Cost cuts hit bins

HOBART city streets and parks are set to lose 100 public rubbish bins in a bid to save money.

Hobart City Council's infrastructure committee has recommended their removal in a six-month trial to reduce rubbish-collection costs.

Many of the bins will disappear from bus stops.

Acting Lord Mayor Ron Christie said bins placed on bus routes for the disposal of tickets were now redundant.

The changeover from paper to electronic ticketing meant the bins remained empty, Alderman Christie said.

Bins clustered around the city were also on the council's hit list.

"There are six bins on the corner of Argyle and Collins streets and eight bins in Cornelian Bay Park," Ald Christie said.

"We don't need that many bins in the one spot."

The review also recommended a six-month trial of halving weekend waste collection from city bins to one day.

Ald Christie said council staff would monitor the amount of rubbish left during the six-month trial.

He said the council would save $300,000 by reducing its kerbside rubbish collection from weekly to fortnightly but that move was described as a "highly emotive issue" and too costly to implement.

Under that arrangement, all 120-litre bins would be upgraded to 240-litre if a fortnightly collection went ahead, Ald Christie said.

"The council would not even entertain it because it would cost us $1.2 billion," he said.

As well, larger families had concerns about the fortnightly collections.

"You leave rubbish out for two weeks it tends to go off a bit," he said.

The recommendations will go before the council for consideration at its meeting on Monday, April 15.

Public litter bin and weekly kerbside collection costs the council $2.4 million a year.

Meanwhile, Hobart City Council is monitoring neighbouring Glenorchy City Council's fortnightly rubbish collections.

jennifer.crawley@news.com.au

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Lowndes happy with 90

CRAIG Lowndes is on the verge of a record-equalling 90th V8 supercar win today but he has something bigger on his mind at Symmons Plains today - don't stuff up the start.

After setting the fastest time in official practice yesterday, Lowndes is the man to beat going into qualifying for the opening race of round two of the Australian V8 Supercar championship today and tomorrow.

Lowndes lapped Symmons in 51.3794sec yesterday, with Red Bull Racing teammate Jamie Whincup's Commodore and Fabian Coulthard's Lockwood Commodore a blink of an eye behind.

If Lowndes continues his sizzling pace and grabs pole today, he believes the rolling start the first in V8 supercar history will be a challenge in itself.

"It could easily be stuffed up," he said yesterday.

"We had a practice at Eastern Creek and that was a bit of a calamity.

"And that was with only 16 cars, because some teams didn't want to take part."

Race one today is a 25-lap sprint race, with only a 15-minute break before race two, which will get away under a rolling start.

The RBR drivers have been studying the rules and running through the scenario given they are two contenders for pole.

"The rules are unbelievably clear, so if someone stuffs it up they should get a penalty," Whincup said.

The top 10 in practice were all Holdens, except for Mark Winterbottom's Ford Falcon in seventh place.

Only two Fords were faster than the best of the newcomers Mercedes-Benz and Nissan - Lee Holdsworth's Mercedes E63 AMG in 15th.

The other Mercedes and Nissans struggled on the time sheets because they could not match the Commodores and Falcons down the long main straight.

Should Lowndes win this weekend he will join his former Bathurst-winning teammate Mark Skaife on 90 race victories.

"I'm more excited about it than nervous," he said.

"But everyone's been talking about it, so it would be nice to get it over and done with and get on with it.

"It would be fantastic to do it here, but if it doesn't happen this weekend I'll look toward New Zealand next weekend."

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Libs vow state won't lose GST

TASMANIANS have no need to fear losing GST revenue under a Coalition government, Malcolm Turnbull says.

The senior Liberal MP was responding to renewed concerns the state would lose up to $600 million under changes to GST distribution if Tony Abbott won office.

"Tasmania will be absolutely no worse off in terms of the GST. That is a given," Mr Turnbull said.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett is determined to get a better deal for his state and this week revealed he had been talking to Mr Abbott about possible changes to GST distribution.

Federal Finance Minister Penny Wong said the Liberal plan could rip up to $600 million from the Tasmanian economy.

But Mr Turnbull, who was in Launceston yesterday, said the fears were misplaced.

"Tasmanians have nothing to fear from a Coalition government in terms of GST," he said.

Mr Turnbull, the Opposition communications and broadband spokesman, hinted Tasmanians might end up with two-speed broadband.

