August 10, 2025

Speaking out again

Speaking out again


During the campaign for the election we didn’t need to have, Tasmanian Greens’ candidates were asked to refrain from speaking out on social media, or writing letters to editors. It was frustrating, but given the extent of the vitriol directed towards the Greens - from both major parties – it was understandable. It’s likely other candidates from the blue and red sides were given similar directives. Politics can be a nasty business and digging dirt on people has unfortunately become par for the course.


But the campaign over, and the likelihood of a stable government for the next four years looking rocky (pun intended) I’ve been able to resume writing letters to editors expressing my opinion on the bizarre, stubborn intransigence of both Tasmanian leaders of the Liberals and Labor. Neither have seemed willing to recognise control of a majority government was akin to a political game of ping pong, flipping from one party to the other, are well and truly over.

Such was the context of versions of my recent letter which won the publishing trifecta, being printed in The Mercury, online in Tasmanian Times, and in the Subscriber Only newsletter from Independent Australia, all on the same day. It remains to be seen if mine, and a heap of other similar letters, will make a skerrick of difference. We can only hope.

https://tasmaniantimes.com/2025/08/letters-to-the-editor-34/

Rockliff isn’t delivering what Tasmania voted for

“Tasmania’s Acting Premier Rockliff recently claimed he “respects the will of the people”. If he genuinely respected the will of the people, he would park his arrogant, elitist attitude at the door of Parliament House.

What he should be doing is discussing how the next four years of our parliament will work — with all our elected MPs. A little humility wouldn’t go astray either, since Mr Rockliff also needs to remember that despite that clutch of 14 seats he holds in the blue corner, they don’t represent the majority of Tasmanian voters. Around 60 per cent of them didn’t vote Liberal.


So this “mandate” Rockliff is also claiming to have is a fiction. “Mandate” has to be the most overused – and misused – word in the political lexicon.


Mr Rockliff doesn't have a mandate. Nobody does. Tasmanians elected an interesting and colourful mix to represent them, one that’s even more colourful and interesting than those elected last year. It could and should be seen as a recipe for optimism and positive change.


Rockliff also needs to seriously reflect on the fact that most Tasmanians voted for candidates that were either Independent, Green or Labor, so it’s pretty obvious they’re sick of a choice of either blue or red. They want a different recipe, one with more spice, more ideas and more vision for our island’s future.


Arguably, the only “mandate” from this election is that Tasmanians expect all of those 35 elected MPs to work together, to form an open, transparent and functional parliament, as well as a collaborative government that recognises the talents and skills of each MP.


Tasmanians want and need a government that lasts four years and doesn't succumb again to self-interest and entitlement, or to the political tantrums that have characterised the recent behaviour of a couple of egotistical, ego-driven men.” (IA – 7th August 2025)

 

 

 

 

 


Share this post on socials

Badger the beagle

The secrecy around toxicity testing on animals

By Anne Layton-Bennett • August 4, 2026
An Animals Australia article that highlights the use of toxicity testing of chemicals on animals is still being done around the globe.

Finding a publisher could be getting closer

By Anne Layton-Bennett • July 22, 2026
Attracting the interest of a publisher for this story of a community’s campaign to stop what would have been ‘the world’s fourth largest pulp mill’ being built was never going to be easy, but hoping the first of two 3-minute Literary Speed Dating pitch sessions will prompt at least one of the two publishers to request the full MSS. And preferably both of them. These twice-yearly Perfect Pitch sessions are offered to members of the Australian Society of Authors, and this is the first time I’ve taken advantage of them – mainly because of the need to have a completed MSS before doing so. Three minutes isn’t long to excite the interest of a publisher who is after stories in very specific genres, and who therefore needs to believe your MSS is worth investing the time needed to read it in full. I’m pretty certain I’ve excited the necessary interest, but given Jane will hear the pitches of many more optimistic and talented writers after my morning session today, there are no guarantees. That initial interest might well wane as the day goes on if other writers have written stories that sound far more intriguing – and marketable. One can never forget that aspect of publishing these days: will the book sell. I believe my story will – certainly in Tasmania it definitely will – but a wider Australian readership? That’s an unknown even if my mentor is convinced of the story’s universal appeal.  I’d certainly like to think I’ve caught the zeitgeist wave given the current widespread community unrest over AI data centres, that’s already prompting similar serious opposition, and for many of the same reasons the Tamar Valley’s community opposed the pulp mill. Environmental degradation, threats to public health, water usage – and water shortages in an era of escalating climate extremes – and the constant, relentless noise factor that’s associated with data centres, and AI data centres in particular. I’m crossing my fingers that the second pitch session will be equally positive, and that I could strike it lucky with both publishers requesting to see the full MSS. But I won’t get ahead of myself. I’ll just be keeping all fingers and toes firmly crossed for the next seven days.
Magni

Fiona's gift

By Anne Layton-Bennett • June 14, 2026
It’s taken far too many months for this marvellous model to grace the dedicated desk space in my office. When Fiona comes to visit next she will be very surprised, and hopefully gratified, that her amazing creative talent is finally on display. We’ve known each other for a very long time, and during the insanely busy time when I was helping to run the flower farm, working part-time in a school library, doing a spot of journalism on the side, and fighting the proposed pulp mill that is the subject of the manuscript I’m hoping to get published, Fiona cleaned my house each week. There’s only so much a person can do after all, and it has to be said cleaning our house during those manic years was fairly low down on the list of my priorities. But Fiona is a woman of many talents and she certainly possesses one that I so don’t have: sewing and dressmaking. So over the years she’s also made a few garments based on the pattern of a favourite garment that I was particularly fond of, and she’s also done some clothing alterations for both of us. My skills with needles and thread are limited to sewing on buttons, and taking up hems on John’s too-long pairs of jeans. Anything else is beyond me. But this fabulous model is the pièce de résistance – along with the beautiful crocheted knee warmer she gave me last year. This was when winter was approaching and so determined was I to finish writing the book, I decided to get out of bed at the insane hour of 5am and get in a solid hour’s writing in before dog walking and the demands of the day took over. Fiona was also one of many Tasmanians who needed to be circumspect about her opinion of the pulp mill. It was a project that polarised people, including families and friendships. She was one of several who passed on snippets of useful information, but on the basis of anonymity so it couldn’t be sheeted home to her.  Needless to say Fiona will be one of those whose contribution will be acknowledged – when this book is finally accepted by a publisher.

Latest from my blog...