Wednesday 22 August 2007 - Part 1 - Pages 1

Wednesday 22 August 2007 - Part 1 - Pages 1 - = 14

Wednesday 22 August 2007

The President, Mr Wing, took = the Chair=20 at 10.30 a.m. and read Prayers.

QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE

The following answers were given to = questions=20 upon notice:

29. FORESTRY TASMANIA BURN-OFFS

Mr DEAN asked a = question of=20 the Leader of the Government in the Council -

For several days during the period = commencing=20 about 11 May 2007, smoke pollution was extreme throughout the = entire=20 Launceston City area. Would the Government please provide answers to the = following questions -

(1) What Forestry Tasmania burn-offs were occurring = during this=20 period?

(2) If Forestry Tasmania burn-offs did occur during = this period,=20 what were the locations of the burn-offs?

(3) Do any restrictions apply to Forestry Tasmania burn-offs?

(4) What authority does Forestry Tasmania have to burn off during = periods where=20 weather patterns impact adversely on the inversion layer throughout the = Tamar=20 Valley?

(5) Do any restrictions apply to Forestry Tasmania burn-offs in periods when smoke pollution is significantly more = injurious to the=20 community?

(6) What compensation are people entitled to = who are told=20 to leave the area by medical practitioners because of the danger to = their=20 health?

(7) Does Forestry Tasmania take advice from the Bureau = of=20 Meteorology before burning off?

(8) Are there any plans in place to ensure = extreme smoke pollution does not happen in the City = of=20 Launceston and the Tamar Valley in the future?

Mr PARKINSON (Wellington - Leader of the Government in the=20 Council) =EF=BF=BD Mr President, this answer involves a lot of = figures and=20 charts. I seek leave to have the answer incorporated in=20 Hansard.

Leave granted.

The answer read as = follows:

Smoke which affected Launceston during the = period=20 outlined by Hon Ivan Dean MLC is most likely to have come from = burning of=20 gorse on private property at Breadalbane and Hadspen/Carrick which went = on for a=20 week of so. A satellite image taken at the time that smoke and fog caused the closure of = Launceston Airport=20 shows that the smoke from Forestry Tasmania burns in the central north = and north-east=20 of Tasmania was travelling away from Launceston (see = attached).

(1) Mersey = District

=20 RM461a =20 13 km east of Sassafrass on Dolerite Road

=20 RM482x 6 km north of=20 Deloraine-Eynens Road-Weetah

=20 BC066a 6 km east = of Port=20 Sorell on Browns Creek Road

=20 BU141a 12 km south = of=20 Sheffield on Gog 4 Road

=20 MX281w 5 km north-east of = Chudleigh on=20 Coxs Road

=20 CL360x 13 km = south-east of=20 Deloraine on Cluan Tiers Road

Bass=20 District

=20 BS105K =20 Simons Road, Camden

=20 BS117E Rothalls = Road,=20 Burns Creek

=20 BS125C Camden Road, = Upper=20 Blessington

=20 BW106A Nelsons Road,=20 Nunamara

=20 RR109A Ringarooma Basin, = Ringarooma

=20 RR187B Mt Victoria Road, = Ringarooma

=20 SA029C Merry Creek Road, = Mt=20 Saddleback

=20 SA152H Strickland Ridge, = Mt=20 Victoria

(2) =20 Mersey = District

Coords =20 475700 5423600

=20 Coords 471064 =20 5411053

=20 Coords 470216 =20 5440448

=20 Coords 453750 =20 5405600

=20 Coords 460450 =20 5403700

=20 Coords 485000 =20 539100

Bass=20 District

=20 Coords 544960 =20 5419900

=20 Coords 538430 =20 5412680

=20 Coords 545700 =20 5411100

=20 Coords 531100 =20 5420700

=20 Coords 552400 =20 5431560

=20 Coords 567000 =20 5430400

=20 Coords 567500 =20 5414500

=20 Coords 568000 =20 5419500

(3) Outside the fire permit period proclaimed by the = Tasmania=20 Fire Service the restrictions are those which flow from the = Environmental=20 Management and Pollution Control Act=20 1994, and those imposed by Forestry Tasmania internal = procedures.

