This week in Launceston

PLEASE NOTE
Forwarded Message
From: Emma - GetUp! <info@getup.org.au>
Reply-To: <takeaction@getup.org.au>
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:37:03 +1000
Subject: This week in Launceston

Just three weeks ago Patrick, Susie, Clive, Tim, Jillian and Marion started working together.   Since then, this small group of Bass GetUp members have got to know one another, learnt what drives their motivations for a just Australia, and banded together to prepare for a meeting with your new MP, Ross Hart. In Launceston on Tuesday, the team talked to Mr Hart about the whopping 4077 GetUp members who live in Bass,and the value of building an ongoing relationship and dialogue with him. Here's what Patrick had to say about the meeting:

"Mr Hart told us he's particularly concerned about rising inequality, and said it would be the issue he'd champion within his own party. He's well across health, education and social welfare issues.   We spoke about the risk of losing federal funding for Mersey Hospital. Mr Hart told us he supports continued federal funding because without it the health system of the entire north-west will collapse. The meeting went really well and Mr Hart was very congenial. He is absolutely aware of GetUp members' involvement during the election and acknowledged that without us a different outcome could have been possible."
The meeting went so well that Mr Hart emailed the team just hours after the meeting to thank them and say:

"Please encourage [GetUp] members to communicate with me freely on any issue, as I look foward to continuing our relationship and ensuring that a robust dialogue will encourage the healthy democratic process here in Bass."

Strong lines of communication between the local GetUp community and Mr Hart's office are important because when crisis strikes on the issues that matter, we'll need him to answer the phone, respond to our emails and listen to our concerns. So let's make sure Mr Hart knows we appreciate this meeting with GetUp members and look forward to more. Can you send Mr Hart a quick email or tweet to let him know you appreciate this excellent meeting? E

https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/meet-your-mp-2016/mp-thank-you/thanks-for-meeting-with-bass-members?t=6j0B53CZA2&utm_content=15353&utm_campaign=This%20week%20in%20Launceston&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email mail Mr Hart <https://

Tasmania's Humpty Dumpty Club Membership Grows Daily

3 councillors have withdrawn
from the flawed mediation process!

Sep 19, 2016

Two more councillors have followed Mayor Peter Coad in announcing their withdrawal from the flawed unworkable mediation process, that was part of the 7 directions handed down by Minister Peter Gutwein ....... The mayor said that he had told Mr Gutwein, in a letter on Tuesday (September 13), that he was no longer willing to participate in the mediation process ordered by the Minister on June 15 last, in which Huon Valley Council had been ordered to implement seven Ministerial Directions. - See more ...  http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/pr-article/i-have-no-intention-of-resigning/#sthash.4O03LKRm.dpuf
http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/pr-article/i-have-no-intention-of-resigning/...... In the Mercury today (Sept 19th, pg3) the minister stated he would not provide a running commentary and stood by his call for the mayor to stand down. The Premiers response was less than enthusiastic.... “We remain hopeful that once the process has gone through its full course then those who do want to be part of this council are able to demonstrate that and the people of the Huon can be confident they’re getting the right level of service out of their councillors,” Mr Hodgman said in .... Are Tasmanians happy with all this? ..... The regulation in the Local Government Act allows for an ‘all or nothing’ approach to dismissing councils; everyone or no-one.

HOWEVER, Huon Council is not alone in the Local Govt. Recalcitrance Stakes.
There’s a growing groundswell that’s saying enough is enough!
Actually it’s a bit like Humpty Dumpty actually! All the King’s horses
and all the King’s men are not going to be able
to put all this little googy egg back together again.

BUT it might just be possible to get another egg if we go looking for one!

JOIN THE HUNT
watch this space
eMAIL  yoko7250@bigpond.com
for more information

change.org has petition going that you might want sign
Here is the link ... https://www.change.org/p/implement-the-major-recommendations-of-the-huon-valley-board-of-inquiry?tk=B-Pw0T5DC_wFDUOL6ttWisFAJ-MBxPtTLctMqEbibV4&utm_source=petition_update&utm_medium=email

A New Player On The Field ... WHERE WILL THIS GO?

Visit James WRIGHT’s FACEBOOK site and see where this
candidate came from and where he got to
 https://www.facebook.com/jameswrightcampaign2016/

The Press ... Social Media ... AND UTAS PERFORMANCE

JS wrote: "Those figures are appalling. I couldn't agree more, UTAS should lift their game, learn how to run a university properly, provide appropriate courses and improve the retention rate instead of wasting time and money moving to a new campus." - Reply to this comment . ............... [1] ............... Facebook [1] ............... JS [2] commented on Speak Up Launceston [3]'s post [4]. [5] ............... JS [5] ............... 9 September at 16:28 Those figures are appalling. I couldn't agree more, UTAS should lift their game, learn how to run a university properly, provide appropriate courses and improve the retention rate instead of wasting time and money moving to a new campus. Like [6] Comment [7] ............... View on Facebook [8] And another comment on the dropout rate of first year students after the semester census date. Wonder the dropout rate is if ALL the first year enrolments were included. And what might it be for second and third year students? ............... ............... Speak Up Launceston's post. ............... AB wrote: "If an other organisation was performing poorly because of loss of customers due to poor satisfaction with the service they receive then you can't imagine another organisation resolving that by spending a lot of money to relocate! They would visit the internal issues and improve current customer satisfaction. Word of mouth is a strong marketing tool so if your current customers aren't happy you won't grow as well as you could with new customers." - Reply to this email to comment on this post. [1] ............... Facebook [1] AB [2] also replied to JS [3]'s comment on Speak Up Launceston [4]'s post [5]. [6] ............... AB[6] 9 September at 17:17 ............... If an other organisation was performing poorly because of loss of customers due to poor satisfaction with the service they receive then you can't imagine another organisation resolving that by spending a lot of money to relocate! They would visit the internal issues and improve current customer satisfaction. Word of mouth is a strong marketing tool so if your current customers aren't happy you won't grow as well as you could with new customers. Like [7] ............... Comment [8] .... What Speak Up Launceston is Saying CLICK HERE

VOTEflux: Is Change In The Air?

