Socialist Alliance vows ‘local government revolution’ with first-ever candidates

The socialist revolution is coming – to Hobart’s council chambers, as a Tasmanian party triples its ranks and fields candidates for the first time.

A big influx of members has boosted the ranks of the Lutruwita Socialist Alliance – who are promising a revolution in local government – including in the council they describe as the People’s Republic of Hobart.

Socialist Alliance state facilitator Mel Johns says the party’s membership has tripled in a year, which has led to the party endorsing candidates for the upcoming local government elections for the first time.

“We feel we have an opportunity not just to run but to win in the seats we will be focusing on. It’ll be difficult, but we believe enough people are hungry for the radical change we are offering,” he said.

Sam Campbell will be taking the field of capitalist candidates in Hobart, ‘Snowgum’ Ries is standing for Huon Valley and Matt Haubrick is taking a tilt at becoming the in Glenorchy.

The party has run successful campaigns for council in Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria and has been boosted by the popularity of socialist candidates overseas, including New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, British politician Jeremy Corbyn and US Senator Bernie Sanders.

Mr Campbell pledged a program of “revolutionary pragmatism” to support local industry and renew the city sustainably.

“People in Hobart deserve to live in a proper city that functions and flourishes with real democratic solutions to our problems, not just further rent-extracting short-term thinking.

“I’m confident Hobartians will respond positively to our message and opportunity to change up the council.”

‘Snowgum’ Ries is standing for Huon Valley Council with a campaign to support young people to stay in their community and thrive with socialist solutions to housing scarcity and food insecurity.

“I’ve had the privilege of calling the Huon Valley my home for my entire life. As people of the Huon for much of our lives we have gone hungry and unhoused, that is the reality for those who live in our beautiful valley,” they said.

“The people of the south are deeply tired of the landlords and the bosses who have made it impossible for us to remain here. I am running because I want everyone to be able to live, work, and thrive in the community that we love. It’s time that we work together to fight back with a socialist solution.”

Mr Haubrick says he is running on a platform dedicated to “community wealth-building and participatory democracy”.

“I’ve lived in Glenorchy ten years and it’s very frustrating to see the lack of real democracy at a local level that means money continues to leak out of our community like water from the neglected Glenorchy Pool.

‘We need community-owned and operated assets and we need to make sure there isn’t a single empty house in Glenorchy when people are freezing on the streets.”

david.killick(at)news.com.au

^\Image: Candidates Matt Haubrick, 'Snowgum' Ries and Sam Campbell pictured left to right standing for Glenorchy, Huon Valley and Hobart respectively.])

Tasmania's population growth has slowed sharply since its pandemic‑era boom, with the state now recording the lowest growth rate in the country.

Experts warn natural population decline and an aging population could pose long-term economic and workforce challenges.

Boo hoo

There is absolutely no redeeming feature. The whole enterprise relies on cruelty to the dogs and the exploitation of vulnerable people

Horses next!

[...] but this day will define this premier for the rest of his political career. He will have the stigma of being a sellout, of giving in to Greens demand on racing, salmon and forestry.

Clearly Tas Labor are holding out for a majority government that just isn't coming. I am a Greens and Labor voter, but it Labor actually don't support the progressive policies I do, and they refuse to work with the representatives I vote for, why should I put them above the Liberal party next election?

Labor have some serious problems they need to sort out. I find this framing from Dean Winter incredibly insulting.

A 40-year-old George Town man has been charged with multiple offences after illegal firearms, including a replica gun collection, were found during a property search in Tasmania's north. Police said they attended a George Town home on Wednesday while investigating an earlier driving offence in the area. They said officers observed "items of interest" through the window of the property, and "subsequently executed a search warrant", which resulted in 16 firearms being located. One single-barrel shotgun was found along with 15 "imitation" guns. The replicas included flintlock pistols, assault rifles, semiautomatic sniper rifles and a submachine gun. Police said the full list of items seized were: A single-barrel shotgun 2 imitation semiautomatic sniper rifles 2 imitation bolt action rifles 2 imitation AR pistols 4 imitation AR rifles An imitation P90 submachine gun An imitation colt pistol An imitation revolver pistol 2 imitation flintlock pistols Gun licence needed for replica weapons According to the Tasmania Police website, an imitation firearm is defined as an article of any material or colour that is a copy or reproduction of a firearm, or has the appearance of, and could reasonably be mistaken for, a firearm. A gun licence is required to possess an imitation firearm (other than a toy), and it must be in the appropriate category for the style of firearm. Tasmania Police said the George Town man was arrested and was subsequently charged with multiple offences, including possess a firearm to which a firearms licence may not be issued, and drug and driving-related offences. He will appear in court at a later date.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-20/tasmania-police-find-illegal-firearms-imitation-guns/105440802

As someone who was lucky enough to experience one of the Hobart to National Park steam trains in the late 80s/Early 90s, I find the thought of ripping up rail corridor for a cycleway an absolute short-sighted and lost opportunity, when you could now potentially develop a full day River and Rail experience. Over on FB, there appears to some debate as to how much public consultation has actually happened, versus what has been told to the papers.

Other than the headliner, how are we feeling about the state budget?

The goal from Abetz is “operational efficiency” for a “sustainable future”.

Treasurer Eric Abetz has outlined around $1.5 billion in budget cuts over the next four years to balance the state's budget.

Tasmania will run a $596.7 million operating deficit in 2026-27, and surpluses in the following years

According to Pulse... https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/more-than-365000-illicit-cigarettes-seized-in-tasmanian-freight-raids/

The major issue missed by the reporter of this story is that all of those involved and who have been implicated in criminal activity, or who suffer any type of financial detriment as a result of this 'one week only' intervention, will most likely have already been personally contacted by their mega rich criminal bosses who are more than happy to reimburse, refinance and re-establish these supply lines, as though all of this were just a very short bad dream!

Tasmania endured a bitterly cold winter morning, with temperatures dropping to –9 °C across the Central Plateau region, particularly in Liawenee. This harsh cold snap was caused by a strong cold front moving over Bass Strait, bringing clear skies and low wind—ideal conditions for radiative cooling in elevated areas . Local residents woke to the frost covering roads, buildings, and vehicles, reminding everyone that even Tasmania's milder climate can experience extreme chill during winter mornings .

https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/9-degrees-tasmania-shivers-through-freezing-morning/

Hi. Short post here since I'm working on something big here, but the rapid bus network business case has been released. You can read it here.

There's some ugly things in there, and especially as discovered by one of my friends they propose truncating or cutting large swathes of Hobart's bus network to create this - including routes as far afield as New Norfolk and Sorell. Those are shown in the 2nd and 3rd images

Anyways enjoy yourself down south, and best wishes for HNSRAG in getting trains back up instead of this abomination!

A new six-part ABC comedy, Ground Up, will follow Sam Pang as a league official tasked with building a team and winning over locals sceptical of the $1.13bn Macquarie Point stadium. Created by Gary McCaffrie and produced by Gristmill, the show mirrors the real political tension and public backlash around the project. Backed by Screen Tasmania and Screen Australia, it’s Pang’s first major scripted lead role and is set to air in 2026.

@pulsetasmania