Thread by @DarMurp

An #lgtas 🧵 on the positions of candidates at tonight's Save UTAS forum on the move.

Order of candidates is the same as their appearance.



(Disclaimers at the end)

@LouiseBloomfld (17:05) - 110% against the move. Based on the effects of parking and resources with customers. Says there's already been a negative effect from those in the city.

@AnnaReyno (20:27) - wants to strike a compromise that shifts UTAS' position. Wants STEM and Ag Sci to remain at Sandy Bay. Wants the current buildings leased after the move. Wants current buildings refurbished and not demolished. Notes the amount of buildings in the city.

James McKee (24:03) - Against the move. Says the move will have a very negative outcome on educational outcomes, and that the proposed CBD buildings are unfit.

Will Coats (27:17) - Against the move. Concerns about educational outcome and effects on student community.

Marti Zucco (30:40) - Against the move. Says it's difficult to stop it through the planning committee. Says that people should lobby their LC members, govt and opposition to amend the UTAS Act to stop the move.

@rajicpf (34:00) - Wants UTAS to stop move until more negotiations with community are done. Concerns about reputation of uni from move.

Joe Grech (36:55) - Wants the heart of UTAS to remain at Sandy Bay. Says Sandy Bay Campus could become a tourist attraction while being a Uni.

@BenGlenHuon (40:10) - Against Move. Says that HCC has been too pro-UTAS.

Michael Jackson (43:30) - Against move. Says that mental health of students will decline because of isolation caused by the move.

@LouiseElliot19 (46:15) - Against move. Says effects on education, student and staff welfare would be neg. Says that current buildings in CBD are empty. Says Proposed designs are harsh. Says S.B. Campus housing would be the size of Blackman's Bay. Concerns about increase in cars.

@mike_dutta (49:22) - Would follow elector poll result. Personally thinks that those already moved into the CBD should remain and that those still at Sandy Bay should stay.

Yang Liu (53:07) - Against Move unless a 3rd party report saying benefit>cost. UTAS should be spending funds on trying to recruit staff. No evidence given that move would improve educational accessibility.

Brian Corr (56:42) - Would follow elector poll.

@debthurley (59:45) - Against move. Says UTAS is taking over the CBD, and that the Sandy Bay Campus has a good atmosphere. Wants LC to amend UTAS Act to stop move.

@jeffbriscoe1 (1:04:17) - Against move. Says UTAS should focus on education + research, not property. That repetitional damage is being done. Says that CBD should be left for business.

@edwinjohnstone (01:07:54) - Against move. Concerns about loss of parking and congestion in CBD. Concerns about number of houses built on Sandy Bay campus site. Says that losing the beauty of the campus loses a strength of the Uni.

@ZelSherlock (01:11:05) - As she is a UTAS staff member she is and will abstain on UTAS matters. Says that people should look at who in 07 went to Europe with UTAS. Says voters should look to evidence.

@Ryan_Posselt (01:13:21) - Wants 'a campus that waves goodbye to UTAS and builds something even better'. Wants the campus to be repurposed with a Primary and High School, Childcare, Housing that is can only be rented by those who work on site, GP, aged care home and more created.

@HelenBurnet1 (01:17:10) - Believes that UTAS' move into the city would be a +. Believes that move would make it more easily accessible. Believes that Sandy Bay Campus site should be a model of sustainability and innovation.

John Kelly (01:20:59) - Against move. Says HCC has been too friendly to UTAS.

Damon Thomas (01:24:34) - Wants some educational facilities to stay at S.B.. Wants more consultation. Meetings should be done between UTAS and Save UTAS. More info is needed on what S.B. would look like. If UTAS is not interested in S.B.then other uni should be offered site.

@MattEtherington (01:28:43) - Wants Minister for LG to asses development and notes concerns around move. Says that move would have negative effect on student's mental health. Says that consultation process has not been proper.

@sbehrakis (01:32:32) - Concerned with move. Says UTAS has become too concerned with development. Notes positives from some being close to CBD as to be close to industry. Says he is concerned about decline of sense of community at UTAS. Says that people should lobby state govt.

Bec Taylor (01:36:06) - Would 'work in the best interest of the community' if the Yes wins. Personally is against move. Says UTAS lies. Says she has not seen positives for her business from business school moving near her.

Says she may need to recuse though is not sure.

@DuncanSpender (01:38:59) - Says that planning authority needs to act like a jury. Says he will not state position bc UTAS has not finished its plan. Believes that council must pass/reject proposals based solely on compliance with planning act.

@StevenJPhipps (01:42:57) - Believes that it should not be a binary question as some faculties may be better in the city while some may be better at Sandy Bay. Is concerned about effects of move on education + facilities. Wants more dialogue. If S.B. is developed wants housing.

Now to the candidates who did not speak at the forum! These will be in alphabetical order.

@BillHarvey6 - I believe he has the same position as Helen Burnett.

@CadenceInterrup - Could not find position.

Daniel Geng - Could not find position.

@KitsosGemma - Could not find a position though as she is running with the greens it is possible it is the same as Burnett. This is a guess however.

Jax Fox - Could not find position.

Jono Stagg - Could not find position.

Juniper Shaw - Could not find position.

Karen Rothery - Could not find position, though may be the same as Marcus Bai and Chris Christie as she is part of the Hobart Community Team ticket.

@KK4Hobart4Eva - Would vote in line with the elector poll. Personally believes that the cross campus model is best. Wants UTAS to halt move until more consultation is done.

Lili Christie - Could not find position, though may be the same as Marcus Bai and Chris Christie as she is part of the Hobart Community Team ticket.

Ling Ling Gao - Same as Lili Christie.

Marcus Bai - For the move. Says that it will have a positive effect on the economy of the city. (From The Mercury on 14 July 2022).

@NathVolf - Could not find a position though as he is running with the greens it is possible it is the same as Burnett. This is a guess however.

Owen G Davies - Could not find position, though may be the same as Marcus Bai and Chris Christie as she is part of the Hobart Community Team ticket.

Ron Christie - For move into city. Says it will have positive effect for city. (From The Mercury on 10 September 2022).

Sam Campbell - Could not find position.

Stefan Vogel - Could not find position.

Tiina Sexton - Could not find position,

Some notes
- Firstly clearly these are quite condensed from their original answers/ written statements. I apologise to any candidate if I removed necessary context.
- I also would like to apologise to any candidates if I wrote your view down incorrectly.

As for some disclosure
- I will most likely vote yes or informal in the UTAS poll. This is not to say I dont have some issues.
- I will be doing some leafletting for the Your Hobart Independents Group
- I organised for a Ryan Posselt Corflute for my family's house.

This isn't to say that this thread is meant to sway anyone. The intention was more to note what was said at the forum. I just wanted to note this in case of any unconscious biases in the thread, though I do believe that I have kept them out of here.

Arg when I wrote Chris Christie I meant Ron Christie 🤦‍♂️ Thanks to @rockoyster for pointing this out!