Latest news with #Hobart
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE You will never believe what Mr Fisher looks like now! Home and Away star Norman Coburn, 88, pictured for the first time in years as details of his VERY different life in Tasmania emerge
He was a staple on Australian television screens throughout the late '80s and '90s, playing stern Summer Bay High's headmaster Donald Fisher on Home and Away. And now, veteran actor Norman Coburn has been spotted for the first time in years in Tasmania, where he lives a quiet and peaceful life far from the spotlight. Rugged up against the chilly morning weather, Coburn, now 88, looked nowhere near his age as he went to buy groceries near his home in Hobart. Dressed in a brown winter coat, a knitted scarf, and blue jeans teamed with tan suede sneakers, the TV star blended in with the locals as he went about his morning errands. At one point, he popped on a navy baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses to shield himself from the winter sun as he strolled through the quiet streets with his hands in his pockets. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, . Coburn lives with his wife Tina on a property south of Hobart, and it's understood he maintains a holiday home on nearby Bruny Island, where locals say he has a small vineyard of wine grapes for personal use. These days, he spends his time taking regular strolls on Blackmans Bay beach near Kingston, with locals saying he is often seen wandering along the esplanade with his beloved daughter, Nana. Nana, a former actress who also appeared on Home and Away, is a real estate agent based in Gerringong, NSW, who often returns to the island to spend time with her parents. She appeared on the long-running soap as Vicki Baxter in the early 90s, and then as Lisa Matthews in 1995. 'He looks amazing and moves well for his age. It must be all that crisp Tasmanian air!' remarked one onlooker who spotted the Logie-winner on one of his beachside walks. It's no wonder Coburn has fallen in love with the chilly and windswept Tassie rural lifestyle, with insiders saying it reminds him of a precious time in his life - when he and Tina lived in Cornwall, UK. In the 1970s, the couple ran the Mermaid Seafood Restaurant in Cornwall and planted their own vineyard. While in the UK, Coburn attempted to break into the acting scene, scoring a brief role on Coronation Street. Coburn lives with his wife Tina on a property south of Hobart, and it's understood he maintains a holiday home on nearby Bruny Island, where locals say he has a small vineyard of wine grapes for personal use 'He looks amazing and moves well for his age. It must be all that crisp Tasmanian air!' remarked one onlooker who spotted the Logie-winner on one of his beachside walks Coburn - whose nickname on Home and Away was 'Flathead' stays in touch with his former co-stars, including Nicolle Dickson, who played his on-screen daughter, Bobby Fisher, along with Ryan Clark, who played his grandson Sam Marshall. It's understood he is still close with series stalwart Ray Meagher, who travelled to Tasmania to spend his 70th birthday with his old friend. In 2014, in an interview with New Idea magazine to mark his 70th birthday, Ray revealed he and wife Gilly were travelling from Sydney to visit him. 'He [Coburn] lives on Bruny Island these days and he tells me the food and the wine's great down there. I'm looking forward to a good catch-up with him over a few reds,' he said. Before retiring, Coburn also dabbled as a sales associate for First National Real Estate. While he officially retired from acting years ago, Coburn made a brief return to Home and Away for special guest appearances in 2005 and 2007. He was one of the show's original cast members and earned a Guinness World Record for being the longest-serving actor in an Australian soap opera at the time of his departure. He has appeared in a total of 1,505 episodes of the drama. Despite stepping away from the limelight, Coburn remains a beloved figure in Aussie pop culture. He is fondly remembered by generations of fans who grew up watching his stern but lovable character navigate the ups and downs of school life in Summer Bay. His last acting role was making an appearance in Aussie comedy series Rosehaven, which aired on ABC TV.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
If old school white-anting Sussan Ley on gender quotas works, the Liberals may pay a heavy political price
A day after the Labor party first voted to implement gender quotas to promote the representation of women in federal politics, five female Liberal MPs condemned the decision in a statement. Labor's national conference in Hobart in September 1994 featured heated debate about rules requiring that women be preselected for 35% of winnable seats by 2002. At the time, blokes made up more than 85% of Labor's parliamentary ranks. The five women in then opposition leader Alexander Downer's shadow cabinet – Bronwyn Bishop, Jocelyn Newman, Amanda Vanstone, Judi Moylan and Chris Gallus – signed a statement saying quotas demeaned women and would further institutionalise their minority status in frontline politics. 'It is effectively a vote of no confidence in women's own abilities and it is a reverse form of discrimination,' it read. 