TASMANIAN ministers will pick up arms for the last time today as Budget Estimates draw to a close. Few institutions across the state have reached the decibel levels of Parliament House during the past three days. From just after dawn until well after dark, ministers and their minders have been relentlessly grilled by their opponents and peers. By the end of today, each will have endured more than 15 hours of inquisition, going into battle four at a time. Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin is among the lucky few to have two day-long hearings already behind her. Dr Goodwin again proved a strong, poised performer in what was without doubt an unenviable task. But one very clear theme can be drawn from the Attorney-General's hearings, which has permeated throughout all sessions this week. There are certain things the Tasmanian government will go to great lengths to talk about, whether prompted to or not. However, there are some matters that the government will absolutely, positively not discuss. The two often share striking similarities, and the decision on whether to provide a "running commentary" or not usually looks fairly arbitrary. The following examples provide a glimpse of this curious approach: Dr Goodwin repeatedly expressed "extreme disappointment" with the federal government for stripping funding from community legal centres. The state has since been forced to temporarily pick up the bill for the Commonwealth-initiated services. However, Dr Goodwin would not be drawn into debate on the future of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service. The federal government has put work the ALS provides out to tender, and it has been forced to fight for its funding against other organisations. Dr Goodwin insisted the tender was a matter for the Commonwealth, claiming it would be inappropriate to comment. Meanwhile, we now know the state is committed to tackling the soaring workload of the Mental Health Tribunal. The tribunal, which makes decisions about when people can be detained and what treatments doctors can provide, has seen its workload surge 350 per cent. New staff have been hired to combat the climb, and legislative changes which have driven the rise are being reconsidered. But the government appears altogether nonplussed by increasing workloads at the Ombudsman's office and Integrity Commission. Agency heads told pollies of burdensome workloads, low staffing levels and stress. However, the government is confident each has the resourcing it needs to meet demand. Dr Goodwin also reminded her peers of the government's commitment to crack down on sex offenders, through policy work underway to force convicted sex criminals into treatment. But the Attorney-General refused to detail government policy on other possible legislative changes. Greens MP Nick McKim wants people who have sex changes to be able to remain married to their partners, which is currently not possible But Dr Goodwin said he must wait until changes to relevant laws were debated later this year to understand the government's policy position. More broadly, government MPs have been happy to run commentary on the opposition's performance and to joke of a "fairytale" dreamt up by Labor of a concocted budget emergency. But they have been far less inclined to discuss GBEs critical to their portfolios, or provide much detail on what constitutes a frontline public servant. This week's sparring match can quite easily be viewed as a propaganda war. With political sabres to be returned to their sheaths this evening, we will soon know who has drawn the most blood.
TASMANIAN ministers will pick up arms for the last time today as Budget Estimates draw to a close.
Few institutions across the state have reached the decibel levels of Parliament House during the past three days.
From just after dawn until well after dark, ministers and their minders have been relentlessly grilled by their opponents and peers.
By the end of today, each will have endured more than 15 hours of inquisition, going into battle four at a time.
Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin is among the lucky few to have two day-long hearings already behind her.
Dr Goodwin again proved a strong, poised performer in what was without doubt an unenviable task.
But one very clear theme can be drawn from the Attorney-General's hearings, which has permeated throughout all sessions this week.
There are certain things the Tasmanian government will go to great lengths to talk about, whether prompted to or not.
However, there are some matters that the government will absolutely, positively not discuss.
The two often share striking similarities, and the decision on whether to provide a "running commentary" or not usually looks fairly arbitrary.
The following examples provide a glimpse of this curious approach:
Dr Goodwin repeatedly expressed "extreme disappointment" with the federal government for stripping funding from community legal centres.
The state has since been forced to temporarily pick up the bill for the Commonwealth-initiated services.
However, Dr Goodwin would not be drawn into debate on the future of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service.
The federal government has put work the ALS provides out to tender, and it has been forced to fight for its funding against other organisations.
Dr Goodwin insisted the tender was a matter for the Commonwealth, claiming it would be inappropriate to comment.
Meanwhile, we now know the state is committed to tackling the soaring workload of the Mental Health Tribunal.
The tribunal, which makes decisions about when people can be detained and what treatments doctors can provide, has seen its workload surge 350 per cent.
New staff have been hired to combat the climb, and legislative changes which have driven the rise are being reconsidered.
But the government appears altogether nonplussed by increasing workloads at the Ombudsman's office and Integrity Commission. Agency heads told pollies of burdensome workloads, low staffing levels and stress.
However, the government is confident each has the resourcing it needs to meet demand.
Dr Goodwin also reminded her peers of the government's commitment to crack down on sex offenders, through policy work underway to force convicted sex criminals into treatment.
But the Attorney-General refused to detail government policy on other possible legislative changes.
Greens MP Nick McKim wants people who have sex changes to be able to remain married to their partners, which is currently not possible
But Dr Goodwin said he must wait until changes to relevant laws were debated later this year to understand the government's policy position.
More broadly, government MPs have been happy to run commentary on the opposition's performance and to joke of a "fairytale" dreamt up by Labor of a concocted budget emergency.
But they have been far less inclined to discuss GBEs critical to their portfolios, or provide much detail on what constitutes a frontline public servant.
This week's sparring match can quite easily be viewed as a propaganda war.
With political sabres to be returned to their sheaths this evening, we will soon know who has drawn the most blood.
