Mercury (Hobart)

ALL ABOARD FOR WORKSHOPS

A decision in the case of a franchisee of three Hobart bakeries operated by a former couple accused of underpaying more than 100 young staff $1.25m won’t be handed down until February next year – almost nine years after the alleged underpayment first...

UNDER A CLOUD

A significant decline in global sentiment around AI data centre businesses has put pressure on Firmus Technologies’ ability to build its Bell Bay and Wesley Vale facilities, an analyst says. Shadforth Financial Group private client adviser Sam Baker...

SHOW’S ALWAYS STACKS OF FUN

Royal Hobart Show ambassadors Sophie Johns and Phoebe Tew are ready for a long weekend of rides, magicians, goat races and more.

GOT THE GOODS FOR NBA

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HEARD IT ON THE GRAPEVINE

Total helpline calls handled: 31,644 Total cases handled by a free GP consult via helpline: 1988 Total helpline callers from rural, regional and remote areas: 8767 Total number of helpline callers referred to Urgent Care Services: 4259 Total number of...

‘UNDER THE BUS’

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to apologise over a social media post calling out schools over “removing all references to Christmas” from end-of-year celebrations — a move that has reportedly caused an acting principal to take leave and a school...

EMI’S ON HER J-POP JOURNEY

What began as Emi Doi’s personal effort to reconnect with Japanese language and sharpen her music production skills has grown into Emi Emi, a joyful Hobart pop act blending hyperpop club sounds with bubbly J-pop.

STITCHING UP MY OWN FUTURE

As a young child, Zailee Jackson would dress up her Barbie dolls in home-crafted outfits. But once she was gifted a sewing machine from her nan, her mind was made up forever.

AI, AI, NO

Companies wishing to set up AI data centres in Tasmania will be slugged with a mandatory levy, will have to locate in industrial areas and report on their power and water usage quarterly under a new policy unveiled by the Premier yesterday. And a...

BACK TO THE STONE AGE

Australians are being turned away from food-relief agencies, as demand outstrips available food and operational capacity. A national survey of 405 SecondBite charity partners found two in three (67 per cent) had turned people away, while almost all (94...

KUDELKAS HAVE A POINT TO MAKE

The late legendary cartoonist Jon Kudelka loved the mountain and next month his family will pay homage to him and raise vital funds for research into brain cancer in the annual Point to Pinnacle.

JEWELS READY TO DEFEND THE ISLAND

The state’s inaugural WNBL skipper says she doesn’t “feel too much pressure” as her Jewels prepare to shine for the first time this week. The Tasmania Jewels will make their highly anticipated debut in Glenorchy on Thursday evening, taking on a...

Bridal, evening wear and puffer jackets

Tasmanian industry heavyweights are gearing up for the return of the state’s premier fashion festival, hoping to inspire the next generation of fashion designers, models and business owners. Celyna Ziolkowski, eponymous founder of the bridal and...

BELL BAY TOXIC ORDER

The mayor, deputy mayor and three councillors of an East Coast council have been rebuked for approving a ratepayer-funded memorial to a sacked former staff member who died while awaiting trial on serious criminal charges. A determination by a code of...

PETS GET INTO THE SPIRIT

Pet-lovers are encouraged to get into the Halloween spirit this month in celebration of the return of the Van Diemen Pet Expo. Launching this Sunday, the Van Diemen expo unites Tasmania’s leading pet organisations – including Guide Dogs Tasmania,...

‘HOT FUN GARBAGE’ HEADS TO HOBART

What started as a radio demo has sold out stages across Australia – and Toni and Ryan’s Hobart show is nearly gone too.

FITNESS GURU ON DV CHARGES

Sam Wood and his wife Snezana have issued a statement as the Bachelor star and Tasmanian-born fitness entrepreneur remains behind bars after being charged with domestic violence offences.

Fagan watches on as JackJumpers triumph

Fresh off the back of the fairytale finish to his stellar coaching career, proud Tasmanian Chris Fagan has been spotted in the stands in Brisbane cheering on an unstoppable JackJumpers side. The Tasmanian coaching legend stepped down from the Brisbane...

THE ‘BO DEREK POST’

A Tasmanian judge’s alleged social media posts comparing Hollywood actress Bo Derek to fellow child sexual abuse survivor Grace Tame can finally be revealed as forming key evidence in a retired teacher’s bid to overturn a $1m civil rape finding.