'It only treats the symptoms, not the cause of the problem.' The statement came just a few weeks after Downer had apologised for making light of domestic violence, joking that the opposition's policy on women's safety would be titled 'the things that batter'. Fast forward 30 years and the Liberals, emphatically rejected by voters at the 3 May federal election, are asking why just six of their 28 lower house MPs in the new parliament will be women. In contrast, Labor will have 50. An assessment by the outgoing Liberal senator Linda Reynolds found the Liberals will have their lowest number of women in parliament since 1993, a year before Labor adopted its first quotas. Charged with picking up the election defeat pieces, the party's first female leader, Sussan Ley, this week promised to be a 'zealot' on actions to get more diversity in Liberal ranks, but said she was agnostic about the right approach to do so. Ley reminded journalists that her party works as a federated organisation, and power over preselection rules rests with state and territory branches. Ley's appearance at the National Press Club in Canberra was impressive. Ending Peter Dutton's three-year boycott of the club, Ley outlined two formal reviews into the dire political state of the Coalition, and said she wanted new processes for policy design. She has a compelling personal backstory and resisted any risky captain's calls on policy or symbolism – recognition of deep divisions within her party. Previous reviews, including after the 2022 loss to Labor, recommended the Liberal federal executive adopt a target of 50% female representation within 10 years or three parliamentary terms. The recommendations were all but ignored by state branches. Challenged over just how many seats the Coalition would need to win at the next election to prevent Anthony Albanese securing a third term for Labor, Ley said she was prepared to work hard and remained optimistic about the Liberal party's future. She showed a successful rebuilding effort could be part of her legacy, even if victory itself would prove too difficult in 2028. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email But Ley's unwillingness to take a position on the best mechanism to boost female representation meant the question quickly fell to other Liberals speaking in the media this week. The former prime minister Tony Abbott was quick out of the blocks. Despite finding just one woman with sufficient talent or aptitude to be appointed to his cabinet line-up in 2013, Abbott rejected quota systems because such a move would contravene 'the merit principle that should be at the heart of our party'. He described quotas as 'fundamentally illiberal'. On Friday, the senior conservative Angus Taylor spoke out against quotas, arguing they 'subvert democratic processes'. After promising to 'crusade' to get more Liberal women elected, Taylor's prescription was mentoring, recruitment and support of potential candidates and staff. He correctly said the Liberals also needed to do better at other measures of diversity, including recruiting more multicultural candidates. Taylor pointed to branch level plebiscites in the New South Wales Liberal party, but neglected to mention the feral factionalism and branch stacking which often helps push men to the top of candidate selection lists, especially in winnable seats. Not all Liberals are opposed, however. The former finance minister Simon Birmingham called for 'hard, fast and ambitious' quotas after the election drubbing and Maria Kovacic, the NSW senator, has acknowledged current settings aren't working. She has called for quotas as a short-term circuit breaker. Reynolds used an opinion piece in the Australian on Friday to warn the Liberals were becoming increasingly irrelevant due to declining voter support, suggesting the prospects of the party surviving to its 90th anniversary in 2034 were slim without action on gender. One Liberal MP rubbished Taylor and Abbott's contributions, accusing them of 'white anting' Ley. 'Ultimately their attempts to destabilise Sussan have come very early,' they told Guardian Australia. 'They want to rule over the rubble. It's sad.' A frontbencher warned against quotas becoming an 'all consuming' fight for the party, like the civil war under way in the Victorian state opposition. 'We don't want it to be the defining issue of this term,' they said. Perhaps the post-election review being led by party elders Nick Minchin and Pru Goward, or a separate structural assessment by the Queensland senator and experienced strategist James McGrath, will recommend quotas, but the usual rearguard action against them is already under way. The problem for those opposing a new system is that quotas are the only method shown to have worked. Labor stuck to its original rules until 2012, when it moved to a '40:40:20' quota system, designed to ensure at least 40% of Labor's seats were filled by women, and not fewer than 40% were filled by men. The remaining 20% were open to any candidate. New goals adopted in 2015 required the party to hit gender equity by 2025, a milestone it achieved early, hitting 53% after the 2022 election. The former party strategist turned pollster Tony Barry said it best this week, when he observed drastic changes in approach usually come when opposition MPs reach a point 'where they just cannot stand losing any more'. There is apparently some way to go in Canberra. Bronwyn Bishop, Amanda Vanstone and their colleagues were wrong in 1994 when they belittled action to give more women a seat at the decision-making table. How much longer ideological opposition to smart strategies persists might just determine how long Labor stays in power.
ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Federal Group wants 'independent assessment and oversight' of Macquarie Point stadium
Daniel Hanna I think we always thought this would be the final process. Obviously, we had a debate not that long ago about referring the stadium proposal to the Project of State Significance and the Planning Commission. So we put in submissions in good faith. And yeah, I certainly believe probably the process should continue. I think we need some independent assessment and oversight of this proposal. Obviously, we've got quite a number of concerns about what is proposed for the stadium at Macquarie Point. I want the opportunity to hear them and think they should be independently assessed. David Reilly So to be clear, you feel like this overriding legislation that's been proposed or that's been supported, that's already been tabled and supported by both Labor and Liberal, we're expecting after the election, you feel that that is the wrong approach, Daniel Hanna? Daniel Hanna Yes, absolutely we do. I've had a good look through that draft legislation, which was previously tabled. And there obviously was a consultation process. We put in a submission to that, but we had a lot of concerns. I mean, effectively that draft legislation, if anyone can have a look at it, I'd encourage them to do so. Really what that took away was all of the, for example, the appeal rights for any third party. It would override any piece of legislation, anything in the planning scheme, and also would give the Minister of the Day absolute discretion to make amendments at any time. So really there's, we thought all of the usual protections that neighbours and other parties have would be overridden. And it's, I don't think a good piece of legislation at all. David Reilly So opening submissions today, you're not due to give evidence, I think for a week or so, is that right? But what's the gist of what you'll be telling the commission? Daniel Hanna Yeah, look, we're appearing next week and we'll be making our submissions. Obviously we put in a comprehensive submission to the TPC and we'll be making submissions along those lines. I mean, we've got a number of concerns and certainly some of the more general ones are around this. We believe this stadium is just, what's proposed is in the wrong location. It's in a heritage zone. We, as a private sector operator and investor, have developed in good faith, complying with the existing Sullivan's Cove planning scheme, which represents a lot of those heritage values. And we just don't think a 55 metre tall stadium of the bulk and height that's proposed is appropriate right to the edge of Evans Street. And it will forever change what is a beautiful maritime heritage zone that's valued by Tasmanians and visitors. David Reilly Well, also, of course, valued by your company, it does push up pretty closely against some of your own accommodation assets. Exactly what's in that area that Federal Group currently owns and operates? Daniel Hanna So we own and operate the Henry Jones Art Hotel and the facilities that surround the Henry Jones. We've also got the Mac One Hotel, both on the waterfront. Clearly the Henry Jones is probably the most impacted. If you look at that iconic vista, I guess, from the docks from Mures over towards Hunter Street and the Henry Jones, it really is one of the iconic images in Tasmania. Unfortunately, with the stadium that's proposed, we'll have a massive structure looming right over the top of Henry Jones, right to the edge of Evans Street. We've also got some other very direct concerns around the stadium during construction and operation in that location. And that goes to things like getting access, for example. We believe Evans Street will be closed a significant proportion of the time during construction and then operation. And that's how our guests, our staff and our suppliers can all access our hotels. We're very concerned about access. We're also concerned about other things, yeah, noise, lights and shadowing, and parking as well, to be frank. David Reilly We've had a couple of people asking about this Mac 2.0, the Stadium 2.0 proposal, backed by Dean Coleman and of course, former Labor Premier, Paul Lennon. One text are asking, is it true that Federal Group is behind Stadium 2.0? Now it's sort of gone off the boil a little bit, this project, but is that still your preference, that site? Daniel Hanna Yeah, look, that would still be our preference. I think it deals with a lot of the heritage issues that we've got concerns about. So I would certainly encourage whenever we run over this election and we have a new government in place to consider that proposal. But let me first of all, address the concern raised in that text. I can absolutely tell you that Federal is definitely not behind 2.0. David Reilly So not linked to 2.0 and Paul Lennon? Daniel Hanna No, we have nothing to do with that project. Obviously the proponents of that project have presented to us in the past as a company, many months ago. And we thought that that was a very good project, worthy of consideration, would address a lot of our concerns and is, I think, still worthy of consideration. We think it's a much better location and I think delivers a better bang for the buck.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Business Events Tasmania: Macquarie Point stadium would give state larger slice of $35 billion conference market
A multi-purpose stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point would help Tasmania claim a larger slice of the $35 billion national business events market, and transform the state into a premier conference destination, the Tasmanian Planning Commission has heard. Presenting the submission of independent membership organisation Business Events Tasmania on the second day of public hearings into the project, chief executive officer Marnie Craig said the stadium's proposed function facilities would allow Tasmanian to compete for larger and more lucrative conferences involving up to 1500 delegates, from both interstate and overseas. Ms Craig told the hearing that the stadium's value proposition for her industry was further enhanced by the planned proximity of the Good Shed, which offered enormous potential as a trade exhibition space. Referring to claims that the stadium could attract an additional 110 conferences to Tasmania each year, TPC panel chair, Paul Turner SC, asked Ms Craig why organisers of professional and industry 'association conferences' would choose the island state over alternative destinations such as Queensland. 'Tasmania is a very strong destination and has a very strong appeal,' Ms Craig replied. 