Others were put to the leaders last week (not all could be included due to the volume submitted). Here are the answers.

Q: Given that the effects of peak oil are most likely to begin being felt during this term of Parliament, how will you lead the response to the challenge in Tasmania?

David Bartlett: No Government has done more to support renewable energy development than Labor.

We have a plan for large generation capacity from wind and geothermal sources, together with bioenergy, solar, wave and tidal, potentially generating thousands more megawatts into the Tasmanian and national grids.

Labor has established the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Industry Development Board to guide the development of Tasmania's renewable energy strategy.

We have also committed $16 million towards public and low carbon transport as part of our Urban Transport Framework.

A re-elected Bartlett Labor government will:

Commit $3 million in low-interest loan facilities towards a new Green Industry Development Scheme focusing on reducing Tasmania's and Australia's carbon footprint.

Provide $500,000 for a feasibility study into a second Basslink cable.

Provide $2 million in seed funding for a Renewable Industry Development Fund.

Set a target to produce more than 100 per cent of Tasmania's energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020.

Commit to a carbon-neutral state by 2050.

Commit to reducing energy consumption by 20 per cent by 2020 through a range of initiatives to support business, government and households to reduce energy use.

Will Hodgman: We are strongly committed to providing the real change Tasmania needs by encouraging renewable energy development in this state. For example, we have committed to assisting the private sector to

invest in renewable energy, and we are the only party that has committed to supporting the proposed Musselroe wind farm development to fruition.

Nick McKim: The effects of peak oil are already being felt (including in the hip pockets of Tasmanians) and will continue to grow. Given the seriousness of the issue, and its potential to impact on the delivery of core services like transport and freight, we must act now to make sure that we are as prepared as we can be. As a first step, the Greens would conduct an assessment, including community consultation, to identify Tasmania's exposure to the impacts of peak oil, and potential risks for government, the

private sector and our people.

However, as with climate change, there will also be major opportunities for places that can be early adapters and market leaders. We would ensure that the assessment would also consider and make recommendations on the

opportunities for Tasmania.

The Greens' focus on public transport in this election campaign is one example of a policy that is consistent with the challenges and opportunities of peak oil.

Q: Will the leader agree to bringing in drink container deposit legislation, similar to South Australia's, in the first 12 months of the new government?

David Bartlett: The State Government is committed to reducing litter and increasing recycling. Unlike the Liberals, we have a strategy for dealing with waste in Tasmania and last year we released a feasibility study

on a container deposit system for Tasmania. The study examined the pros and cons of introducing a deposit system to Tasmania, including impacts on relevant industries and kerbside recycling. It complements work being done by Australian environment ministers in the Environment Protection and Heritage Council. The council has begun an investigation into a national container deposit system and is conducting a Choice Modelling Survey to

determine the community's preparedness to pay for a national container-packaging recovery scheme.

We await the results of this survey and will work closely with the Environment Protection and Heritage Council to determine what would be the best container deposit system option for Tasmania.

Will Hodgman: No. Container deposit legislation should be considered in the context not only of waste management but also the position of local government, which runs local waste disposal in many parts of the

state, and any impact on the cost of beverages. We have committed to phasing out non-biodegradable plastic bags within two years.

Nick McKim: Yes, we are committed to introducing legislation to create a CDL system in Tasmania, along with other reforms to remove more recyclables from the waste stream. The Tasmanian Greens have long advocated for a CDL system to be introduced and we do not believe that there needs to be a national scheme before establishing one in Tasmania, as South Australia's long-standing and successful scheme proves.

Q: Why should the forestry industry in Tasmania be exempt from all the checks and balances imposed on other sectors of the community when, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, it comprises only a minor

role both in employment opportunities and industry contribution to total factor?

David Bartlett: This is wrong. The forest practices system in Tasmania provides a strong, rigorous and transparent regulatory framework that applies to all aspects of forestry on public and private land. All

requirements of environmental legislation are incorporated into the requirements of the Forest Practices Code. The system has all the checks and balances of model planning and approval frameworks and is subject to regular

independent review.

Despite recent downturns, forestry remains a very important component of the Tasmanian economy now and into the future, contributing more than $1.4 billion each year and employing thousands of Tasmanians. There is the

potential to significantly increase this value as demonstrated in the recently released Forest Industry Plan.

Labor is committed to working in partnership with the industry to provide the right investment climate for the industry to realise this potential.

Will Hodgman: The forest industry is not exempt from checks and balances _ operation of the industry is governed by the Regional Forest Agreement, and the industry is regulated and policed by the Forest Practices

Authority.