Bell Bay’s power play

A $200m joint Tasmanian and federal government subsidy for the Bell Bay Aluminium smelter may not need to be paid if aluminium prices stay high. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced that an agreement had been reached to...

WE’RE RIGHT ON POINTE

For one night only at Theatre Royal A Springtime Ballet will awaken a kingdom full of colour and celebration, featuring performers from as young as four.

DEVILS’ FIRST BITE AT BEST IN THE LAND

The Tasmania Football Club has named its first local AFL talent in announcing an eightplayer maiden list of some of nation’s best 17-year-olds ahead of AFL entry in 2028.

HEART OF THE MATTER

A senior public servant is likely to now get the sack after discussing sex dolls in his office, showing a sex doll website to colleagues, and making inappropriate comments about his sex life and sex dolls. The man’s identity has not been released but...

GIVE US A CHANCE

The Great Australian Dream of home ownership is in tatters, with half of all aspiring buyers giving up, stark new research has found. Millions more are resigned to renting for life, as our housing class divide widens to the real estate haves and...

READY TO RUMBLE

The Devils have strengthened the state’s presence on the biggest stage in football, with mascot Rum’un joining fellow Tasmanians Chris Fagan and Alex Pearce at footy’s biggest weekend while wooing a potential recruit. The Devils headed to Melbourne...

Stupidity left a trail of death

From a “beautiful big baby” in a Tassie delivery room to captain of Fremantle on the biggest stage in Aussie football – Alex Pearce’s journey is one of determination, family and plenty of Tassie pride. Former midwife and now MLC Ruth Forrest remembers...

PATIENTS WAIT 2077 DAYS

Some Tasmanian patients are waiting nearly six years to see a neurologist – longer than it takes to complete a medical degree. Waitlists for non-urgent neurological outpatients are climbing as high as 2077 days for northern Tasmanians with a peak...

Favourite puts pedal to the medal for gold

14 15 16 18 20 22 25 26 27 28 30 32 NATION ........................... WORLD ............................ OPINION ......................... TALKINGPOINT ............. DELICIOUS .................... BUSINESS ...................... WEATHER...

WILD & WARMER SPRING

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 $3.50

Blaze guts NW mental health unit

Tasmania’s public health system is down 19 mental health beds after a serious fire tore through a ward at the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie, forcing the unit’s closure for the foreseeable future and resulting in a woman charged with...

Respected elder dies

One of Tasmania’s most respected Aboriginal elders is being remembered as a “living treasure” who improved educational opportunities and touched “countless lives”. Tributes have flowed for lecturer, leader and author Aunty Patsy Cameron AO, who has...

FIRST TASTE OF TASTE

Top Irish-Australian house trio The Potbelleez and “music chameleons” Furnace & The Fundamentals have been secured as part of the Taste of Summer’s all-star line-up for its New Year’s Eve party. More than 100,000 visitors are expected to head to the...

TOP 100 PRIVATE SCHOOLS

HOBART 16C THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 $3.50

UH-OH, SECRET’S OUT

Tasmania could be one of the best places on Earth to survive an apocalypse, a new international study reveals, with researchers describing the island as a “refuge in a refuge”. A study examining where people would have the best chance of surviving a...

SKY’S THE LIMIT

Massive advances in drone capabilities have been a game changer in the use of the technology in agriculture and forestry, businessman Fergus McEwan Foulds says. The owner of SkyApply said that improvements in the past three to four years had changed...

STORY PAGE 5

The acting director of local government will not further investigate the taking of snacks from Town Hall by Hobart’s deputy mayor Dr Zelinda Sherlock — and is again imploring all councillors to serve out their term in a “cooperative and respectful...

CALM OVER CHAOS

Former 60 Minutes journalist Charles Wooley will stand for Lord Mayor of Hobart, promising to be a voice of reason in “our currently chaotic and divided city council”.

TRACTOR FACTOR

The state government says it is reviewing forest practice laws amid mounting pressure from farmers who argue the current framework is “completely disconnected” from reality. Hundreds of farmers descended on Parliament Lawns on Thursday protesting what...

