On 19th July 2025, Independent Peter George was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in electorate of Franklin.
Thanks to an exuberant campaign that attracted over 600 volunteers, Peter won the seat convincingly on first preference votes - the only candidate in Franklin to do so.
As a Community Independent Peter is accountable only to the people of Franklin, not to lobbyists, political parties or their corporate donors.
Peter is your Independent voice in Parliament. He wants to hear from you!
A kind fisher sent me this photo of a cocky salmon caught off Dover a few days ago with surprising numbers of partly-digested salmon pellets in its belly.
Think about it.
The salmon industry’s planning to dump tonnes of these same pellets laced with the antibiotic, florfenicol, as soon as possible as the marine heatwave hits harder, disease strikes and mortalities mount.
Wild-caught fish ‘n chips anyone?
I recognise a brush-off when I see one.
I wrote to the Premier in the wake of a debate I launched on the future of TMAG last month in which I was supported by Labor, Greens and Independents in calling for a halt to cuts to TMAG.
I wrote: “I urge you to personally intervene, abandon the proposed cuts and - crucially - restore TMAG to the position it deserves for its contribution to science and its curatorship of the island’s natural and human heritage.”
What won’t this government sacrifice to help pay for the Mac Point stadium?
#nostadium #tmag #tasmania #politas
Wed, Nov 4:
Great to hear a wild fisher speaking on the ABC and rejecting the salmon industry’s plans to payout rock lobster and abalone fishers for closing down parts of their fishing grounds because the industry can’t control disease and deaths without resorting to massive doses of the antibiotic, florfenicol.
The salmon industry’s arrogance is truly extraordinary.
It’s worth a listen: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/hobart-mornings/mornings/107332770
Tuesday, Nov 3:
Tasmania, we have a problem. We’re pouring more money than ever into the health service but we’re still languishing at the bottom of the nation’s health outcomes.
The AMA wants a deep, once-in-a-generation investigation into how to get things right … and I reckon it might be right.
#Health #nurses #healthservice #tasmania
Mon, Nov 2:
D-Day (decision day) for the reintroduction or banning of the use of the antibiotic, florfenicol, in diseased Atlantic salmon pens in Tasmanian waters is getting closer as the marine heatwave is already pushing up water temperatures two or three degrees above average.
https://www.apvma.gov.au/news-and-publications/public-consultations/florfenicol-for-emergency-use-on-atlantic-salmon-261102
Thanks to everyone who helped fill the Public Gallery in Parliament last week we called on the government to stop the destruction of Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) by stripping it of resources.
Thanks, also, to MPs who backed me - including Labor, Greens and Independents, David O’Byrne, Kristie Johnston and Helen Burnet.
No thanks at all to Arts Minister, Roger Jaensch and former Minister, Madeline Ogilvie whose words of support for TMAG rang as hollow as an empty drum.
Helen and I fronted a media call afterwards.
Sunday, Nov 1:
Great news for the City of Clarence
The city’s new mayor-elect is Drew Jenner - and a more collaborative, dedicated and determined person to take on the role would be hard to find.
Drew’s a genuine independent who will work across party lines and political divides.
He’s committed to preserving and enhancing Clarence’s natural and human assets and I, for one, am looking forward to working with him … again … since Drew stood at last year’s state election as part of my independent group.
Thanks to all the dedicated TMAG supporters and staff who turned up for my Parliamentary debate on the future of an institution that is the guardian of our cultural and natural heritage - and the front door to our island and its history.
The battle is not just to reverse the cuts to budget and staff but to start rebuilding TMAG so that it can fulfil its statutory role and ensure more than a million artefacts are properly identified, recorded, stored for their day-to-day value and for posterity.
