Federal election - how we voted in the Valley

THE Australian Electoral Commission has made available the provisional polling place figures from Saturday's Federal Election. Results from local polling booths follow.

BRONTE
NOYES, Lucas (Secular Party of Australia) 2     
HUTCHINSON, Eric Russell (Liberal) 31    
ADAMS, Dick (Australian Labor Party) 38 
CASSIDY, Karen Frances (Australian Greens) 7
(Informal 9)

DROMEDARY
NOYES, Lucas 4
HUTCHINSON, Eric 85
ADAMS, Dick 200
CASSIDY, Karen 49
(Informal 18)

ELLENDALE
NOYES, Lucas 3
HUTCHINSON, Eric 59
ADAMS, Dick 61
CASSIDY, Karen 36
(Informal 6)

GLENORA
NOYES, Lucas 3
HUTCHINSON, Eric 47
ADAMS, Dick 119
CASSIDY, Karen 28
(Informal 7)

GRANTON
NOYES, Lucas 7
HUTCHINSON, Eric 125
ADAMS, Dick 226
CASSIDY, Karen 69
(Informal 15)

GRETNA
NOYES, Lucas 5
HUTCHINSON, Eric 67
ADAMS, Dick 81
CASSIDY, Karen 25
(Informal 11)

HAMILTON
NOYES, Lucas 1
HUTCHINSON, Eric 48
ADAMS, Dick 58
CASSIDY, Karen 19
(Informal 5)

LACHLAN
NOYES, Lucas 5
HUTCHINSON, Eric 71
ADAMS, Dick 217
CASSIDY, Karen 100
(Informal 19)

MAGRA
NOYES, Lucas 6
HUTCHINSON, Eric 122
ADAMS, Dick 318
CASSIDY, Karen 44
(Informal 43)

MAYDENA
NOYES, Lucas 3
HUTCHINSON, Eric 30
ADAMS, Dick 84
CASSIDY, Karen 29
(Informal 15)

MOLESWORTH
NOYES, Lucas 5
HUTCHINSON, Eric 106
ADAMS, Dick 120
CASSIDY, Karen 77
(Informal 14)

NEW NORFOLK
NOYES, Lucas 36
HUTCHINSON, Eric 402
ADAMS, Dick 1,059
CASSIDY, Karen 27
(Informal 111)

NEW NORFOLK NORTH
NOYES, Lucas 24
HUTCHINSON, Eric 254
ADAMS, Dick 866
CASSIDY, Karen 116
(Informal 113)

OUSE
NOYES, Lucas 7
HUTCHINSON, Eric 80
ADAMS, Dick 92
CASSIDY, Karen 16
(Informal 13)

WESTERWAY
NOYES, Lucas 4
HUTCHINSON, Eric 62
ADAMS, Dick 96
CASSIDY, Karen 33
(Informal 9)

A post about nothing

AT last night's Derwent Valley Council meeting I asked Mayor Martyn Evans a question without notice on the topic of the Federal Election, seeking to find out what commitments the major parties had made to the Derwent Valley. The answer was short and painfully clear:

None.

The mayor expanded: No GP super-clinic as offered elsewhere. No "fair go" for our southern roads nor an upgrade for the Plenty Valley Link Rd. In fact, nothing at all.

Think about that when you vote tomorrow.

Boutique brewer wants a fair go

THE operators of New Norfolk micro-brewing business The Two Metre Tall Company have called on local Federal Labor MP Dick Adams to ensure a "fair go" for small beer producers.

In a letter sent today to Mr Adams, other politicians and the media, Ashley and Jane Huntington say brewing businesses are practically untenable due to the way the Federal Government taxes beer.

"Today, whilst there are close to 150 small, independent breweries in operation across the nation, the actual number is in continuous flux with many operations closing as fast as they open largely due to the oppressive taxation conditions applied to brewers – and, in particular, to small brewers - by the Federal Government," Mr and Mrs Huntington said in their letter.

The couple say that while wineries have flourished throughout Tasmania and Australia thanks to favourable tax arrangements, breweries remain encumbered by century-old excise arrangements that require them to pay tax of up to 30% - in advance. "The Federal Government removes, in cash, between 25-30% of the revenue a small brewing business earns on the Monday after the product is dispatched to a customer, which can be up to 120 days before the business actually receives payment for these goods.

"The Federal Government, therefore, is by far the largest liability a small brewery business will have, and it is a liability which requires cash, requires it as soon as the transaction occurs and requires it regardless of the capacity of a business to pay and regardless of whether the business has received the proceeds of the taxable transaction. It is brutal, it is policed and it – like no other liability in business – comes with the threat of criminal sanction for anything other than strict adherence."

The couple said that if their business produced wine, instead of beer, and invested and traded at the same rate it had done so far, they would have been profitable in their second year of operation, would now be in a position to have two full-time staff on the payroll (and a third during this financial year) and they would be paying company tax.

All Lyons and Tasmanian senate candidates are invited to comment on this matter.

Conduct panel decision appealed

I HAVE today been advised that Mr Ian Brown of Clarendon Vale has appealed against the decision of the Derwent Valley Council Code of Conduct Panel in relation to the complaint lodged by him on February 11. The Standards Panel of the Local Government Association advises that it has 90 days to hear and decide on the appeal.