STAY OF EXECUTION

A plan to impose a five per cent levy on short-stay accommodation across Tasmania has been voted down by the Legislative Council, in a move the Liberals have branded “hypocrisy”. Labor MLCs and independents Rosemary Armitage, Bec Thomas, Mike Gaffney,...

BEAUTY BY DESIGN

Forty years after a small group of furniture graduates set out to build a design community, the organisation they helped create is marking the milestone with a major exhibition at Rosny Farm. DOT40: Celebrating 40 Years opens at The Barn at Rosny Farm...

SCALES OF INJUSTICE

A Blowhole staple is set to be given the boot by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife after nearly three decades of operation, with its “blindsided” owners left with “no outcome as to the real reasons why”. Popular Eaglehawk Neck seafood and ice cream spot...

IT’S PRIME TIME FOR BUTCHERS

Woolworths’ decision to axe Tasmanian beef by 2027 has sent customers flocking to their local butcher, with a notable surge in demand across many shops. Butcher Mark Henshaw, the owner of Mark on Macquarie in South Hobart, said many customers were...

CRACKS IN THE CLASS

A massive $12.6m backlog of public school repairs across Tasmania – including $175,000 in high-risk switchboard upgrades – remains “unfunded and under consideration”. Meanwhile, the state government officially blew out its $13.4m school maintenance...

‘STAGES OF COLLAPSE’

Up to 25 fire crews battled a devastating blaze at one of the state’s major hydropower stations, with the Tungatinah Power Station in “varying stages of collapse”. The fire left about 300 homes without power yesterday morning. Tasmania Fire Service...

MOUNTAIN VIEW

The state government has welcomed the announcement that Queenstown’s Mt Lyell copper mine will reopen. South African miner SibanyeStillwater bought the mine in 2023 and on Wednesday announced it would spend $490m to prepare for production, starting in...

Parrots get jab to fight off bird flu

One of the world’s most critically endangered bird species is being vaccinated to protect it from the impact of the bird flu virus. The rollout of H5 bird flu vaccines for Tasmania’s endangered orange-bellied parrot began today. Minister for...

DEVIL DEN DEAL

Fairbrother Construction has been appointed to build the Tasmania Devils’ new High Performance Centre in Kingston.The 9000-square-metre centre comes as the second key piece of the infrastructure development, following Batchelor Construction Group’s...

Racist abuse rocks LGA aspirants

As a candidate in the local government elections, Imadul Rahat is focused on easing cost-of-living pressures for renters, improving public safety, expanding support for young people and families, and improving transport options. But since announcing...

HERE COMES THE CALVARY

The national consumer watchdog has approved the sale of Hobart Private Hospital to Calvary Healthcare, effectively ensuring that pregnancy terminations, gender reassignment procedures, and voluntary assisted dying services will no longer be offered....

BOOK IN EARLY FOR FUN BOARDWALK GANGPLANK TAS PILOT COME AND ON EVE OF TRAGEDY GET ’EM HISTORY

HOBART 15C FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026 $3.50 The proposed Battery Point walkway has been dealt a potentially fatal blow after Hobart City Council CEO Michael Stretton recommended it be shelved, citing the state government’s refusal to help. In a report...

SMILE MATE, IT’S CHRISTMAS

The beloved 45-year-old Tasmanian puppetry company Terrapin will lead celebrations for the City of Hobart Christmas Pageant. Tassie’s biggest Christmas celebration will hold its 44th event on November 21. Terrapin artistic director Sam Routledge said...

A DEADLY CRAZE

Alec white-Cheshire has pondered how he might have coped growing up in today’s social media climate, in which peptide advertisements are common. He thinks he’d probably be dead. It comes as a Hobart gP recently treated an 18-year-old heart attack...

FAIR GO FOR THE BUSH

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Lord Mayor upset by sexist online attacks

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DELIVERIES 1300 696 397 BUY SEARCH SELL 13 11 13 MY TRIBUTES 13 11 35 ADVERTISING [email protected] EDITORIAL 6230 0732 [email protected] LETTERS [email protected] Hobart’s Lord...

Suspension rates have halved, attendance is up and NAPLAN results are the best they’ve been ... welcome to the new Clarence High PAGES 18-19

The number of firearms licences being cancelled has quadrupled in five years in Tasmania, reflecting a sharp increase in offending or risk of harm posed by legal gun owners, police figures show. The state government released its gun law reform bill and...