(4) None, but then there is no prohibition on = so doing=20 either, as long as Forestry Tasmania complies with the = Environmental=20 Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. As good = corporate=20 citizens Forestry Tasmania acts in good faith. At = no time=20 would Forestry Tasmania burn knowing, or reasonably = suspecting,=20 that smoke would flow into the Launceston basin = in=20 significant quantities, or in conditions where any smoke from the surrounding areas would = become trapped by=20 an inversion.

(5) No. See response to Q4.

(6) =20 None.

(7) =20 Yes.

(8) Forestry Tasmania is satisfied with its = procedures, but=20 continually seeks improvement.

Supplementary Information

Source: =20 Tasmanian Air Quality Strategy, published by the Department of Tourism, = Arts and=20 the Environment, Hobart, June 2006. ISBN 0 7246 6362 2

http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/CDAT-6FA759/$FILE/= Draft%20TAQS.pdf

The majority of=20 PM10 exceedences in Launceston occur in winter, and are generally = associated=20 with emissions from domestic solid fuel burning during the coolest = months of the=20 year. Table 1, which is when exceedences of the National Environment = Protection=20 Standard are more likely to occur.

Despite the=20 reduction in the number of wood heaters in Launceston, domestic solid = fuel=20 burning is still the main source of PM10 emissions. Emissions from paved = and=20 unpaved roads and motor vehicles are the next largest contributors. = Industrial=20 emissions contribute approximately 6 per cent to PM10 emissions in = Launceston=20 during the coolest six months of the year

Table=20 1

Estimated sources of particulate = pollution=20 in Launceston during the coolest 6 months of the = year

Source

%=20 contribution to PM10 particle load

Domestic solid fuel = burning

73%

Paved/unpaved = roads

12%

Motor=20 vehicles

Industrial = facilities

Burning=20 (fuel reduction, regeneration, wildfires)

Other

For comparison=20 Table 2 below shows the estimated relative contributions to the = Launceston=20 atmospheric PM10 load from identifiable sources averaged across the = entire=20 year.

Estimated sources of particulate = pollution=20 in Launceston averaged over the year

Source

%=20 contribution to PM10 particle load

Domestic solid fuel = burning

48=20 %

Paved/unpaved = roads

31=20 %

Motor=20 vehicles

9=20 %

Industrial = facilities

7=20 %

Burning=20 (fuel reduction, regeneration, wildfires)

2=20 %

Barbecues

2=20 %

Other

It = is possible=20 that other particulate sources such as fuel reduction and regeneration = burns=20 outside the Launceston City Council area may also = contribute to PM10=20 levels in Launceston.

Severe Weather Online

37. HEALTH DEPARTMENT - VACANCIES

Ms FORREST asked a question = of the Leader=20 of the Government in the Council -

With regard the unfilled positions = within the=20 Department of Health and Human Services, some of which are filled on a = temporary=20 basis with internal appointments, as indicated during the Estimates = Committee=20 process -

(1) =20 What professions and positions make up the 117 vacancies?

(2) =20 In what locations do the vacancies exist?

(3) =20 How long have the positions been vacant?

(4) = (a) Which=20 of the 117 vacancies are currently being filled on a temporary basis = with=20 internal employees; and

=20 (b) what positions have these = employees left=20 unfilled and for what length of time?

Mr PARKINSON (Wellington - Leader of the Government in the=20 Council) - Again, Mr President, given the time it would take = to read=20 this answer out, I seek leave to have the answer incorporated in=20 Hansard.

Leave granted.

