Democracy

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

In reposting an article that states Hong Kong independence protesters should be ‘executed’, the Tasmanian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China (CPPRC) appears to be openly inciting violence.

This is an alarming development which will send a shudder of fear through every Tasmanian-based international students from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China who support freedom for Hong Kong.

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

Attempts to stifle freedom of expression on the UTAS campus should be condemned in the strongest terms by the Tasmanian Government.

For the second time in as many weeks, pro-Beijing students have torn down the symbolic Lennon Wall in the UTAS student lounge at the Sandy Bay campus, breaking the hearts of international students from Hong Kong, Taiwan and those from mainland China who dream of freedom from the totalitarian Chinese Government.

Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader

The Hodgman Government’s shameful attachment to secrecy has been laid bare in the national media.

Tasmania bottoms the nation in information transparency, with updated Right to Information (RTI) figures revealed in today’s The Guardian* along with damning comments from the State Ombudsman.

Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader

The Liberals’ undermining of Tasmania’s democracy through heel-dragging on political donations and continued lack of commitment to transparency in government has Tasmania lagging the nation.

Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader

Question Time this week has reached all new lows with close to half of the time allegedly reserved for scrutinising government Ministers taken up with self-congratulatory Dorothy Dixer questions.

Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader

The beneficiary of Tasmania's weak donations' disclosure regime at the last election, the Premier, Will Hodgman, has announced a year-long review into electoral reforms.  This is the political equivalent of looking like you are taking action when, in fact, you are stalling.

Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens’ Leader

The Liberals are playing catch up on the growing level of foreign ownership and influence in Tasmania.

Tasmanians know foreign investors are impacting on the housing market and that almost 25% of our agricultural land has some level of foreign ownership.

Cashed up overseas buyers are not going to be dissuaded by a small tax hit.  The Liberals' policy will make no difference to housing availability, nor will it mean any less agricultural land ends up in foreign hands.

Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens’ Leader

The Greens will bring Tasmanian law into the 21st century and protect Tasmanian individuals and communities with a Charter of Human Rights.

Many Tasmanians falsely believe their rights are inviolably protected by our laws when sadly this is not the case. All too often these rights are trampled by corporations and governments alike.

Last year, the Hodgman Liberal Government went all the way to the High Court in a bid to deny citizens the right to protest. They also tried to water down anti-discrimination laws.