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In the news
https://voteflux.org/press/

NSW Local Elections Tomorrow
There is a reminder out to all NSW members that council elections in NSW are tomorrow for most shires. For people not in Byron Shire unfortunately there are no candidates pledging to use the Flux system, however...

Byron Shire Council Candidate
James Wright is running in the Byron Shire election and has pledged to use the Flux System if he is elected there tomorrow. James made the same pledge when running as an independent Senate candidate at the last federal election. We’re supporting James’s campaign and if you're in the Byron Shire, be sure to vote for **Group E** tomorrow. If you're interested in helping with How To Votes tomorrow please send an email through to campaign@ejameswright.com or give him a call on 0424 386 192.

Upcoming Public Meeting
On September 19th (tentatively 6:30 pm) we're going to hold a public meeting to discuss the party structure and plans going forward. If you're interested in contributing to Flux we'd encourage you to attend, or at least watch the recording later. This is going to be an early-stage kick off to a much longer discussion so there's plenty of chance for input and sharing ideas, even if you can't make it on the night. To cater to as many people as possible we're going to livestream a hangout, via YouTube, and there will be opportunities to contribute via text (though not via the hangout itself as they can't support more than 10 participants). We'll email more in the way of details before the 19th.

Upcoming State/Territory Elections
At a state level, the next elections on the horizon are the ACT Legislative Council election in October, as well as the WA election in March of next year. If you’re in the ACT and would like to get involved or run as a candidate please respond to this email. More to come on the WA election in the coming weeks!

What is Flux?

More a celebration of democracy than a party
Really you’re the brains of this operation. Flux is the tool Australians can use to directly participate in parliament. Flux is a party come election time but once we have elected MP’s and senators that’s where the difference begins. Your Flux representatives give up their autonomy and vote according to the people. They cast their votes in line with the outcomes produced by the Flux ecosystem comprised of ordinary Aussies like you.

It’s still democracy, it’s just Governance 2.0
Flux will operate in the form of an app you can access right from your computer or smartphone. You’ll be given a vote on every bill put before Federal Parliament, and can use that vote immediately on the issue at hand, give it to a trusted third party to cast on your behalf, or save it for an issue you care more passionately about later.

It won’t matter where politicians stand when the floor is yours
Flux as a party is a vehicle for driving this systemic political change, with no policy platform beyond parliamentary reform. Flux is a tool for changing how policy is shaped. It will allow more voices to join the conversation, empower specialists to become politically involved in their fields, and grant Australians direct access to producing better policy for a better Australia.

THIS DEVELOPMENT JUST MIGHT HAVE AN APPLICATION 

 WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN TASMANIA

A UNIVERSITY FORUM: Tides of Change Tues Sept 13

University of Tasmania
Organiser of Tides of Change: The future of Launceston’s waterfront

The University's Public Lecture and Forum program provides an opportunity to
engage with our broader community to provide a platform for ideas, debate and discussion.

Launceston is a small regional city and one with a rich and long history. As is the case for all settlements, its physical form has been shaped by the natural, cultural, political and economic environment in which it was established and grows. One key natural feature that shaped Launceston's development is the river system on which it is located. Recent waterfront projects such as Seaport and Inveresk are converting former industrial sites into places for sport, education, housing, tourism and business. A number of additional projects are soon to commence on site or are in planning. It is timely, therefore, that we consider how the city might develop over coming years to improve its liveability by improving the wellbeing of its citizens.

The forum will explore the future of Launceston, its waterfront and its built environment through the lenses of social, cultural and ecological amenity and history, climate change and the political and economic opportunities and constraints afforded by business.

http://www.utas.edu.au/architecture-design/events/2016/september/tides-of-change-the-future-of-launcestons-waterfront
FREE
CLICK ON THIS URL TO REGISTER
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/tides-of-change-the-future-of-launcestons-waterfront-tickets-26870659867#tickets

http://lcc63.blogspot.com.au/

FACILITATED BY

eMAIL: launcestonPR@bigpond.com

The Australian Blows UTAS Cover Story

Well if you listen to the 'Uni Sprookers' you'll come to learn that is black is indeed white and that all this is something of a mistake. Well that's this week! Some time ago UTAS was telling the Council that they had a plan to turn this kind outcome around and all that it would take would be some .... wait for it ... FREE LAND.

Apart from that no plan has been sighted and events have unfolded. There has been a concept document but no business plan yet. The THREE AMIGOS [1] [2] [3] have been unelected despite their securing money to implement "THE PLAN". AND the new Govt. that now has a majority of ONE still has it on its 'to do list' – funding THE PLAN that is.

There are very good reasons for this less than adequate educational outcome for Tasmania and quite a bit of it is to do with there being the lack of a plan. 

After that there is another series of issues that  can be worked through if there was a preparedness to look beyond the status quo. That opportunity may have passed!?  

Tasmania actually needs courses that people want to do and that they can afford and that provides them with real opportunities. 

Spending all the 'promised money' that is notionally on the table in Tasmania will set off a bit of a building spree and some builders and developers might make a buck. After that who knows?

Watch this space for developing issues as there might be some!

 CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO ENLARGE