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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The rise of the pedalecs

South Hobart's Ahmet Bektas, on his electric bike, says Australia needs to keep up with international changes. SAM ROSEWARNE

BICYCLES with battery-powered boosters are about to get more punch.

But new rules governing power-assisted bikes could be changing.

Ahmet Bektas, a local importer of the pedalecs, said changes in Australian Design Rules allowing increased power from 200 to 250 watts would make Hobart's hills easier to climb.

He said it would also open the local market to a wider range of high-quality pedalecs, which were already on sale in Europe and the United States.

The Tasmanian Government first needs to tweak state laws. A Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources spokeswoman said that would happen next year.

Mr Bektas said the existing 200 watt rule limited the range of bikes available in Tasmania to comparatively cheap Chinese niche brands.

He said those bikes could still be sold and used to a maximum speed of 30km/h, faster if the motor was switched off.

The new rules that match a European standard will only apply to the more powerful bikes, limiting them to a maximum speed of 25km/h, after which the motor cuts out. Pedalecs do not need to be road registered.

Mr Bektas said in Europe where the take-up of power-assisted bikes had rocketed in the past year, policy makers were responding to demands for more power to climb steeper hills, while also continuing to limit speeds.

Mr Bektas said Australia would need to keep up.

"My preference is 25km/h," he said.

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Drink driver back behind bars

A DRINK driver who killed his mate in a high-speed crash in 2008 has been sent back to jail, after being caught behind the wheel with alcohol in his blood again.

Magistrate Melanie Bartlett yesterday sentenced Brenton John Redshaw to two months in prison, saying his last stretch at Risdon for manslaughter had obviously not acted as a deterrent.

Redshaw, 28, of Railton, was convicted of manslaughter in 2008 in relation to the death of a teenager who was a passenger in his speeding car when it hit a power pole.

He was sentenced to 21 months in prison but was paroled after 10sfr1/2 months in custody.

Coroner Don Jones found that Redshaw had been travelling at 160km/h before he crashed and killed 15-year-old Liam Hibble.

Cannabis, prescription drugs and alcohol were found in Redshaw's blood.

Ms Bartlett said Redshaw had been pulled over in July this year and recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.077.

Redshaw had drunk five pre-mixed cans of Bourbon and had told police he was unaware he was driving with a licence carrying a zero alcohol provision.

"You are not being sentenced for your criminal record but on new charges," Ms Bartlett said.

"But I can look at your priors to see if your record shows a continual disobedience to the law.

"You have verbalised remorse but failed to acknowledge the consequences of your decisions.

"It is a concern you are back before the court for a matter again involving driving and alcohol. It was a low reading but it should have been zero.

"It appears you have not been deterred by your previous term of imprisonment and do not have a high degree of insight into your offending."

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What a cracker of an egg

Samuel Boonstra with the 214g egg found in his family's chook house. Pictures: KIM EISZELE

YOUNG Samuel Boonstra was pretty excited when the freshly laid egg he collected wouldn't fit into an egg carton.

Now his mother Kelly reckons the egg could be the biggest in the world.

The gigantic cackleberry weighs a whopping 214 grams and was delivered by a courageous mother hen at the Boonstra's Crabtree home, 25km south west of Hobart, on Monday.

Samuel, 7, yelled at his mum that the egg was so big it would not fit in the egg carton

"I just thought it was another double yolker, until I saw it," Mrs Boonstra said.

The excited mother contacted the Guinness Book of Records but has to wait six weeks for the record to be verified.

Large eggs sold in supermarkets weigh between 57-64g. The Crabtree egg has easily beaten the Australian record, a 160g effort from a WA hen. The world record is a Chinese hen that laid a 201g egg.

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Metro's fat ban not fair

METRO'S move to ban drivers who are obese may be discriminatory, says Tasmanian anti-discrimination commissioner Robin Banks.

Bus drivers have lashed out at Metro after being told employees who weigh more than 130kg will be banned from driving, put on other duties and placed on a weight-loss program.

Ms Banks said obesity had been classified as a disability in successful anti-discrimination cases in other states.

"As I understand it, there's certainly the potential for it to be unlawful under the Anti-Discrimination Act," she said.

"It will depend on whether or not Metro is able to show that a person of 130kg or more couldn't perform the inherent requirement of their job."

Overweight employees of the Government-owned bus company have six months to lose weight.

Ms Banks said employers were only allowed to discriminate on the basis of disability if the employee could not fulfil the requirements of the job, or the cost of modifying the equipment created an unjustifiable hardship for the employer.

Rail, Tram and Bus union branch secretary Samantha Simonetis said the cost of installing new sturdier seats into the Metro fleet was going to cost $750,000.

Ms Simonetis said while the union had campaigned for years for a health program, the office had been inundated with calls from upset Metro drivers.

"Drivers not even affected by the new obesity rule say that people are getting on the bus and looking at them wondering how much they weigh," she said.

"They feel like they are being publicly humiliated and they are."

Metro advertisements for casual bus drivers on the weekend said people over 130kg need not apply because of bus seat design limits.

