Political chronicles - Tasmania January to July 2012

Economic matters have again dominated political activity in Tasmania to date this year. The forestry industry decline resulting from international factors and the cessation of native harvesting has had severe economic and political consequences, with dominant corporate player Gunns re-organising operations and the negotiation of the Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA) dragging on to beyond numerous deadlines, with the very real risk of failure. The school closures initially planned following the 2011 state budget have now been subject to a further independent enquiry, and the state government continues to wrestle with unpalatable budget cuts in staffing and frontline services in health, law enforcement and education. Health funding has remained an issue with cost-cutting measures and structural problems contributing to public disquiet and speculation about federal government intervention. There have also been several developments in enhancing democratisation, including the enquiry into electoral funding, the need for expanded powers for the integrity commission and commitments to enlargement of the state lower house, the House of Assembly, from twenty-five to thirty-five, to repair the damage of 1998.