Speeches
Environment - Marram Grass at Kingston Beach Tuesday, 21 September 2010 00:00 |  Written by Jacquie |  | 
Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin I rise tonight to speak on behalf of the residents of Kingston Beach, as well as the visitors to Kingston Beach, whose current enjoyment and use of the beach is ruined by the rapid and vast encroachment of marram grass. As we know, Kingston Beach is a wonderful place to visit. It has a wonderful village atmosphere and is great place to hold events such as A Day at the Beach on 26 January, Australia Day. This enjoyment of the beach is being ruined by the encroachment of marram grass, which is taking over the sand in the area. Over the last 10 years especially marram grass has exponentially grown. If you look at photos of 10 years ago compared to today you will see, especially where Browns River comes out on Kingston Beach, that the area is rapidly being encroached by the marram grass.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESWednesday, 01 September 2010 00:00 | Written by Jacquie | |
Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter of public importance today. I am aware of the minister's comments and the sensitivities around the issue of Ward 1E and my contribution today will only cover what has already been reported. Mr Speaker, mental health has again hit the media in recent days in the worst possible circumstances with serious problems emerging once again from the troubled former Ward 1E, now known as Northside. I am very familiar with the serious problems of Ward 1E. I trained at the Launceston General Hospital as a registered nurse. I trained at the Lindsay Miller Clinic, the psychiatric unit that was the predecessor to Ward 1E, and worked the odd shift on Ward 1E. I also worked with a pharmaceutical company from 2000 to 2004 where I was the medical representative for an antidepressant and thus visited the Launceston General Hospital. I had regular discussions with the psychiatrists, the registrars, the nursing staff and so on. By all accounts from these staff, Ward 1E was in crisis then, and 10 years later this has not changed.
Heavy Vehicle Traffic, RichmondWednesday, 01 September 2010 00:00 | Written by Jacquie | |
Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin Mr Speaker, I rise to speak on behalf of the community of Richmond who have become increasingly concerned at the significant increase in heavy vehicle traffic through their township. Richmond, as we well know, is one of the top five visitor destinations for Tasmania, with recognition of Richmond's heritage values demonstrated by the inclusion of its buildings and the township in the register of the National Estate and the Tasmanian Heritage Register. However, Richmond's heritage is fragile and vulnerable and immediate protection from the impact of heavy vehicles is required. Furthermore, dodging large, heavy vehicles and putting up with their noise detracts from the heritage experience, with feedback from visitors saying that their visit has been ruined to some degree by heavy vehicular traffic that continuously rumbles through the town.
Fire Risk – MiddletonTuesday, 31 August 2010 00:00 | Written by Jacquie | |
Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to discuss the concerns of Middleton residents about the risk to themselves, visitors and wildlife of being isolated if a fire, such as happened in 1967, occurs in the area. The residents of Middleton fear that there is no guarantee that a fire engine, ambulance or a car can get in or out of Middleton if there is a fire. Due to so many years of neglect, the road verges over the last 12 years have deteriorated to such a state where it would be a massive job to remove the overgrowth and large trees. The pine trees, especially, have grown too big and are eroding the edge of verges to the extent that they constitute a threat to the road staying open. If one of these trees toppled over in a fire, the Channel Highway would be blocked.