'Anecdotally, conference organisers tell us that in Australia it's the destination where they see the highest number of delegates … because they're bringing family and friends and having a holiday beyond the conference. 'So while we do have that competitive edge in the marketplace, currently many conferences cannot consider Tasmania because we don't have the infrastructure.' Ms Craig told the TPC hearing the location of the proposed Mac Point stadium satisfied the critical issue of having conference venues located in walkable distance from accommodation facilities, claiming Hobart had approximately 4000 hotel rooms that could be reached on foot from the Evans St site. The Business Events Tasmania boss said the local hospitality sector – already a significant beneficiary of the state's existing conference roster – stood to profit handsomely from any increase in the number and frequency of major corporate meet-ups, particularly those held in tourism's off season. 'When we have conferences of 1100 - which is our absolute capacity - everybody sees it and feels it,' she said. 'So restaurants and bars are regularly telling us … about the contribution they make. 'Association conference delegates are high-yielding, spending around three times that of a leisure visitor, and they often travel in between May and September.' The TPC hearings, which are required as part of the independent assessment of the stadium under Project of State Significance legislation, are being held across multiple dates in June and July. Representatives listed to address the panel over coming weeks include the Federal Group, the Glebe Residents' Association, Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania, and Our Place – Hobart. The Australian Football League has made the construction of a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point one of the conditions of its agreement with the state government to add Tasmanian teams to both its men's and women's competitions. The Project of State Significance process, initiated by Premier Jeremy Rockliff in October 2023, is continuing despite subsequent government plans to pass enabling legislation which would effectively halt the TPC's independent assessment of the stadium. Either scenario requires the stadium to be approved by both houses of Tasmania's parliament.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Science
- ABC News
Humpback whales using Hobart's River Derwent for rest during northern migration
Humpback whales have been spotted in the River Derwent as far up as Montrose in Hobart's northern suburbs. Marcus Salton, a wildlife program officer with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said there had been a "healthy" amount of sightings this migration season. "The whales are just cruising around enjoying the shallower, calmer waters and having a bit of a rest period before they continue up the north coast," Dr Salton said. "It's a big traverse for them to go from Antarctica across the Southern Ocean and then hit Australia. "At this time of the year, when the whales are migrating north to warmer waters, it's not unusual for us to see them getting up towards the Bowen Bridge." Dr Salton said sightings of humpbacks would start slowing down towards the end of June and early July. "We could see some around all winter and into spring, and then during spring we will see another influx as the whales start to move south," he said. He said different age groups transited at different times. "Even on their southern migration back to Antarctica, it's not unusual for us to see whales with calves doing some more of that resting behaviour in the many shallow and protected bays we have here in Tasmania," he said. Dr Salton said there had been fewer sightings of southern right whales than usual. "They are in lower numbers, so we are very keen to hear about any sightings of southern right whales, in particular," he said. "They have a unique pattern of callosities or growths on their head, and we can photograph that unique pattern to identify individuals. "If we hear about southern right whales, we might look at putting up a plane or a drone to get some photos of those individuals to contribute to that national database." He said the lack of sightings could be due to a number of reasons, including people not reporting them or weather conditions. "We will see what happens with this season and take it from there in terms of level of concern for the southern right whales," he said. Dr Salton said southern right whales were known for "logging" behaviour, where they looked like a log floating on the water's surface. "They tend to like hanging out in shallow protected waters, and we've got a lot of that in the Derwent and Storm Bay," he said. He said there had been sightings of blue whales, including feeding behaviour off Tasmania's east coast. "It has happened before, but it's a bit unusual," he said. Dr Salton said fur seals and dolphins were known to go even further up the River Derwent than the Bowen Bridge. "They are usually chasing bait fish that are travelling up the river," he said. He said seals bred over summer, and then over winter they were fattening up and preparing for the next breeding season. "We see an influx of fur seals within the Derwent at this time of year, particularly feeding," he said. Dolphins enjoyed bait fish, which had been hanging around later than usual, Dr Salton said. "We might be seeing more of them in the Derwent than we usually would, but it's not unusual for us to see dolphins in the Derwent all year round," he said. Bec Williams and her family were lucky enough to watch the humpback whales from their boat on the River Derwent. "My husband recently bought a boat, and one of the conditions of that was that if there were ever whales about we need to go and see them," she said. Following the safety guidelines for observing whales, Ms Williams said she expected the whales to be on the southern side of the Bowen Bridge and was surprised to see them on the northern side. "I don't think people realise how incredible whales actually are. "We took our young kids out, and I told them people can go an entire lifetime without seeing anything like this, and we have it right in our backyard." She said viewing the whales from 100 metres away was still very impressive. Dr Salton said it was important that vessels followed the guidelines. "It keeps people safe and keeps the whales safe and minimises disturbance while they are here, and hopefully that will encourage them to use the area going forward," he said. "They're amazing animals; everyone is always in awe of them." Whale sightings can be reported by calling 0427 942 537.