Lambie reveals personal health woes

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has opened up about her health struggles in an emotional plea to the federal government to scrap its controversial plan to cap allied health services funding for veterans. From July 1, 2027, the government will cap...

NONI RAISES THE BAR

Even for seasoned performers like Noni Hazlehurst, performing at Hobart’s Theatre Royal carries a special significance. “The architecture moves me,” she said. “It gives you that atmosphere that lends an air to the audiences as well.” Hazlehurst will...

$500M DEAL BACK IN PLAY

Negotiations over the potential sale of Crown land at Wilkinsons Point have reopened after relations between billionaire developer, NBL owner Larry Kestelman and the Tasmanian Government turned frosty earlier this year.

RUSHY SALE HITS HOME

Tasmania’s biggest farm is at the centre of a fierce battle over net zero, after deep-pocketed carbon investors snapped up Rushy Lagoon and earmarked thousands of hectares for pine. As local anger grows, the showdown has sparked fresh fears for...

$100M ARTS CRISIS

A vital arts agency that has brought $100m in returns to Tasmania over the past 15 years is on the brink of collapse after a sweeping government restructure. Screen industry figures have outlined the crisis that they argue is further evidence of the...

GSTEED OFF

Tasmania could benefit from a major revamp of how national GST revenues are shared after a Productivity Commission report found changes made eight years ago had backfired badly, potentially costing our state $755m by 2031. $4.50

How H5N1 made its way from Heard Island to Tasmania

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2026 $3.50 The Tasmanian government has confirmed the state’s first case of H5N1 bird flu, prompting urgent appeals for poultry farmers to adhere to strict biosecurity controls. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment...

e-BIKE DEAL LIMED UP

About 350 new e-bikes will be rolled out across Hobart in the coming weeks after the City of Hobart secured global operator Lime to deliver its new e-bike hire program.

MILA’S LEAP OF FAITH

In a little over a month, 8-yearold Mila Pincius will be stepping up at the Australian Transplant Games in Launceston, proving that no bar is too high for the young highjumper and transplant recipient. Mila, who fought her toughest battle after...

A SLAM DUNK FOR SICK KIDS

Proving that teamwork goes well beyond the scoreboard, three Grenadiers Basketball Club players are dishing out their biggest assists yet, donating their luscious locks to help kids battling cancer. This Saturday, Layla Cramfield, 12, Mackenzie...

STUDENTS HAM IT UP ON STAGE

Hobart College is bringing an all-student cast, crew and orchestra to the Mount Nelson Theatre for a comic musical about class, fairness and a very famous pig.

ATLAS ON THE MAP

His career as a chef may have taken him across Europe, but for Nick Kavenagh there was something especially enticing about establishing his own restaurant in an old Hobart CBD warehouse.

DEVIL’S A SAINT TO US

OFFICE POLITICS

Government documents have revealed some MPs are spending 10 times as much on electorate offices as others – and a $50,000-a-year ghost office nobody ever used. Details of lease costs for electorate offices show wild variations, and no apparent cap on...

URGENT BLOOD PLEA SCROLLING FOR STAFF

HOBART 15C WEDNESDAY, AuGuST 5, 2026 $3.50

ThIs trIo knows the drIll

$3.50 HOBART 14C TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2026

LEAGUE OF HER OWN TAS POLLIES’ MONEY POT

HOBART 14C MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026 $3.50

HADLEY’S PRIZE SURPRISE

HOBART 15C

Government yet to deliver Nuyina plan $2m FUEL SHIP SHOW

The costly refuelling issues plaguing RSV Nuyina look set to continue after the Australian Antarctic Division confirmed the state government had failed to present it with a required solution, despite a crucial deadline falling on Friday. Tasmania had...

Buck Moon set to ‘really outshine’

A “buck moon” on Thursday night will be bright enough to outshine two meteor showers, making an exciting night of stargazing for Australians. This July’s full moon involves a particularly unique phenomenon where the moon is situated further from earth...

Old school bought for $100,000 ... part of it is now on market for $2.9m HEAVENLY PROFITS

A pentecostal church which bought the state-owned Ravenswood High site in 2002 for the bargain price of $100,000 now intends to sell a fraction of the site for $2.9m – while keeping most of the land amid plans for a major housing development.