The answer read as = follows:

Vacancies by Occupation as at = 21 June=20 2007 (117)

Nurses:

(Acute Health = Services)

Launceston General = Hospital: = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 3

Royal Hobart Hospital: = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 17

North=20 West Regional Hospital (Burnie=20 Campus): = ; = =20 5

North=20 West Regional Hospital (Mersey=20 Campus): = ; = =20 1

(Community Health = Services)

Mental Health=20 Services: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 2

Population=20 Health: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; =20 2

Primary=20 Health: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ;=20 10

(Human Services)

Children and=20 Families: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 1

Total: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; =20 41

Allied Health=20 Professionals

(Acute Health = Services)

Royal=20 Hobart=20 Hospital: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 3

North=20 West Regional Hospital (Burnie=20 Campus): = ; = =20 2

North=20 West Regional Hospital (Mersey=20 Campus): = ; = =20 1

(Community Health = Services)

Mental=20 Health=20 Services = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; =20 5

=20 Population=20 Health: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ;=20 1

Primary=20 Health: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = =20 3

(Human=20 Services)

=20 Children and Family=20 Services: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 4

=20 Disability=20 Services: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp;=20 2

Total: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; =20 21

Operational

(Acute Health = Services)

=20 Launceston General=20 Hospital: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 2

North=20 West Regional Hospital (Burnie=20 Campus): = ; = =20 2

Royal=20 Hobart=20 Hospital: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 3

(Community Health = Services)

St=20 Johns=20 Park: &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 1

Primary=20 Health: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = =20 3

(Human Services)

=20 Children and=20 Families: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 1

=20 Disability=20 Services: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp;=20 2

Total: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; =20 14

Administrative &=20 Clerical

(Acute Health = Services)

=20 Launceston General=20 Hospital: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 1

Royal=20 Hobart=20 Hospital: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 4

=20 Tasmanian Ambulance=20 Services: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 1

=20 Corporate=20 Support: = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; =20 2

(Community Health = Services)

Mental=20 Health=20 Services: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 3

Oral=20 Health Customer=20 Services: &nbs= p; = ; = =20 &= nbsp; =20 2

=20 Population Health=20 (Data): = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; =20 4

Primary=20 Health: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = =20 5

=20 Statewide Specialist=20 Services: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 1

=20 Corporate=20 Support: = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; =20 1

(Human Services)

=20 Children and=20 Families: &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 3

Housing=20 (Customer=20 Services): &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; =20 4

=20 Corporate=20 Support: = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; =20 1

(Shared Services)

=20 Finance: = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = =20 1

Total: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; =20 33

Other:

(Acute Health = Services)

=20 Ambulance Clinical=20 Instructor: &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = =20 1

=20 Medical: = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = =20 2

=20 Technical: &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 3

(Shared Services)

=20 Computer Systems=20 Officer: = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 2

Total: = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; =20 8

=C2=B7 =20 A vacancy is a = role for=20 which the Business Unit has available budget and that is = advertised.

=C2=B7 =20 Decisions = about whether=20 an advertised vacancy is filled whilst the advertising process is being=20 undertaken are made at manager level within business units. This = data is=20 not collated centrally.

40. HEALTH - METHADONE TREATMENT = PROGRAM

Mrs JAMIESON asked a question = of the=20 Leader of the Government in the Council -

With regard the methadone treatment = program=20 -

(1) What is the number = of=20 authorised general practitioners - GPs - in Tasmania?

(2) What is the process = for GPs to=20 become authorised practitioners?

(3) (a) Does the = Government agree=20 that a crisis situation in treatment exists on the north-west coast;=20 and

(b) = if so,=20 what action is being taken to address the situation for carers, clinical = staff=20 and addicts?

Mr PARKINSON replied = -

It is understood that the = honourable member's=20 question relates to authorisation in relation to the opiate = pharmacotherapy=20 program, commonly referred to as the methadone program.

(1) Twenty general practitioners are authorised = prescribers for the program, under the Alcohol and Drug Dependency Act=20 1968.

(2) The process involves an examination = process, marked=20 by the Clinical Director of the State Alcohol and Drug = Service

(3) (a) Access to = treatment for=20 new patients has been limited for some time due to lack of both = authorised=20 general practitioners and medical staff employed by the Alcohol and Drug = Service=20 - ADS - and lack of pharmacy dosing options.

(b) = Part of=20 the extra $1.5 million of funding allocated to ADS in this year's budget = will be=20 used to address the issues within the Opiate Pharmacotherapy = Program. =20 Recruitment has commenced to increase the number of medical and nursing = staff=20 employed by the State Alcohol and Drug Service. Successful = recruitment=20 will enable increased support to GPs, who will be encouraged and = supported to=20 become authorised prescribers. In the meanwhile, the State Alcohol = and=20 Drug Service is available to undertake assessments and review = alternative=20 treatment services including access to detoxification, especially for = those=20 identified as requiring priority - for example, pregnant women and their = partners and those who are HIV positive and their partners.