He said if the Coalition won the election, areas still without the national broadband network would be provided with a lower cost version, using existing copper wires between homes and exchanges.

About 15,000 Tasmanian households already have NBN fibre optic cables at their doorsteps.

Mr Turnbull said he would announce the Coalition's broadband policy soon.

It is understood that the Coalition's "more affordable" alternative would be slower than the Government's fibre-to-the-home.

Households and businesses in areas where the NBN is yet to be rolled out are likely to pay extra if they want fibre-to-the-home installation.

Mr Turnbull said existing fibre rollouts in Sorell, Scottsdale, Smithton, George Town, St Helens, Triabunna, Kingston Beach, South Hobart and parts of Launceston would be retained.

"If it's in place, it's in place," he said.

"I know Julia Gillard has come down here and said that Tony Abbott and I are going to come down here and tear up the cables ... presumably with our teeth ... that's just a complete nonsense," he said.

Mr Turnbull said the upside was that the Coalition would complete its broadband rollout a lot more quickly and at a lot less cost than Labor's plan.

He said a cheaper rollout, also expected to involve competition between NBNco and other telcos, would be cheaper for users to access.

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Leaking sewer pipe to blame

Contamination of Barilla Bay's Dunalley oyster bed has been blamed on a leaking sewer pipe.

A LEAKING sewage line under the Denison Canal at Dunalley has been blamed for contaminating oysters and causing widespread food poisoning.

The number of people who have suffered gastroenteritis after eating contaminated oysters from Barilla Bay has reached about 200, with fears the illness has spread to Queensland as well as Victoria.

Harvesting of oysters from the lease at Dunalley Bay has stopped.

Questions have been raised about the issue of sewage in Tasmania, including a new rule that allows Dunalley home builders to send effluent into settling ponds rather than first into septic tanks.

Public Health director Roscoe Taylor said Sorell Council inspectors had injected dye into a pipe running into the bay from a private property.

"As a precautionary measure, there's a further oyster lease about 2km out to sea, which we've today advised the owner to shut," Dr Taylor said.

The leak was not far from the oysters believed to have been contaminated by human waste containing norovirus.

Dr Taylor said the pipe – which has been plugged – was likely to be more than a decade old and may have been damaged by a boat or anchor.

Barilla Bay owns the main lease affected as well as oysters in Pitt Water that were closed as a precaution last week after a different sewage spill.

If tests give the all-clear, Barilla Bay could be selling oysters free of health concerns within days.

Results from Pitt Water testing may be available today.

Dr Taylor said the pipe was almost certainly the cause at Dunalley, although he could not rule out other sewage overflows.

It was still important to grapple with the issue of boats dumping waste overboard, he said.

About 100 cases of oyster-related illness had been reported in Tasmania and 80 or more in Victoria, while Queensland was on alert in case it received contaminated oysters.

Many victims had been treated in hospital with intravenous hydration.

Barilla Bay general manager Justin Goc said the company had not considered legal action.

Mr Goc said at least the company could be confident its production methods had not fallen down in any way, but that it had been hit by external contamination.

Dr Taylor said the business had been wise in acting quickly to voluntarily recall products.

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Gas main ruptures

FIREFIGHTERS are on site at Patrick St, North Hobart, after the smell of gas was detected shortly after 11.30am.

Senior station officer Andrew McGuinness said crews had located a broken gas main and were working to determine what had caused the rupture.

There is no immediate threat to surrounding homes or businesses but people are advised to stay clear of the area until the situation is resolved.

Workplace Standards is investigating.

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Man dies in farewell surf

A Hobart man died while surfing at Greens Beach yesterday afternoon, the day before he was due to leave for a job in Western Australia.

A HOBART surfer who took a farewell surf with a local mate yesterday failed to make it out of the water.

The 30-year-old had been staying with a friend in Smithton and was due to leave Tasmania for Western Australia today.

Tasmania Police said the man got into difficulty while surfing off Greens Beach at Marrawah about 5pm.

A Greens Beach resident said he had spotted the man floating face down in the water.

He and his son got the surfer out of the water and tried to revive him but to no avail.

"We live right on the beach," said the resident, who did not want to be named.

"We saw the guy face down and got him to shore to try and revive him.

"We did all we could -- what anyone would do in the situation -- but sadly it was too late."