Ferry Road, Kettering - August 25, 2010Wednesday, 25 August 2010 00:00 | Written by Jacquie | |
Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin Mr Deputy Speaker, I move - That the House: (1) Recognises that: (a) Ferry Road provides a vital link to Bruny Island; and (b) problems with sewerage, safe pedestrian access and traffic congestion have plagued Ferry Road for many years. (2) Notes that Ferry Road provides access for over 440 000 vehicle movements annually; however, its current state is a disgrace. (3) Acknowledges that:
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Condolence To Sue Napier’s FamilyTuesday, 24 August 2010 00:00 | Written by Jacquie | |
Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin Mr Speaker, I rise to speak briefly on the condolence motion. Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to know Sue as many of you in this Chamber did. Today I feel a genuine sense of loss and sadness that I did not have that opportunity. However, from listening to all the wonderful anecdotes of her life today I now feel that I have been very fortunate to get to know her a little better. I have had the opportunity over the last few months to show many school groups around Parliament House. One of the photos I make sure that I show the students is the photo of Sue, just down the hall here, under the heading of First Women in the Parliament of Tasmania. The caption states that Sue was the first female Deputy Premier of Tasmania and Leader of the Opposition; the first woman to lead the Liberal Party in Tasmania. As a politician who is a woman and a member of the Liberal Party, that to me is a wonderful achievement, and I make sure that the students know this. It is because of achievements of women such as Sue in parliament that we can now really only add one more picture to that board and that is of the first female Premier of Tasmania. As a registered nurse who has looked after many people with cancer I also felt incredible grief and sadness when Sue announced her retirement due to the return of her breast cancer. I knew clinically the trials and tribulations she would be facing, and you find yourself asking the question, why does this have to happen again to Sue? Life can appear so unfair sometimes. Sue was so dignified and composed throughout her illness that she was a real inspiration to many women who have suffered and will suffer from breast cancer. She also highlighted the fact that breast cancer is indiscriminate and can affect us all, both male and female. Sue's contribution both to the community and to parliament really makes you look at your own life and the legacy that you want to leave behind. If I can make some of the contributions like Sue has made over the years then I will feel that I, too, have managed to achieve something. After I was pre-selected, I was fortunate to have a couple of talks with Sue about being a woman in politics and was looking forward to her being a mentor to us women in the Liberal Party. I was looking forward to learning from Sue how to be tenacious, how to fight for issues in your electorate and how to be a good shadow minister. When I spoke to Sue after the election when I was elected as a member and told her how I would miss her, she said, 'You will be right, you have some great members in the party who will look after you.' Of course, once again, she was correct. My condolences, like other members here today, are with Sue's family and friends. Sue, you were a pioneer for women in politics, a real trailblazer and I thank you for your legacy, especially for us women in the Liberal Party and for the women in the Parliament of Tasmania. Eastern Shore Bus TimetablesTuesday, 24 August 2010 00:00 | Written by Jacquie | |
Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin I rise to speak about the frustration and disappointment of Hobart's eastern shore residents at the changes to the eastern shore bus timetables and routes which were implemented last year. In the Mercury on 5 February it was stated how the Tasmanian Bus Association wanted an end to the State's over-reliance on cars and a doubling of public transport trips. However, Metro's changes to bus services on the eastern shore has severely impacted a large section of the community who want to use public transport. For seniors and people with disabilities who live in the area and are unable to walk any significant distance to catch a bus, particularly when they also need to carry shopping bags between the bus and their home, the number of bus stops has also decreased. Metro used to make minor diversions along the bus routes that catered for seniors but these are now removed. How can we tell our seniors to use more public transport if an appropriate service is not provided?
Matter of Public Importance – Regional RoadsTuesday, 27 July 2010 16:22 | Written by Jacquie | |
Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin
Matter of Public Importance - Regional Roads July 07, 2010 Mr Acting Speaker, in regard to my own electorate of Franklin, the standard of roads leaves much to be desired after more than a decade of a Labor Government.
Labor promised to fix Ferry Road at Kettering, improve the Huon Highway, including overtaking lanes, upgrade the Richmond Heavy Vehicle Link Road and the Rokeby Main Road. However, all that appears in this year's Budget is $1.5 million per annum for four years to accelerate planning work for road projects, including those roads listed in the Government's Community Roads Package.
Affordable Housing in Tasmania.Tuesday, 27 July 2010 16:19 | Written by Jacquie | |
Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin Mr Speaker, as a MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE today, I am raising the issue of Affordable Housing in Tasmania. Mr Speaker, there are currently, 3240 people on public housing waiting lists in Tasmania - nearly 2000 more than when the Liberals left office in 1998. This year, the Government expects there will be 200 fewer of those public housing applicants housed. In fact Mr Speaker, things are so bad, that even Mr Booth on 9 June called on the Bartlett government, therefore his own Leader, Minister McKim who has the responsibility for Housing in Tasmania, to note with grave concern reports, that this year alone at least 96 young women between the ages of thirteen to twenty have been turned away from crisis accommodation and public housing due to lack of capacity.
Budget Estimates 2010 - 2011Tuesday, 27 July 2010 16:13 | Written by Jacquie | |
Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin As Shadow Minister for Children - and as a new Member of Parliament - for the past few months I have met with many stakeholders and talked with hundreds of individuals about the children and family services in this State. I have become increasingly concerned about the child protection system and my statements today equally represent the concerns put to me about the system that were not allayed by the answers I received during Budget Estimates. Yesterday, the Minister updated parliament on measures being taken to improve Out of Home Care for Tasmanian Children. The Auditor General will be auditing the Out of Home Care system in Tasmania in order to provide the Department with a level of external scrutiny.
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