Mercury (Hobart)

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.

MAC ATTACK

Work to prepare Macquarie Point for construction of the $1.13bn stadium has officially begun as Premier Jeremy Rockliff refuses to be drawn on the prospect of further cost blowouts. State and federal politicians, including the Premier, descended on the...

PRESSURE POINTS

In a bid to reduce the rates of cardiovascular disease, a project led by the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research is aiming to improve the accuracy of blood pressure measurements taken by GPs.

STRIPPED OF $191M

The Liberty Bell Bay smelter would have been profitable if UK mining magnate Sanjeev Gupta had not stripped out nearly $200m to prop up his troubled British operations, a new administrator’s report indicates. The EY Parthenon report also found the firm...

GUN CRIMES FIRE UP

Tasmania has recorded a sharp rise in gun crime in the past year as the government and police remain at odds over firearm ownership caps. Tasmania Police’s firearms dashboard shows a 32 per cent increase in firearm theft incidents since 2022-23, when...

Dogs’ catwalk gives us paws

For the first time, four-legged, furry models will feature in the Tasmanian Fashion Festival in a partnership with Guide Dogs Tasmania to present the Doggie Runway.

Just 10 sports but Aussies still chase the gold standard

They may be different this time, but Australia’s aim is the same – Commonwealth Games domination. After being on life support a couple of years ago after the Victorian government’s withdrawal as host, one of the most important sporting events on the...

‘We are just Tasmania’

Tasmania Devils inaugural AFL coach Ken Hinkley says it won’t be a challenge to unite the state when the Devils come into the AFL in 2028. Hinkley is well aware of the rivalry between the north, northwest and the south of the state, especially when it...

Hinkley to be inaugural Tasmania Devils coach H E ’ S OUR KEN DO GUY

Ken Hinkley is likely to be announced as Tasmania’s inaugural AFL coach today after the 397-game coach wowed the Devils with a three-hour presentation in Hobart on Sunday. The Devils have called media to a “major club announcement” at 10.45am today,...

COLOMBIAN COLOUR SPLASH

Colombian compatriots are coming together to celebrate their independence 14,000km away from Bogota. Kingston’s Colombian Independence Day Event is Tasmania’s biggest South American celebration, with more than 2500 attending in 2025. Run by the...

CHARTING A NEW COURSE

Australia’s most hi-tech scientific research vessel is embarking on an epic sixmonth journey from ‘equator to ice’, hoping to chart uncharted waters in the name of science.

ALL IN FOR TASSIE JEWELS

A Carlton River grandfather set out to buy two Jewels memberships – until his three grandchildren heard about it and refused to be left behind as memberships go on sale today. It comes as South Australian hot-shot Brooke Basham (left) is revealed as...

PULL YOUR HEADS IN NOW

Hobart councillors have officially been put on notice by the Local Government Office over conduct so toxic that the Lord Mayor was forced to suspend a lengthy and fiery meeting for everyone to “take a breather”.

LOVE HIM? LEAVE HIM

“Busloads of tourists” are reportedly inundating a small seaside Tassie suburb as Neil the Seal’s celebrity status intensifies, fuelling concerns for the 1000kg mammal’s safety amid calls for a management plan to be put in place before he next comes...

EYE OF THE TIGER

With his unwavering devotion to a creature that has reached nearmythical status, thylacine enthusiast Neil Waters is no stranger to media attention. But now, the world is about to find out about the man behind the headlines, thanks to a new documentary...

BULLET POINTS

Gun thieves face mandatory three-month jail terms under new firearms laws drafted by the state government. The changes were released yesterday as part of the response to the Bondi Beach massacre.

LET’S GET OUR SKATES ON

Hobart’s ice skating lovers have taken full advantage of our very own world-class rink this month ahead of a highly anticipated ice hockey match between two international powerhouses. MyState Bank Arena expanded the already beloved rink, as the...

25-YEAR JOURNEY

When Lorna Long tossed a message in a bottle off the Devonport to Melbourne ferry a quarter of a century ago, she had visions of it eventually making landfall in Tahiti or even Fiji. Unfortunately, Ms Long’s South Pacific dream was not to be, after...

REGATTA REIMAGINED

A new project incorporating much of the Macquarie Point 2.0 stadium bid – including a massive underground carpark as well as apartments – could be a “game-changer” for the Hobart waterfront, a councillor says. John Kelly has prepared a motion on the...