Stateline Tasmania

05/12/2008

Barlett Honeymoon

As the year draws to a close Tasmania's Premier David Bartlett must be keen to farewell 2008. Since he took the helm six months ago he's struggled to make his mark spending much of his time in damage control. When politicians return to Parliament there'll be little more than a year to go until the next state election. As Lucy Shannon reports despite his 'annus horribilis' David Bartlett remains popular and determined....both to put his stamp on 2009 - and to be elected in his own right in 2010.

Tenancy Program

Tasmania's rental market is experiencing record low vacancy rates making it doubly hard for low income earners to find a home. But a Tasmanian tenancy support service has won a Housing Institute Award for helping people secure and stay in private rental housing. The award caps off a big three and a half years for the pilot program which has made a real difference to low income earners and refugees settling in the state, by preventing people at risk from ending up on the streets as Fiona Breen reports.

Pigeon Fanciers

Pigeon racing's a sport many people probably don't realise exists but it's hotly contested every weekend in locations right around Tasmania. It doesn't receive media coverage and there's no spectators, just a group of devoted pigeon fanciers that live for the sport The pigeons are conditioned like any other athlete - they keep to a serious training regime, maintain a strict diet and conserve their energy before a big meet.the only difference is... their race track is the sky as Annah Yard reports.