Northern Tasmania local news briefing: Monday, September 21 2026 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Here's what's making news in northern Tasmania today.

Tasmania's health department is working to determine how it will maintain mental health services in the state's north-west after a fire at the area's only public mental health inpatient unit.

The Spencer Clinic at the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie is expected to be out of action for a significant amount of time after the blaze, over which a 28-year-old woman has been charged with arson.

Health department secretary Dale Webster said officials were looking at temporary options, including whether beds could be accommodated with the north-west private hospital partner, while a bigger clinic would be built over the next 18 months.

Tasmanian Labor has called on the government to reveal how planned job cuts as part of the Building Tasmania restructure will affect services.

The government revealed in the budget that it planned to cut 250 jobs from the department through voluntary redundancies.

Labor leader Josh Willie said the government needed to be more transparent about which jobs were being lost, whether there would be forced redundancies, and how the cuts would affect service delivery in areas including housing and roads.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff says the government's restructure is happening in a measured and purposeful way, with almost 50 per cent of its job reduction target reached.

Mr Rockliff said the government had been very open about savings across State Growth.

He said there had so far been a reduction of 111 full-time equivalent positions, and the government would ensure it provided an efficient public service to deliver for Tasmanians.

Tasmania has thrashed Western Australia by nine wickets in its one-day cup opener in Perth.

The Tigers restricted WA to 113, bowling the home side out in 30.2 overs.

Tasmania chased down the target in 16.2 overs, with Mitch Owen making 43, Caleb Jewell finishing 41 not out and Beau Webster contributing an unbeaten 26.

Riley Meredith was player of the match after taking 4 for 11 from eight overs.

Tasmania's next match is against South Australia in Adelaide on Wednesday.