned over Macquarie Point stadium

Two independent MLCs whose votes are crucial for the proposed Macquarie Point stadium have outlined their concerns about the project in budget reply speeches to parliament.

ABC News

Questions raised as key election promise absent from Tasmanian budget
By Adam Langenberg and Lucy MacDonald

There were hats, jackets and a shop front, but when it came to budget day, there was no money set aside for the creation of TasInsure, which the Tasmanian Liberals promised would save households up to $250 a year during the election.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-07/tasinsure-fails-to-receive-interim-budget-funding/105983758

#Budget #Insurance #PublicHealth #StateandTerritoryElections #AdamLangenberg #LucyMacDonald

Questions raised after key election pledge TasInsure fails to appear in Tasmanian budget

There were hats, jackets and a shop front, but when it came to budget day, there was no money set aside for the creation of TasInsure, which the Tasmanian Liberals promised would save households up to $250 a year during the election.

ABC News

GPs who want to stay in Tasmania say there are no jobs for their skills
By Lucy MacDonald

Rural generalists are GPs with training in emergency care and one other advanced skill area. While Tasmania has a training program for rural generalists, doctors say their skills are not properly recognised by the Tasmanian Health Service.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-19/rural-generalists-tasmanian-health-service-say-no-suitable-jobs/105907346

#HealthAdministration #HealthPolicy #GeneralPractice #DoctorsandMedicalProfessionals #RegionalCommunities #LucyMacDonald

GPs with extra skills who want to work in Tasmania say there are no suitable jobs

Rural generalists are GPs with training in emergency care and one other advanced skill area. While Tasmania has a training program for rural generalists, doctors say their skills are not properly recognised by the Tasmanian Health Service.

ABC News

Breaking: Spirit of Tasmania IV ship unable to berth at Point Henry in Geelong, report finds
By Lucy MacDonald

The ABC understands that a recent safety assessment found the berth would need two additional bollards for the ship to berth there at a cost of $2 million.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-15/spirit-of-tasmania-iv-unable-to-berth-at-geelong/105883912

#MarineTransportIndustry #LucyMacDonald

Spirit of Tasmania IV ship unable to dock at interim berth at Point Henry in Geelong

The ABC understands that a recent safety assessment found the interim berth would need two additional bollards for the ship to dock there at a cost of $2 million, an option which may not go ahead.

ABC News

'We cannot turn back': Tas govt responds to scathing Hobart stadium report
By Lucy MacDonald

The state government response to last month's scathing report from the planning commission says that while "change can be challenging", the "dream of a Tasmanian team representing our state in the AFL and AFLW is now within reach — we cannot turn back".

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-08/stadium-report-released-for-hobart-afl-macquarie-point-stadium/105805830

#StateandTerritoryGovernment #AFL #UrbanDevelopmentandPlanning #RegionalDevelopmentandPlanning #LucyMacDonald

Tasmanian government stadium report responds to planning commission's criticisms

The state government response to last month's scathing report from the planning commission says that while "change can be challenging", the "dream of a Tasmanian team representing our state in the AFL and AFLW is now within reach — we cannot turn back".

ABC News