Scout Wallen

Jan 7, 2025 | abc.net.au | Scout Wallen

More than 4,000 Tasmanians who were penalised for not voting in two local government by-elections, have had their fines cancelled due to an administrative error. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Tasmanian Electoral Commission said 8,061 notices were issued to non-voters after the Glenorchy and Sorell by-elections, held in June 2024. They said 4,351 people have since had their fines cancelled.

Dec 29, 2024 | abc.net.au | Scout Wallen

Australia's wine workforce would benefit from an injection of youth, according to industry peak body Wine Australia. Three young, aspirational producers share the joys of building their own labels, and the barriers to entry for first-generation growers. Wine Australia says it's working to connect more under 35-year-olds within the industry, in a bid to reduce attrition rates. Grace Flynn and Kyle Stenner had always dreamt of starting their own wine label.

Dec 10, 2024 | abc.net.au | Scout Wallen

A Tasmanian Aboriginal elder has been convicted on three charges in a Tasmanian court, as he continues to protest that the 'colonial courts' have no jurisdiction over him. Earlier this year, palawa man Jim Everett puralia meenamatta, also known as Uncle Jim, was charged with two counts of trespass following his involvement in logging protests — one in the Styx Valley in March and one at Brady's Lake in October. He did not attend the hearing but spoke to media outside the Hobart Magistrates Court.

Nov 26, 2024 | abc.net.au | Scout Wallen

A woman whose son was fatally stabbed by a teenager in Tasmania remains hopeful that a proposed law to increase police stop-and-search powers will result in reduced knife crime. Father-of-two Reid Ludwig, 41, was with his family at a Blackmans Bay service station in 2019 when he was stabbed with a large knife after getting into an altercation. Mr Ludwig went into cardiac arrest and died in hospital soon after.

Nov 20, 2024 | abc.net.au | Scout Wallen

The Tasmanian exam authority will review its processes after another mistake was discovered in a Tasmanian end-of-school exam. Earlier this week, Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC) confirmed there were errors in five exam papers last weeksat by Year 12 students for the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE).