“On Wednesday 3 December I debated the future of the Stadium. It was not an easy decision to make. Ultimately I gave my support for the Project of State Significance (Macquarie Point) Order 2025, conditional on the Government’s agreement to comprehensive safeguards designed to protect Tasmanians, and I will hold this government to account during the delivery of this project. Link to my letter to the government, and link to government’s response, both of which were tabled in Parliament on 3 December, 2025.”
COST OF LIVING BIG ISSUE IN HUON
Independent Member for Huon Dean Harriss says his re-election campaign has reinforced the message from voters that the issues of most concern to them are cost of living, access to health care, housing and public transport.
“I’ve lived in the Huon all my life. This community is my family’s home, and it’s been a privilege to represent Huon in Parliament,” Mr Harriss said.
“My priorities are the community’s priorities. They stop me in the street or at the footy and talk about the cost of living, having to wait weeks for a GP, being unable to find a house they can afford, how the fuel crisis is really hurting them, or their concerns over making sure their kids have an education that will stand them in good stead in a changing world.”
FAIR GO FOR BRUNY
Member for Huon, Dean Harriss, today urged the government to correct a glaring inequity in its free public transport policy.
Mr Harriss said that while the announcement would ease cost-of-living pressures for many Tasmanian households, he said the Bruny Island residents who needed to use the Channel ferry for work or family reasons had been effectively excluded from the scheme.
”Quite simply, it’s unfair,” Mr Harriss said.
”The transport disadvantage for people living on Bruny has long been recognised by the discount they receive on the full ticket price. Even with the existing discount it leaves them paying a considerable amount each day.
”The Government says Dodges Ferry residents will save up to $88 a week under the new free bus policy. For people travelling similar distances from Bruny, the weekly out-of-pocket expense remains significant.”
HALVE FUEL EXCISE NOW
The Independent MLC for Huon, Dean Harriss, today called for an immediate halving of fuel excise to prevent spiralling petrol prices destroying family finances.
Mr Harriss said this would cut fuel prices by more than 26 cents a litre.
Mr Harriss said with fuel prices increasing by more than 60 cents a litre over little more than two weeks, inflation outstripping earnings and banks issuing recession warnings, stressed family budgets urgently needed a circuit-breaker.
“Cost of living is the number one issue in the community today. Rising interest rates mean homeowners are struggling to pay the mortgage and are becoming increasingly unaffordable.
“The last thing they need is the massive increase that has hit fuel bills in recent weeks.”
SAND FLATHEAD
Independent Member for Huon Dean Harriss MLC, supports the call by recreational fishers for a delay to the planned sand flathead ban in south eastern waters to enable the Premier’s promised review or the proposed parliamentary inquiry to take place.
Mr Harriss said the ban announced by the Minister had blindsided recreational fishers who had been at the forefront of moves to ensure the sustainability of flathead stocks and initiated the call for a review.
“The Minister’s out-of-the-blue announcement to ban sand flathead fishing in the south east represents a complete failure of government communication with the fishing peak body on the State’s most important recreational fishery.
“The Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing (TARFish) has clearly acknowledged the issues with sand flathead stock and has supported drastic restrictions to allow stocks to recover.
“Before last year’s election TARFish wrote to the government and the opposition seeking a commitment to a review in 2026.