Metro CEO Heather Haselgrove said the obesity law was designed to ensure employees' health and safety and the seats were rated only to 130kg.

Ms Haselgrove said weight should not get in the way of employees performing their duties and using equipment.

Australian Psychological Society chairman Darren Stops said it was positive if Metro was looking after employees' health and it was an unfortunate spin-off if it meant drivers were subjected to public scrutiny.

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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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No plea from rape accused

A 24-YEAR-OLD Huonville man accused of raping a two-year-old child has made a brief appearance in a Hobart Court.

The man, who cannot be named, was charged with rape on Friday and appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Saturday.

In a brief hearing in the Magistrates Court today he did not enter a plea and did not apply for bail.

He was remanded to reappear in the same court via videolink on December 7.

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Push to start Square pjoject

Deputy Premier Bryan Green and Premier Lara Giddings with plans for the redevelopment of Parliament Square, which includes the demolition of 10 Murray St, which is in the background. Picture: KIM EISZELE

WORK on the $100 million Parliament Square project could begin by Christmas, with the State Government determined to push the development through to stimulate the economy.

The Government will table legislation today with the aim of getting the Bill through both houses of Parliament during the next two weeks.

Premier Lara Giddings said the project was critical for Tasmania, because it would create 400 jobs and inject $40 million in wages into the local economy. The project, which has been subject to many heritage-based appeals since first being unveiled in 1988, will incorporate a new building on the Supreme Court side of the square, the upgrade of significant heritage buildings on the site and the demolition of 10 Murray St.

Proposed legislation will allow the planning permit, authorised by the Sullivans Cove Waterfront Authority, to take effect the moment the legislation is ticked off by the Governor.

With a number of challenges to the demolition of 10 Murray St resolved, the only hurdles facing the Parliament Square project are appeals focused on stopping the demolition of 2-4 Salamanca Place.

But the new legislation will ensure all current appeals in relation to the planning permit are extinguished and there can be no further appeals in relation to the permit.

Ms Giddings said the exciting project needed to be pushed along.

"We need jobs in the construction industry and this is a project that has been around for a number of years now," she said.

"It has approval from all relevant planning authorities and it has got caught in this never-ending cycle of this technicality."

The technicality in question, section 41 of the Historic Cultural Heritage Act, is an open-ended clause that puts the onus back on to developers "that there is no prudent and feasible alternative to carrying out the works".

Ms Giddings said the project was "shovel ready".

"We should see this starting in a couple of weeks should it get through the Tasmanian Parliament," she said.

Deputy Premier Bryan Green will introduce the Bill to the Lower House of Parliament today.

He said the current legislation was also holding back the refurbishment of a number of significant heritage buildings, including the former St Mary's Hospital, built in 1847, at 36 Davey St.

He said while today's legislation will be project-specific, the State Government will look at ways to improve the Historic Cultural Heritage Act.

matthew.smith@news.net.au

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Stallholders put council on notice

SALAMANCA Market stallholders have threatened to take legal action against the Hobart City Council over an "onerous" new licence agreement that would dictate which goods can be sold.

Council managers believe the new stallholders licence is essential as the weekly event faces growing competition from local design and farmers markets.

Aldermen will vote on the wording of the licence, which has been more than three years in the making, at tonight's council meeting.

Salamanca Market Stallholders Association president Kerry Rourke would not comment ahead of tonight's decision, but has written to the council saying the association "reserved the right" to take legal action, injunctive proceedings or class actions if its views were not heeded.

The association wants the existing licence amended rather than the proposed new agreement, which includes an "Optimal Product Line Mix" to dictate which new items are approved for sale.

At a council committee meeting last week, stallholder Helen Timms told aldermen the lengthy process had been a waste of money that would have been better spent on improving infrastructure for the market, such as additional public toilets.

But an EMRS poll in 2007 found the market's image was suffering from a "growing proportion of cheap and poor-quality imported product".

Council deputy general manager Heather Salisbury said the market faced "increasing competition from high-quality and boutique markets in the Hobart area", including the privately run Farm Gate Market, which attracts around 3000 customers each Sunday.

A Saturday Farm Gate Market, also dedicated to local produce, will start at Bellerive next month.

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Township faces bushfire threat

A planned controlled burn at a Forcett property sent smoke billowing across the Arthur Highway yesterday. Picture: LIBBY SUTHERLAND

A PLANNED burn on private land grew into a large bushfire that threatened homes in the West Coast town of Zeehan yesterday.

The 1600ha fire was still burning out of control last night but the township did not have to be evacuated, as had earlier been feared.

Late yesterday afternoon the blaze came within 200m of Mulcahy St, putting about 15 houses at risk.

But two water-bombing helicopters helped more than a dozen fire crews from around the West Coast direct the front away from homes.

Parks and Wildlife Service incident controller Chris Arthur said the fire was lit on private land on Saturday and spread rapidly into surrounding button grass and forest when the weather changed yesterday morning.

Firefighters, including volunteers from Zeehan, Strahan, Rosebery, Queenstown and Ridgley, were on the ground by 11am yesterday and soon afterwards the Tasmania Fire Service issued a warning for residents to prepare to activate their bushfire plans.