It plays a major role in our state's economy, directly employing more than 6000 Tasmanians, supporting many more in our rural and regional communities; and with annual turnover of $1.4 to $1.6 billion, it is the second-largest contributor to gross state product.

Nick McKim: The forest industry should not be exempt. The Greens have consistently argued that the forest industry (and marine farming) should be brought within the same planning system as other industries, so

that people and communities can have more input into things like protecting water quality and quality, road safety, scenic amenity and noise issues. We have introduced legislation to achieve this, but it was voted down by the Labor and Liberal parties.

Q: Many of our major roads are in poor repair. What will you do to assist with the upgrading of the Miena-Breona section of the Lake Highway and the Miena-Bronte Park tourist road?

David Bartlett: While some sections of state roads have been badly affected by last year's heavy rains, repairs are well under way. In addition Labor recently announced $5 million for local councils to address problems

with their roads caused by heavy rainfall.

A re-elected Labor Government is committed to spending an additional $2.5 million to seal four unsealed sections of the Highland Lakes Road adjacent to the shack areas south of Breona, to provide seven kilometres of continuous

sealed pavement. This supports the ongoing improvement of the Highland Lakes Road to a fully sealed road.

In addition to normal maintenance works, Labor has included funding in the forward estimates for pavement reinstatement works to Marlborough Secondary Road (Miena to Bronte Park).

Will Hodgman: We have made a promise this election about allocating $2.5 million to upgrade the Highlands Lake Road, and I would certainly look at the particular roads you name when in government. We also

have provided a $20 million initial downpayment to begin the task of fixing our rural and regional roads, which have been so neglected under Labor. In addition, we will establish Infrastructure Tasmania, an independent body, to

prepare a statewide infrastructure plan within nine months of the election.

Further road funding decisions will be made on the basis of the recommendations of this plan, which will be developed in consultation with relevant government departments and agencies, local government and the business community. There would also be opportunities for input from individuals and community groups.

Nick McKim: We believe that the Lake Highway is a strategically important link, and we support it being part of the National Highway network. Sealing of the surface would contribute significantly to tourism, as people currently are limited using it if they are reliant on hire vehicles due to company-imposed restrictions on vehicles using gravel roads. There would be economic benefit to the region through the sealing of the road surface, as

it would facilitate tourism and local traffic.

Q: All major studies into education continue to support additional resources into the early years of schooling for the most benefit for dollar spent. Will you focus on providing additional resources for all rural schools; in fact all schools to provide for 15 hours a year kindergarten from the start of the 2011 school year?

David Bartlett: The Labor Government has invested heavily in early years education by committing $76.1 million over three years to build up to 30 child and family centres around Tasmania. These centres bring together the services that make the most difference in the early years of a child's life. Our Launching into Learning initiative is also better preparing children before they start formal schooling so they're ready to learn on day one of kindergarten. For 2010, a total of 49 government schools, 15 Catholic

and six independent schools are accessing 15 hours of kindergarten, with all schools accessing 15 hours of kindergarten in 2013.

Will Hodgman: The Tasmanian Liberals will end experimentation with our young people. Labor has experimented with Essential Learnings.

That didn't work. Now those same students have been experimented on with Labor's failed Tasmania Tomorrow reforms. We will overhaul Tasmania Tomorrow and we will not forget resources for the essential early years of

school life.

A Hodgman Liberal government remains committed to a smaller class size framework as reduced class sizes are essential to ensure more effective teacher-staff student ratios, which lead to better learning outcomes for

children, their future opportunities and our community's future prosperity.

We will introduce a recommended limit of 25 students in prep and year one classes to years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and reduce the current cap of 25 students in prep and year one to 20 students for those vital years _ wherever the

school is situated in Tasmania. An acceptable pupil-teacher ratio or class size variation may be approved by the individual school association.

Nick McKim: In addition to restoring the integrity of our colleges, the Tasmanian Greens have already allocated $10 million extra investment into early years education. This investment would assist in the development and implementation of programs in these areas to identify children who may leave or who may develop issues with literacy, numeracy and retention, and to engage with these children and their families to improve outcomes in these

areas. This is the most cost-effective way to improve literacy, numeracy and retention rates, which remain unacceptable in Tasmania after 12 years of Labor government.

Q: Is it the intention of any of the political parties, if elected to govern, to either partially or wholly sell off any government business enterprise, specifically any publicly owned electricity generator, distribution company or

electricity retailer?