42. LAUNCESTON GENERAL HOSPITAL - EFFICIENCY=20 TARGETS

Mr DEAN asked a = question of=20 the Leader of the Government in the Council -

With regard the Launceston General = Hospital -=20 LGH -

(1) Are budgetary = provisions=20 reduced in order to meet predetermined efficiency targets?

(2) What are the = efficiency targets=20 that are required to be met within the hospital?

(3) Is it expected that the LGH will continue = to close=20 beds and wards and not fill vacant positions within the hospital until = the=20 efficiency targets are met?

(4) What vacancies currently exist within the = LGH in=20 senior administration and general administration areas?

(5) Do administrative = positions=20 impact on the efficiency target requirements?

(6) What vacancies exist in the areas of ward = nursing=20 staff and ward support staff, including orderlies, physiotherapists and = other=20 allied health professional positions?

Mr PARKINSON replied = -

(1) No.

(2) As with all sections of the Department of = Health and=20 Human Services, the Launceston General Hospital is expected to manage = within the=20 allocated budget. There are no other specific efficiency targets, = however=20 we do expect that our health services maximise the activity with the = resources=20 available.

(3) The LGH is expected to live within the = allocated=20 budget provided by the DHHS. LGH management has used a number of = different=20 approaches to work within the budget and these include management of = overtime,=20 monitoring of expenditure on goods and services and maximising=20 revenue.

(4) There are currently no existing vacancies = in=20 administrative areas at the LGH. This is not a case of trade-off = between=20 hospital administration and service delivery. The hospital has the = appropriate number of administrative staff to support the clinical work=20 force. In addition there are clinical managers who combine = administration=20 with a clinical workload.

(5) There are no specific efficiency target = requirements.=20 The hospital has a global budget that covers both clinical and = administrative=20 staff.

(6) At this present time there are 6.87 FTE = permanent=20 vacant positions for nurses at the LGH. This is from a total work = force of=20 572.92 FTE. Most of these vacant positions have been advertised = and are in=20 the process of recruitment. The hardest area to fill is operating = room=20 nurses.

There are no vacant = positions=20 for hospital aides or ward clerks. The allied health area at LGH = is=20 currently undergoing a review process but at this stage there are no = significant=20 vacant positions. The pathology department has a vacant position = for a=20 clinical pathologist; this position has been actively recruited for some = time,=20 however there is a worldwide shortage of pathologists and this position = has been=20 difficult to fill permanently; currently we have a locum in that = position. =20 Medical imaging is currently fully staffed apart from 0.58 FTE = sonographer.=20

RECOGNITION OF SCHOOL = GROUP

[10.38 a.m.]

Mr PRESIDENT=20 (Statement) - I draw honourable members' attention to the presence in = the=20 Gallery of staff and students from grades 5 and 6 of the Campbell = Street=20 Primary School. Yesterday we had a visit from other students in=20 grades 5 and 6 of Campbell Street Primary so the classes of = grades 5=20 and 6 must be quite large. We extend a warm welcome to our guests = this=20 morning.

Members - Hear,=20 hear.

SUSPENSION OF SITTING

Mr PARKINSON (Wellington - Leader of the Government in the=20 Council) - Mr President, I move -

That the sitting be suspended until = the ringing=20 of the division bells.

That is for the purpose of further = briefings=20 which will commence at 11 a.m. in committee room 1.

Sitting suspended from 10.41 = a.m. to 7.41=20 p.m.

TRAFFIC = AMENDMENT=20 BILL 2007 (No. 35)

FIREARMS AMENDMENT BILL 2007 (No.=20 20)

First Reading

Bills received from the House of = Assembly and=20 read the first time.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Mr Parkinson = agreed to=20 -

That the Council at its rising = adjourn until=20 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday 28 August 2007.

The Council adjourned at 7.43=20 p.m.