Latest Updates from Ruth
Ruth Forrest was born in Burnie and raised in Riana. A lifelong North West Coaster, she worked as a nurse and midwife before entering the Tasmanian Legislative Council in 2005. She lives in Wynyard and represents the electorate of Murchison, which includes the communities of Circular Head, Waratah-Wynyard, the West Coast, King Island and much of Burnie.
Tasmania’s Housing Crisis: When the Numbers Don’t Add Up
The Tasmanian Government proudly declares it’s on track to deliver 10,000 new affordable homes by 2032. Strip away the glossy headlines and what remains is a hollow boast built on…
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Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Amendment Bill 2025
Legislative Council, Wednesday 12 November 2025 Ms FORREST (Murchison) – Mr President, I rise to speak in support of the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Amendment Bill 2025. I…
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MOTION – Noting Budget Papers 2025-26 and Appropriation Bills (No. 1 and No. 2)
Legislative Council, Wednesday 12 November 2025 Ms FORREST (Murchison) – Mr President, when the Treasurer, Mr Eric Abetz, rose to deliver the 2025 26 state Budget on 6 November, his…
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ABC Hobart Drive – Public Accounts Committee Interim Report
You can listen to my interview on ABC Hobart’s Drive program here: [...]Read More... from ABC Hobart Drive – Public Accounts Committee Interim Report
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Tasmania’s Budget: Smoke, Mirrors, and a $20 Billion Debt Mountain
When Treasurer Eric Abetz delivered Tasmania’s 2025-26 State Budget promising “brightness and optimism,” both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s have not changed Tasmania’s outlook from Negative. When both credit rating…
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SPECIAL INTEREST MATTERS – Come from Away
Legislative Council, 11 November 2025 Today in Special Interest Matters I spoke about the Burnie Musical Society’s production of Come from Away. You can view the speech here: [...]Read More...…
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Tasmania’s Budget Crisis: Behind the Accounting Illusions
The 2025-26 State Budget promises a bright future while delivering accounting tricks, unrealistic assumptions, and a debt trajectory heading toward $20 billion. [...]Read More... from Tasmania’s Budget Crisis: Behind the…
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Operational vs Capital expenditure – a Treasurer’s fiscal and moral assessment
In a media interview this week, the Treasurer attempted to defend the government’s simultaneous pursuit of a $1+ billion stadium while cutting nearly 3,000 public sector positions. His defence rests…
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QWN – Motorcycle licensing
Legislative Council, Wednesday 5 November 2025 Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT, Mr VINCENT Aknowledging that motorcycle crashes are at record levels across Australia, the Motorcycle Riders Association…
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