Local resident Cheryl Smith nervously watched the smoke and embers from her home all day, but by early evening said the threat appeared to have eased.

"It seems to be under control. The choppers were dumping water all afternoon and the fire brigades from everywhere on the West Coast were there to help out," Ms Smith said.

"The firefighters did a marvellous job, they kept us well informed."

West Coast Mayor Darryl Gerrity also praised the volunteers, who were battling unpredictable winds. He said there appeared to be a lot of misinformation spreading about the fire via Facebook.

"A lot of it is not true and it's scaring people, people need to always rely on the authorised information," Mr Gerrity said.

More than two dozen permits were issued for registered burns around the state yesterday, including one on a private property at Forcett, which sent smoke billowing across the Arthur Highway.

sally.glaetzer@news.com.au

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Libs push for locals first

FUTURE PROJECT: An Opposition spokesman says redevelopment of the Hobart railyards and the state's rail network must result in contracts for as many local firms as possible.

THE Opposition will this week challenge the Labor-Green State Government to back new legislation it says will shore up local construction firms and tradesmen and prevent tens of millions of contract dollars flowing out of the state.

In a move to give local business priority over interstate firms, the Liberals will on Wednesday bring on debate of proposed their Local Benefits Test Bill, under which contracts will need to meet a range of regulations that will favour local tenderers.

This could include a 10-15 per cent buffer in cases where it is considered it would be of more value to give the job to locals than interstate firms and a need to split large contracts into smaller parcels to give local firms a better opportunity to tender.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said there was an urgent need for more government tenders to go to local firms to stimulate the state's struggling economy by keeping people in jobs and ensuring the money was circulated locally, especially in regional areas.

Mr Hodgman believed a local benefits test would also create hundreds of local jobs.

The Bill, which has already been tabled, proposes that a local benefits test be applied to all government tenders, with consideration given to the benefits that would flow if a tender was awarded to a Tasmanian firm rather than a business from outside the state.

Mr Hodgman said Tasmanian businesses were missing out on tens of millions worth of government contracts each year.

"Tasmania needs a local benefits test to make sure we're not just getting value for money but value for the community from government contracts,'' he said.

"The Government is the biggest purchaser in dhTasmania and we need a local benefits test to harness that power to grow the economy and create jobs.''

It is understood that the Liberals would apply a discount to the overall tender for a Tasmanian business that applied, meaning a local company could still win a contract in the event that an interstate business was offering to do the work at a slightly lower cost.

The Bill also defines "local business'' as a company that is substantially based in Tasmania and has most of its workers based in Tasmania.

"[The Government] counts companies like Telstra and Corporate Express and even multi-nationals like KPMG as Tasmanian businesses simply because they have a presence in Tasmania,'' Mr Hodgman said.

"Other states already have local benefits tests. It won't restrict the Government from getting the best deal possible.

"A local benefits test will ensure that the Government will take into account the cost of sending business offshore.''

A spokesman for the Opposition said projects such as the redevelopment of the Hobart railyards and the state's rail network must result in contracts for as many local firms as possible.

blair.richards@news.com.au

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Rebels under fire

TASMANIA Police is cutting a swathe through one of the country's most infamous outlaw motorcycle clubs, arresting more than a dozen members locally as part of a nationwide crackdown.

The Rebels Motorcycle Club is being targeted across Australia as part of an until-now secret operation endorsed by the Australian Crime Commission.

Revealing the details of the operation this week, the crime commission said the Attero National taskforce aimed to target, disrupt, disable, dismantle and investigate the "criminal activity of the Rebels in Australia".

Tasmania's representative on the committee overseeing the operation, southern drug squad boss John Arnold, said the Rebels in Tasmania had strong links with some of the major players interstate.

"These people market themselves as an outlaw motorcycle club, the '1 per centers', so frankly it's difficult for anyone associated with such a club to distance themselves from the criminal activity that goes on," Det-Insp Arnold said.

"The Rebels are involved in organised crime."

Yesterday national Rebels president Alex Vella held a press conference in Sydney, telling reporters there was no organised criminal element in the club.

Mr Vella reportedly said Attero taskforce arrest figures were exaggerated, and most of the charges laid were for minor traffic violations.

The Rebels is the largest motorcycle club gang in Australia with chapters in every state and territory as well as overseas.

There are eight chapters in Tasmania comprising 50 members.

Since late last year when the operation began, Tasmania Police has arrested and charged 14 members with a variety of crimes and offences from drug trafficking down to assault and public disorder.

Before that, northern police charged more than a dozen Rebels and associates over the state's largest amphetamine trafficking operation mid-last year, temporarily disabling the club's northern operation.

The Attero taskforce comprises police from every state and territory as well as the Australian Federal Police, Australian Customs and Border Protection, the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre.

Chairman of the ACC's Serious and Organised Crime Co-ordination Centre David Hudson said the taskforce was focused on breaking the business model of the Rebels.

"There is a cost and risk of being a member of, or associated with, an OMCG and this risk becomes greater," Mr Hudson said.

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