Tasmania Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and a report was being prepared for the Coroner.

Marrawah is renowned for its wild surf but Greens Beach is regarded as one of the safest spots to surf in the area.

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Minister breaks rank on Metro

WORKPLACE Relations Minister David O'Byrne has broken ranks with his Cabinet colleagues, saying he does not support the shutdown today of the public transport system by Metro Tasmania.

Commuters around the state are bracing for a day of major disruptions as all bus services today are cancelled.

Services before 9.45am tomorrow will also be disrupted.

The industrial action by Metro will affect about 38,000 passengers on the day when Tasmanian schools return from the Easter holiday break.

How was your trip into town today?
Tell us your experience via the comments box below.

Mr O'Byrne yesterday said he was opposed to Metro's decision to lock out workers today and said his concerns were shared by other members of Cabinet, who want the row resolved.

"I don't support the actions of Metro in standing workers down on Thursday," Mr O'Bryne said.

"I think they really need to get back to the table to work constructively with the union and I would call on the union to work constructively with Metro to find a resolution.

"I think there's some concern around the cabinet table about this ongoing dispute."

Unions Tasmania secretary Kevin Harkins said he was grateful for Mr O'Byrne's support of Metro workers.

"I'm very encouraged by the support of Minister O'Byrne.

It would indicate that [Sustainable Transport Minister] Nick McKim is on a loser with this one."

Rail, Tram and Bus Union Branch state secretary Samantha Simonetis also welcomed Mr O'Byrne's support.

Despite warnings from Metro to stay away, many drivers are expected to turn up at depots today, with the largest number expected at the company's Springfield depot at Moonah.

Ms Simonetis said her members would decide today what steps to take next in the industrial campaign.

"We'll find out exactly what they want to do.

They're pretty angry.

Tempers are running high," she said.

"I didn't think it would come to this, but it has.

Metro has shown its true colours."

Bus drivers are seeking a 3 per cent pay increase, while Metro is offering 2.1 per cent.

The company has said it could not afford to increase the pay offer without savings elsewhere or productivity gains.

The rise would cost Metro about $200,000 a year.

The company's financial statements for 2011-12 reveal it has $3.8 million cash in the bank, up from $2.8 million the year before.

Liberal party MP Vanessa Goodwin yesterday laid the blame for the dispute directly at the feet of Mr McKim.

"Nick McKim has failed as a minister. He has failed to fix the prison system, he's failed to act on the bus dispute and he has failed to improve our education outcomes," she said.

"These are all major issues.

"Nick McKim is only interested in shutting down the forestry industry and implementing his radical social agenda."

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Oysters recalled as 60 fall sick

SIXTY people have fallen ill after eating contaminated oysters.

All oysters produced by Barilla Bay Seafoods have been recalled from the market after health authorities pinpointed the outbreak yesterday.

People who ate the oysters were infected by norovirus, a common cause of gastroenteritis.

None was hospitalised over the Easter weekend but some saw doctors and went to the Royal Hobart emergency department.

It is the second incidence of contaminated oysters in southern Tasmania in a week, but health authorities say the two cases are a coincidence.

They say the contamination is not related to shellfish from Pitt Water, which was closed last week because of a sewage spill.

Oysters Tasmania spokesman Tom Lewis said the two recalls were a coincidence.

"To our knowledge there is no connection," Dr Lewis said.

Barilla Bay Oysters general manager Justin Goc said the company was working closely with the Public Health Director Dr Roscoe Taylor.

"We apologise to the public for inconvenience caused and the public will be informed on developments," Mr Goc said.

The public is asked to dispose of any Barilla Bay Oysters bought from its retail outlet on or before last Sunday or Mures Lower Deck between last Thursday and Saturday.

No products from the award-winning oyster company have been sold by Mures Lower Deck since Saturday.

Dr Taylor said the Barilla Bay oysters were harvested at lease 113 in Dunalley on the Hobart side of the Denison Canal.

He said a survey of the area would be done today in an attempt to find the source of the contamination.

"If people still have Barilla Bay produce in their fridge they should discard it," he said.

People should also not collect and eat wild shellfish.

Why shellfish can become deadly

AN adult oyster filters and cleans up to 190 litres of water a day.

They swallow algae, and remove dirt and nitrogen pollution.

Sometimes during the filtering process, bacteria can trigger norovirus which remains in the oyster.