Comments will not be published until this matter is concluded.

Candidate contacts

OUR electorate of Lyons is playing practically no role in the Federal Election, despite there being many issues of concern both locally in the Derwent Valley and throughout the electorate as a whole. Who and where are our candidates? Why are they seeking election? What do they have to say?

As voters it is our right and responsibility to know what our candidates stand for, so here are their contact details as listed on the Australian Electoral Commission website. Note: Mr Noyes has provided additional contact details, while Ms Cassidy provides none.

Lucas Noyes - Secular Party of Australia
Mobile: 0418 654 773
Email: lucasnoyes@iinet.net.au
Twitter: @lucasnoyes
Skype: lucas.noyes

Eric Hutchinson - Liberal Party
PO Box 83, Evandale 7212
Mobil:e 0447 777 251
Email: eric.hutchinson@tas.liberal.org.au


Dick Adams MHR - Australian Labor Party
PO Box 50, Perth 7300
Phone (work): 6398 1115
Email: D.Adams.MP@aph.gov.au


Karen Cassidy - Australian Greens

Ms Cassidy does not provide any contact details via the AEC, but you can read about her campaign here: http://greens.org.au/Lyons

All candidates are welcome to provide profiles for publication here as we enter the last fortnight of the campaign - a reminder that these must be authorised in accordance with the Electoral Act. A reminder also that election comments posted to this blog must include your given name, surname and locality. That's the law folks.

Election promises update

AT the end of the week when Willow Court was the only major Tasmanian convict site NOT to gain World Heritage listing, it's worth checking the state of play in regard to Federal Election commitments made to the preservation and restoration of Willow Court:

• Labor: minus $750,000 (Promised at the 2007 election & withdrawn last year due to council inaction)
• Liberal/National: Nil

Five projects recommended for federal funds

I have been advised that the council has submitted the following proposals for consideration under the third round of the Federal Government's Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, which closed last Friday afternoon.

Magra CWA – Upgrade entrance to the New Norfolk Swimming Pool ($15,000)

Molesworth Recreation Ground – Development of children’s playground ($6000)

Dorothy Robinson – Commemorative Wall at Arthur Square ($11,000)

Len Butterworth – Fishing rest at Glenora Road ($20,000)

Martyn Evans – Wetlands and Walking Track upgrade ($37,000)

While I am on record as being concerned about the mayor's procedure for selecting the projects to be submitted for funding, I must thank the mayor for agreeing to my proposal to seek public input, which resulted in 13 suggestions being received, in addition to the mayor's own proposal for the Wetlands and Walking Track. 

The remaining suggestions, and the general manager's comments, were as follows:

Molesworth Community Carers – Upgrade entrance on the corner of Molesworth and Collins Cap Rd (consider budget 2011/2012)

Derwent Valley Field and Game – Access road improvements (consider budget 2011/12)

New Norfolk Golf Club – Kitchen upgrade

Jessica Warren – Burnett St removal of planter boxes and sealing

Jessica Warren – High Street Mall (Burnett to Charles St)

Jessica Warren – Improve public toilets (make central toilet in town)

Jessica Warren – Improve footpaths in Pioneer Avenue (consider budget 2011/12)

Jessica Warren – Make wheelchair access to all shops

Margaret Wilson – Lyell Highway/Glebe Rd junction (consider budget 2011/12)

A local surprise in the Senate list

WELL-known New Norfolk businessman and sportsman Ray Williams has nominated for election to the Senate as a candidate for the Hunters and Shooters Party. While it is not so well known in Tasmania, the party was established in 1992 and has had three members elected to the NSW Legislative Council (one still incumbent).

A long-term resident of New Norfolk, Mr Williams is the co-owner of New Norfolk Mitre 10 Hardware and its associated garden, timber and gun shop businesses. He served for some years on the Derwent Valley Council and is an enthusiastic sporting shooter, fisherman and a past winner of the historic category of Targa Tasmania in his EH Holden.


TASMANIAN SENATE CANDIDATES (Ballot paper order)

SENATOR ON-LINE PARTY
MURRAY, Julie
WIENER, Sven

AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS
HUTTON, Paulene
NEAL, Timothy

LIBERAL PARTY
ABETZ, Eric
PARRY, Stephen Shane
BARNETT, Guy

AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY
POLLEY, Helen
URQUHART, Anne
SINGH, Lisa


SHOOTERS AND FISHERS PARTY
WILLIAMS, Ray
BLACKMORE, Jeff

AUSTRALIAN GREENS
MILNE, Christine
WHISH-WILSON, Peter Stuart
ANN, Penelope

SECULAR PARTY OF AUSTRALIA
KEOGH, Jeff
CHOI, Jin-oh


DEMOCRATIC LABOR PARTY (DLP) OF AUSTRALIA
GORA, Mishka
WILLIAMS, Margaret Mary


FAMILY FIRST PARTY
ZUBIC, Jim
WOODCOCK, Hamish McKinnon

THE CLIMATE SCEPTICS PARTY
WALLER, Frank
COSTELLA, Sally


UNGROUPED
OTTAVI, Dino (Independent)


For more information about Tasmania's senate candidates, including contact details for most, click here

Please note: By law, online comments relating to the Federal Election must include the given name, surname and locality of the writer. Anonymous comments cannot be published.