David Bartlett: The Labor Party can categorically rule out the sale of any of the state's GBEs or electricity businesses on being re-elected. Unlike the Liberals we are committed to ensuring all our public assets stay in public

ownership.

Will Hodgman: No.

Nick McKim: No. The Greens saved Hydro Tasmania from being privatised by the Liberals, and will not support the privatisation of Hydro Tasmania, Transend or Aurora.

Q: Why won't you allow a referendum on the Tamar Valley pulp mill issue?

David Bartlett: The Pulp Mill Assessment Act was passed by both Houses of Parliament and received bipartisan support from both major parties. Labor supports downstream processing industries in our forestry

industry that are environmentally sustainable and support economic and jobs growth.

Will Hodgman: We support the pulp mill. People can

democratically express their views on March 20.

Nick McKim: The Greens have never, and will never, support the proposal for a pulp mill in the Tamar Valley, but we would be happy to support a referendum on the issue.

Question to David Bartlett and Will Hodgman only:

Q: The weight of expert advice and scientific evidence suggests that the proposed pulp mill will be hazardous to our health, to our economy and to our environment - air, water and land - yet it has been constantly and consistently ignored by both major parties. Why, and for what reasons?

David Bartlett: The assertions in this question are wrong. Labor supports the pulp mill on the basis that it will be world's best practice in terms of environmental performance.

We believe the pulp mill will provide significant long-term economic benefits to the Tasmanian community (including thousands of jobs) and still maintain our unique environment and quality of life.

The assessment of the pulp mill development by the Tasmanian Parliament was supported by advice from consultants SWECO PIC (assessment against environmental emission limit guidelines) and ITS Global (net social and

economic benefits).

An independent scientific assessment for the Australian Government by a panel of scientific experts concluded with the Australian Government chief scientist, Dr Jim Peacock, stating that it was very likely that the proposed mill would operate with an environmentally neutral impact.

The key requirement of the Commonwealth approval process _ the Environmental Impact Management Plan _ requires the proponent addresses a wide range of areas to ensure there are no unacceptable environmental impacts.

The State Government's pulp mill approval conditions set by the Board of Environmental Management and Pollution Control also place stringent environmental requirements on the proponent during all phases of the project.

It is also important to note that the pulp mill will use 100 per cent plantation timber from start-up.

Will Hodgman: We strongly support the proposed pulp mill, subject to it meeting all strict environmental criteria, because it will value-add to our forest industry and create economic growth and much-needed jobs in northern Tasmania. Contrary to your claims, the proposed pulp mill has been assessed by the former Commonwealth chief scientist, Dr Jim Peacock, as having an environmentally neutral footprint, and subject to it meeting the

remaining outstanding federal approvals, and gaining financial backing, I firmly believe it should be built.

Question to David Bartlett only:

Q: Just after you came to office in 2008, Mr Bartlett, you said that by November 30, 2008, your Government would withdraw permits and involvement in Gunns' pulp mill project unless Gunns had settled questions of finance. In the 16 months since your deadline passed, Gunns is yet to meet your conditions. Worse still, you have since passed the Pulp Mill Clarification Bill, another special law for Gunns which extended the pulp mill permit until late 2011. You have also had two of your senior ministers overseas trying to help Gunns get finance, given Gunns a secret $240,000 gift for a pipeline culvert and acquired specific pieces of land which Gunns needs to put its pipeline through. What happened to your ``line in the sand'' and your promise

that by Christmas 2008 Tasmanians would have closure on the mill issue one way or another?

David Bartlett: The assertions in this question are wrong. My position on the pulp mill has been entirely consistent. A Labor government supports the development of a downstream processing, environmentally

sustainable pulp mill, which supports jobs in the forestry industry and has wider economic benefits for the Tasmanian community.

I have consistently said it is now up to the proponent to ensure it obtains the necessary regulatory approvals and financial close to allow this important project to proceed. This position has not changed.

Question to Will Hodgman only:

Q: What time frame and route will the proposed highway take?

Will Hodgman: It is our policy to duplicate the Midland Highway because we believe it is needed now, let alone in 2030 when there will be 70 per cent more trucks and 40 per cent more cars on the road.

Duplicating the road will assist in driving our economy forward and make it safer for all Tasmanians.

The road will be duplicated over 10 years from 2014-2015, and will take the existing route. Major towns such as Campbell Town and Perth will not be bypassed.

Many of you will know that the Bass Highway between Devonport and Burnie, which is also part of the National Highway, has been duplicated by federal and state government co-operation. Our policy is to continue this on

the Midland Highway.