PARLIAMENT OF TASMANIA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REPORT OF DEBATES Wednesday 3 June 2020 REVISED EDITION Wednesday 3 June 2020 The President, Mr Farrell, took the Chair at 11 a.m., acknowledged the Traditional People and read Prayers. TABLED PAPER Parliamentary Standing Committee of Public Accounts - Office of the Ombudsman and Health Complaints Commissioner Mr Dean presented the report of the Office of the Ombudsman and Health Complaints Commissioner. Report received and printed. COVID-19 DISEASE EMERGENCY (COMMERCIAL LEASES) BILL 2020 (No. 19) Amendments Agreed to by House of Assembly The House of Assembly advised that it agreed with the Council amendments. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS Special Interest Matters Called on [11.14 a.m.] Motion by Mrs Hiscutt agreed to - That so much of standing order No. 41 be suspended to allow for special interest matters to be called on today's sitting. SPECIAL INTEREST MATTERS Heritage Aircraft - Miss Flinders [11.15 a.m.] Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, until March this year when you visited Launceston's Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, it was impossible to miss the heritage aircraft Miss Flinders prominently hanging from the ceiling. This aircraft has become an icon of Queen Victorian Museum and Art Gallery since its installation about 10 years ago. Miss Flinders is a Desoutter Mark II monoplane with Australian registration VH-UEE. The aircraft was constructed at Croydon Aerodrome south of London and took its first flight on 30 Wednesday 3 June 2020 1 August 1930. This particular aircraft is a three-seater design and is described by aviation historian Geoff Goodall as featuring a comfortable cabin design when most new light aircraft still had open cockpits. It was an all wooden construction with fabric-covered surfaces and was suitable for training or touring. A total of only seven such types of this original type of aircraft were built; upon licencing of the patent of this plane to Desoutter in London, modified versions of this design resulted in the construction of 41 Desoutter Mark I and Desoutter Mark II aircraft. In late 1931 a Desoutter Mark II aircraft was purchased and flown to Australia by Harold Jeffrey and Harry Jenkins. The aircraft departed England on 27 December and arrived in Darwin on 10 February 1932, after 44 days of flying. During this time Harold Jeffrey and Harry Jenkins took turns flying and traversed half the planet, arriving in Australia via what was then British India. On 11 March 1932, the aircraft was formally registered in Tasmania as VH-UEE, christened Miss Flinders and licenced to carry three people. From 18 March 1932, Miss Flinders commenced the first regularly scheduled passenger and mail service to Flinders Island. At this time Miss Flinders was owned by Laurie Johnson, grandfather of Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society president Andrew Johnson. Not long after these trips commenced, Laurie Johnson and the Holyman brothers amalgamated to form the Tasmanian Aerial Services and Miss Flinders became part of a fleet of aircraft that would eventually become Holyman's Airways and then Australian National Airways. In 1933, Miss Flinders again made history, conducting what was likely the first aeromedical evacuation from King Island to Western Junction, now the northern home of Tasmania's Royal Flying Doctor Service. This flight was undertaken by Laurie Johnson and marks a significant point in remote medical service and aviation history in Australia. In 1935, Miss Flinders was sold to the de Havilland Aircraft Company, based in Mascot, New South Wales; until 1938 she continued to change hands to undertake private and charter activities. In 1938, Miss Flinders was purchased by Charles D Pratt and, true to the nature of the Desoutter, was used in training at the Pratt Flying School at Coode Island, Victoria. From the outset of World War II and due to the cessation of civil flying, Miss Flinders was stored in Essendon until 1946, at which time she returned to New South Wales and continued to be used in charter flying and instruction by South Coast Aviation Services in Wollongong. After some time in the charter and instruction sector, and continuing to change hands, Miss Flinders was struck off the Civil Aviation Plane Register in 1961 and taken into the possession of the Department of Civil Aviation, being formally purchased by the Australian Government in September 1965. After some discussions, Miss Flinders was brought to Launceston and put on display in the Launceston Airport Terminal until 1997. In 2006, Miss Flinders was placed on display at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Inveresk, and in 2010 restoration commenced, with the aircraft returning to display in May 2011. In March, Miss Flinders' term at Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery expired and she was removed from display, with the Australian Government agreeing to gift Miss