Eating shellfish infected with a norovirus can lead to food poisoning with vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Noroviruses are the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans.

The disease is usually self-limiting and severe illness is rare but it can lead to blood infections of people with compromised immune systems – especially those with chronic liver disease – and can cause severe and life-threatening reactions.

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It's Police Academy II

The last round of police recruits from 2011 marching on the parade grounds during their graduation ceremony. Picture: KIM EISZELE

TASMANIA Police hopefuls will get their first chance in two years to boost the force with a new graduate program.

The scheme's announcement is expected within weeks.

The State Government has been under fire for failing to offer a police recruitment course for two years.

But government sources have confirmed the imminent announcement of a new course for this year.

Police Minister David O'Byrne was yesterday tightlipped about any intake.

But the Mercury understands the deal was signed off two weeks ago – a week before the issue became the focus of media attention when the Tasmania Police Association called on the Government to again fund a graduate intake.

State Government budget cuts stopped recruitment in 2011.

Government sources have told the Mercury, however, that money will be found to restore policing levels to 1120 officers within the next 12 months.

Any funding would allow for 20 new graduate police recruits, or possibly more, to allow for natural attrition of Tasmania Police officers.

The training course runs for about eight months.

Police Association of Tasmania president Pat Allen remained cautious last night about any possible recruitment announcement.

"We welcome anything that puts more (police officer) numbers on the frontline," he said.

"But I am very cautious that the course needs to be fully funded, including the cost to keep a constable in the job.

"I am very guarded. I want to see how well funded it is."

Mr Allen said the first he had heard about the new course intake was when the Mercury contacted him for comment last night.

He said it was important any new course for graduate police did not come at a cost to the rest of the department.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

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'Thwarted' prison boss departs

THE high-profile prison boss headhunted from the United Kingdom to help turn around the operations at Risdon Prison has left the job just over a year into his five-year contract.

Tension between the old and new guard at the jail is understood to have been at the centre of the departure of prison boss, Risdon Prison Complex director Barry Greenberry.

The Department of Justice has recently signed off on a contract ending Mr Greenberry's employment.

He had been given a mandate to reform the state's prison system when he was handed the role last year.

Details of the agreement are expected to be confidential, but prison sources say Mr Greenberry, who was on an annual salary of about $180,000, would have to have been paid out at least part of his five-year contract.

Mr Greenberry has been on extended stress leave since late January after tensions between Mr Greenberry and Department of Justice management reached an untenable position in the early New Year.

And an internal investigation by the department, including a litany of complaints against Mr Greenberry, is believed to have been the final straw for the prison director.

Prison sources say the claims were primarily dominated by complaints from established prison management unhappy with the changes Mr Greenberry wanted to make at the prison, including a number of instances when he instigated changes without first informing managers below him.

The Mercury understands Mr Greenberry became increasingly frustrated at an inability to have direct contact with Corrections Minister Nick McKim and an increasing sense he was being undermined by established prison and departmental staff.

Long-time prison reform advocate, co-convener of the Prison Advisory Service and Mercury columnist Greg Barns said yesterday Mr Greenberry would be a huge loss to the system.

"Mr Greenberry has been a much-needed addition to the system who has been thwarted by forces in Tasmania who do not want to see the Risdon Prison Complex transformed," Mr Barns said.

"Mr Greenberry's commitment to the best treatment of prisoners was second to none. It is a tragic loss to prison reform."

Mr Barns said he had tried to contact Mr McKim about the challenges facing Mr Greenberry.

"What is most disappointing is the abject failure of Mr McKim to intervene. I had a number of contacts with Mr McKim's office and was stonewalled."

Mr Greenberry and inaugural change manager Brian Edwards were both employed in 2012 in a bid to turn around the culture in the prison that had been the subject of more than a decade of damning reports and inquiries looking into the management, operating procedures and infrastructure at the prison.

Mr Greenberry's resume includes the establishment of a prison on the Isle of Wight, housing 1700 prisoners with a staff of 900.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

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Men answering the Avon call

AVON is still calling but not as you might once have known it.

Avon has been delivering cosmetics to Tasmanian homes for 50 years.

In the early days, Avon representatives were almost exclusively women or "Avon ladies" as they were affectionately known.

But today husbands are teaming up with wives to run Avon businesses and few people raise a plucked eyebrow when a man delivers the goods or catalogues.

