Stories from Hobart · Australia

Negotiations regarding a bailout for the 9 Star zinc smelter have halted, according to Federal independent MP Andrew Wilke. A $135 million assistance package was previously announced for smelters located in Hobart and Port Pirie.

Human remains were exhibited at a museum in Hobart without proper consent.

The Tasmanian government announced it will issue a formal apology regarding the display of human remains at a Hobart museum. The remains were reportedly shown without consent. The dispute involves 19 human remains being exhibited at a Hobart Museum without consent. A coroner's report found the Rotter Museum in Hobart kept and displayed human remains without family knowledge. The remains were taken during post-mortem examinations conducted between 1966 and 1991.

Former Senator Nick Sherry has been elected president of the Tasmanian Labor Party. The election occurs as the party begins to re-establish its branch leadership. Sherry and former Senator Doug Cameron previously served as administrators in 2022.

The Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority reported that a salmon farm lease used over 2.7 tonnes of the antibiotic florfenicol within a two-month period. Experts have characterized the quantity as a huge amount for the operation.

The Tasmanian devil, while sharing a name with other animals, is not closely related to them. The species is now primarily found in Australia, specifically on Tasmania Island. While extinction is a concern, artificial breeding programs are ongoing, notably in Australian and Singaporean zoos.

Social media influencers filming and profiting from content in Tasmania's national parks must now obtain an enthusiast business licence. New regulations in Tasmania allow social media influencers and content creators to film and profit from content within national parks for a $100 fee. The previous system required a $450 fee, a 28-day advance application, and $20 million in public liability insurance. Influencer Atkinson noted the previous costs often exceeded potential earnings from the content. The change aims to simplify the process for digital creators. The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service has introduced a new licensing requirement for social media influencers operating in national parks. The measure aims to minimize environmental impact within the state's wilderness areas.

An infertile plant species, King's Lomasia, has been discovered in southwest Tasmania. The species is approximately 43,600 years old. It is unable to reproduce due to possessing an extra chromosome.