A group of mates are in hot water for aiding and abetting two prisoners who escaped from Risdon last month.
Several alleged offenders have been nabbed, in what's thought to be the largest number of people charged with harbouring a criminal in Tasmania.
It's after 22 year old James Peter Sampson and 19 year old Kyle Leslie Lynch took off from the Ron Barwick Minimum Security facility at Risdon Prison on January 21, leading police on a 5 day man hunt throughout the state. The two were eventually arrested at a house in Exeter.
A 22 year old man from Derby will appear in the Launceston Magistrate's in April, The other six will front at a later date.
Budget Cuts Continue to Sting
An Upper House committee investigating the effects of State Government budget cuts say our hospitals are feeling the pinch of short term savings measures.
The inquiry is hearing from the heads of the regional health services... and has heard the Launceston General Hospital is struggling to find beds for patients, meet budget demands and morale is low.
Inquiry chair Ruth Forrest says the cuts have also been disappointing for north-west which had been making inroads on their waiting lists for "over boundary" cases.
Super Clinic Hopes for Brighton
A southern Tasmanian municipality whose medical centre was closed suddenly last year is hopeful a long-term solution may soon be a reality.
The Brighton community was left without a doctors surgery in June last year when its overseas-born GP was forced to move to a rural practice.
The Council is hopeful the surgery will reopen by late April..
And Mayor Tony Foster is confident they can secure $1 million for a super clinic.
National Parks Not Immune to Budget Cuts
Tasmania's tourism industry is confident our major, iconic national parks won't fall victim to wide-spread budget cuts.
Opening hours at some parks, including Hastings Cave in the state's south, have had their opening hours reduced.
The Parks and Wildlife Service says that's due to lower visitor numbers and state finances not allowing for extra staff when numbers increase.
Tourism Industry Council CEO Luke Martin says the department has left the popular parks off the list.
Tote Jobs Axed
Premier Lara Giddings is paying tribute to the professionalism of Tote Tasmania staff, as they find out they may be out of work next month.
Tote's new owner the Tatts Group is set to swing the axe on around 80 jobs after shelling out $103 million for the business.
Ms Giddings says State Government negotiations have ensured the future of retail and call centre positions.
But Shadow Treasurer Peter Gutwein says other at-risk jobs have been sold for a pittance.
