TWO local women are among the 58 people contesting the 12 Senate senate available to Tasmania in this weekend’s double dissolution Federal Election. Jo Volta, 57, of New Norfolk, is a candidate for the Arts Party.  Kate McCulloch, 53, of Malbina, is a candidate for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party. 

PEOPLE intending to vote at Ellendale, Gretna, Hamilton, Bronte Park or Maydena in next Saturday’s Federal Election will have to make other plans. Following a review of polling places by the Australian Electoral Commission, 16 fewer polling booths will be operated in the Lyons electorate. It has been reported that

THE Australian Electoral Commission has announced the names of the six candidates running in the Division of Lyons at the 2016 Federal Election. They are among the 994 candidates running for the 150 House of Representatives seats across Australia. An additional 631 candidates are  running for the 76 Senate vacancies.

LABOR candidate Brian Mitchell was first out of the blocks in the contest for the seat of Lyons, having posters erected at New Norfolk within hours of the Federal Election being called on Sunday. Mr Mitchell also claims bragging rights having been the first to stake a claim at New

THE State Government has been urged to clarify the fate of the Maydena Online Access Centre following speculation about its future. Opposition education spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne says the Maydena community had been told its local online centre could be closed within the next two months. She said this was contrary

THE Tasmanian Government budget for the 2015-16 was handed down in State Parliament yesterday. It appears that the only specific allocations for the Derwent Valley are: New Norfolk High School and Glenora District School extension to Year 12 in partnership (costings not detailed) New Norfolk Marina: $300,000 (2014 election promise)

Mayor Martyn Evans and Premier Will Hodgman STATE Cabinet met at New Norfolk this morning before reconvening with several government backbenchers for a “regional cabinet” meeting with the Derwent Valley Council. Six councillors and general manager Stephen Mackey held a brief meeting with the government representatives, during which Mayor Martyn

THE Tasmanian Electoral Commission has today conducted a recheck of the votes counted yesterday. This resulted in small increases in the tallies of both candidates. Craig Farrell 12,251 votesAlan Baker 6753 votes. About 21% of the vote remains to be counted but will not change the outcome. Final results are

THE Tasmanian Electoral Commission has published its final results for the night, stopping the counting of votes at 78.58%. These will see Craig Farrell comfortably returned as the Member for Derwent with 12,096 votes, about double that of Alan Baker who has 6733 votes. About 21% of the vote remains

ALMOST 78% of the first preference votes from today’s election for the seat of Derwent in the Legislative Council are now counted. The New Norfolk and New Norfolk North polling booths have now reported but have made little change to the percentages. Craig Farrell – 12,096 votesAlan Baker – 6667