In fact, the first "Avon lady" to knock on a door to sell cosmetics was a bloke.

It was 1886, and struggling New York door-to-door salesman David McConnell decided he would do better selling perfumes than selling books.

Avon started operating in Australia in 1963 and is still the top direct-selling company in the nation.

Hobart Avon representative Frayne Higgins teamed up with his wife Jo-Anne to sell cosmetics 11 years ago.

He enjoys the job and says he has never been ribbed by other men for selling cosmetics.

"Also, I never run out of shampoo or deodorant," he said this week before making deliveries in Hobart.

"The No.1 sales team in Australia is a husband and wife.

"There is another man selling Avon full-time in Southern Tasmania and a number of smaller operators starting out around the state."

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Plea to drivers after deaths

Police at the site of a road fatality at Otago Bay yesterday morning. A 51-year-old Old Beach woman was killed in the single-vehicle crash. Pictures: SAM ROSEWARNE

MOTORISTS returning home from Easter holidays are being warned to take extra care after a horror 12 hours on Tasmanian roads.

A 25-year-old Huonville man and a 51-year-old Old Beach woman were dead yesterday after separate road crashes in the state's South.

The deaths took the state's road toll to eight – up from six at the same time last year.

Tasmania Police Southern District Supervision Inspector Adrian Bodnar said police were devastated by the fatalities after a fatality-free Easter last year.

The senior officer urged drivers to take a break today and tomorrow as they returned from Easter trips.

"It is really important people slow down, that they obey road rules and they drive to the conditions," Insp Bodnar said.

"Tomorrow there will be driver reviver stations around the state.

"If people on long journeys are starting to feel a bit tired, pull over and take that 15 minutes to have a break."

He said the Operation Crossroads police blitz would continue today and tomorrow.

"I would encourage people not to take the risk.

If you have had too much to drink – simply don't drive," he said.

About 6.30am yesterday the Old Beach woman lost control of her Hyundai Tucson on the East Derwent Highway in Otago Bay with police indicating the vehicle rolled at least once.

The woman, the sole occupant of the vehicle, died at the scene.

Nine hours earlier the Huonville man, riding an unregistered motorcycle without a helmet in the rain, lost control at speed and hit a concrete bridge at Lonnavale in the Huon Valley, south of Hobart.

Operation Crossroads statistics yesterday showed more than 50 people had been nabbed in the Easter blitz for alcohol-related offences including 17 on Saturday night.

Tasmania Police Inspector Darren Hopkins said younger motorists appeared to be behaving themselves more than their elders when it came to drink-driving.

Police were yesterday seeking witnesses for both fatal crashes.

Insp Bodnar said speed and alcohol appeared to be factors in the motorcycle crash on a secluded dirt road in Lonnavale, near Geeveston.

Insp Bodnar said people with the man at the time had spoken to police.

Speed did not appear to be a factor in the Otago Bay crash, he said.

"At this stage there are a number of scenarios," he said.

Police believe the woman lost control while negotiating a right-hand bend north of Murtons Rd.

State Emergency Service volunteers will run Driver Reviver stations today at Parramatta Creek north of Elizabeth Town, St Peters Pass north of Oatlands, Fossey River on the West Coast and Franklin River on the Lyell Highway.

The national Easter road toll is already well above last year's total.

By late Easter Sunday afternoon, 15 people had died on the roads.

The deaths push the road toll higher than last year's total of 11 and equal to the final 2011 Easter toll.

In Victoria there have been three Easter road deaths, four in Queensland, three in South Australia, two in NSW and one in Western Australia.

OPERATION CROSSROADS

• Total random breath tests conducted: 18,820 (14,503 last year)
• Persons charged with alcohol-related driving offences: 53 (52 last year)
• Drug tests conducted: 36 (26 last year)• Positive drug tests: 5 (6 last year)
• Infringement notices issued (speeding): 486 (534 last year)
• Vehicle confiscated/clamped: 6 (8 last year)

matthew.smith@news.com.au

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Wildlife disaster action plan bid

THE loss of wildlife in Tasmania's summer bushfires is driving the push for a statewide emergency response unit.

Over the past 12 months, Southern Wildlife Rescue & Care has been working with emergency organisations and government departments to create a standard operating procedure in line with Victorian protocols.