Flinders to the Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society, which is currently searching for a new home for her. I emphasise that in the intervening years since Miss Flinders was first put on display at the Queen Victorian Museum and Art Gallery, the standards for maintaining and conserving heritage aircraft have been updated, and it was necessary to take Miss Flinders off display to ensure she is kept in the best condition to properly and safely preserve this important piece of Tasmanian history. Miss Flinders is an historical aircraft imbued with a rich heritage; she is a meaningful reminder of the progress that has continued, and will continue, to be made in aviation. I congratulate the Wednesday 3 June 2020 2 Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society and its dedication in promoting Tasmania's aviation history and looking after Miss Flinders. I sincerely hope it is not too long until we see Miss Flinders on display once again. Circular Head Businesses [11.19 a.m.] Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I had intended to make this contribution earlier this year or even late last year but missed the opportunity. Since then, the lives and livelihoods of so many people have been turned upside down, none more so than the many in small-to-medium businesses and those employed in those businesses. We all know these businesses drive the economy in many regions in Tasmania. They employ people of all ages, often providing the first opportunity for employment of young people in our regions and they boost the local economy in a number of ways. These businesses also often use local suppliers to support their business, adding value and benefit to the whole region. These businesses have all taken a major hit during the COVID-19 pandemic and many will continue to find things very tough during this challenging period. I acknowledge the challenges they face and I will continue to work with and support them as we recover economically from COVID-19. My contribution today acknowledges longstanding small and medium businesses in Circular Head, one of the state's most cohesive and supportive communities. Many small and medium local business owners have been in operation for a very long time, contributing to the community by way of employing locals, generating wealth and supporting the local economy and community. I would like to recognise these businesses for being part of the Circular Head community for so long. I will start with 12 businesses that have operated in Circular Head for 50 years or longer, noting the length of time they have been in business and the current business owners. • Britton Timbers - 110 years - Shawn and Ross Britton • Clarkson Sports and Cycles - 97 years - Luke Howard • King Bros. - 67 years - Ian King • Kingston Bros Engineering - 67 years - Trevor and Dale Kingston • D.L. Poke Menswear - 66 years - David Poke • Blue Hills Honey - 64 years - Robbie and Nicola Charles • Circular Head Dolomite and Trading Co - 61 years - the Ralston Family. • WT House - 60 years - Elaine and Ian Walters • Wells Waggons - 55 years • Hursey Seafoods Pty Ltd - 51 years - Mark, Jim and Valerie Hursey • Marthick's Welding Works- 50 years - Donny Marthick • Tasmanian Seafoods Pty Ltd - 50 years - Alan Hansen Wednesday 3 June 2020 3 Eight businesses have operated in Circular Head for at least 15 and up to 41 years, and they are - • Kays Service Station and Topshot Guns and Ammo - 41 years - Lloyd and Beverly Kay • Wells Wragg Pharmacy - 40 years - Gerald Kay • Cignall - 26 years - Leon and Dianne Berechree • The Mod Shoe Centre - 25 years - Ian, Annette and Gary Cure • The Duck Inn - 19 years - Patricia Barnes • Smithton Plant Nursery - 17 years - Jenny and Leyton Pope • Smithton Sports - 16 years - Sally Elliot • E-FX Haircutters - 15 years - Cindy Bishop. This is a total of 1012 years of experience in our local community. It is impossible to estimate how many employees have been through the doors of these businesses and how much value these businesses have collectively brought to Circular Head, but I am sure we all agree it would be significant. I commend these businesses, their owners and employees for their dedication to the Circular Head community and wish to thank them for their contribution to the community and the economy of Circular Head. I wish them all ongoing success and longevity, especially in these extraordinary and extremely challenging times. It is a pleasure to visit these businesses; I am really glad to think restrictions are starting to lift now, which will help them to actually get back into business. I commend their work and their contribution. International Nurses Day [11.24 a.m.] Ms LOVELL (Rumney) - Mr President, today I recognise International Nurses Day, noting 2020 is also the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. International Nurses Day falls each year on 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth, and this year it was also the 200th anniversary of that date.