Group secretary Rachel Meyers said the devastation caused by fires at Dunalley and Molesworth has proved the need for a strategy that will allow wildlife carers to work in a response, rather than recovery, category.

Rather than waiting until weeks after the event, the protocols would allow rescuers to respond much earlier, working alongside other emergency personnel.

The unit has more than 150 volunteers from a variety of backgrounds including retired nurses, wildlife carers and vets.

"With properly trained personnel and the right tools, we feel the wildlife emergency response unit will assist the emergency services to do their job," Ms Meyers said.

"It makes our effort easier by treating animals quickly and handing on to vets for specialised care."

The group is developing a mobile triage unit that it hopes will be ready before next summer. The trailer will be the first of its kind in the state and will act as a first-aid station for the rescuers.

"This trailer will help to rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife with a safe, efficient and timely response that will ensure a higher rate of survival," Ms Meyers said.

When not in use in a disaster the trailer will be used as an educational tool.

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Wildlife disaster action plan bid

THE loss of wildlife in Tasmania's summer bushfires is driving the push for a statewide emergency response unit.

Over the past 12 months, Southern Wildlife Rescue & Care has been working with emergency organisations and government departments to create a standard operating procedure in line with Victorian protocols.

Group secretary Rachel Meyers said the devastation caused by fires at Dunalley and Molesworth has proved the need for a strategy that will allow wildlife carers to work in a response, rather than recovery, category.

Rather than waiting until weeks after the event, the protocols would allow rescuers to respond much earlier, working alongside other emergency personnel.

The unit has more than 150 volunteers from a variety of backgrounds including retired nurses, wildlife carers and vets.

"With properly trained personnel and the right tools, we feel the wildlife emergency response unit will assist the emergency services to do their job," Ms Meyers said.

"It makes our effort easier by treating animals quickly and handing on to vets for specialised care."

The group is developing a mobile triage unit that it hopes will be ready before next summer. The trailer will be the first of its kind in the state and will act as a first-aid station for the rescuers.

"This trailer will help to rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife with a safe, efficient and timely response that will ensure a higher rate of survival," Ms Meyers said.

When not in use in a disaster the trailer will be used as an educational tool.

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Men answering the Avon call

AVON is still calling but not as you might once have known it.

Avon has been delivering cosmetics to Tasmanian homes for 50 years.

In the early days, Avon representatives were almost exclusively women or "Avon ladies" as they were affectionately known.

But today husbands are teaming up with wives to run Avon businesses and few people raise a plucked eyebrow when a man delivers the goods or catalogues.

In fact, the first "Avon lady" to knock on a door to sell cosmetics was a bloke.

It was 1886, and struggling New York door-to-door salesman David McConnell decided he would do better selling perfumes than selling books.

Avon started operating in Australia in 1963 and is still the top direct-selling company in the nation.

Hobart Avon representative Frayne Higgins teamed up with his wife Jo-Anne to sell cosmetics 11 years ago.

He enjoys the job and says he has never been ribbed by other men for selling cosmetics.

"Also, I never run out of shampoo or deodorant," he said this week before making deliveries in Hobart.

"The No.1 sales team in Australia is a husband and wife.

"There is another man selling Avon full-time in Southern Tasmania and a number of smaller operators starting out around the state."

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Men answering the Avon call

AVON is still calling but not as you might once have known it.

Avon has been delivering cosmetics to Tasmanian homes for 50 years.

In the early days, Avon representatives were almost exclusively women or "Avon ladies" as they were affectionately known.

But today husbands are teaming up with wives to run Avon businesses and few people raise a plucked eyebrow when a man delivers the goods or catalogues.

In fact, the first "Avon lady" to knock on a door to sell cosmetics was a bloke.

It was 1886, and struggling New York door-to-door salesman David McConnell decided he would do better selling perfumes than selling books.

Avon started operating in Australia in 1963 and is still the top direct-selling company in the nation.

Hobart Avon representative Frayne Higgins teamed up with his wife Jo-Anne to sell cosmetics 11 years ago.

He enjoys the job and says he has never been ribbed by other men for selling cosmetics.

"Also, I never run out of shampoo or deodorant," he said this week before making deliveries in Hobart.

"The No.1 sales team in Australia is a husband and wife.

"There is another man selling Avon full-time in Southern Tasmania and a number of smaller operators starting out around the state."

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