ON one hand we see Tasmania going through one of the toughest economic periods for decades.

On the other hand we read about our own elected government members spending our money big time on aeroplane flights, taxi services, overseas trips and so on.

To see Eric Hutchinson on the front page of The Examiner with his $500,000 office fit-out didn’t help either.

I am sure the hospitals, schools and less unfortunate would love to be in the same situation.

Merry Xmas.

— BARRY MILNER, Ravenswood.

Rock lobsters

I’M NOT sure Strahan rock lobster fisher Rodney Hart fully understands the reason, as he puts it, that `bureaucrats have made crap decisions’ by cutting quotas and closed off the season more and more.

It’s to stop over fishing Mr Hart.

Just take a look at what is happening to our state’s coastal kelp forests with their very survival under threat due to the increase of sea urchins around their base.

This is directly due to the absence of the urchins number one predator - rock lobsters.

Currently the commercial rock lobster fishery is worth $65 million annually, and, why such a success?

Because `bureaucrats’ make well informed decisions to keep the industry sustainable without short term big dollar signs clouding their vision of the future.

— ROBERT LEE, Summerhill.

Messiah

A LARGE, appreciative audience filled St John’s church on Saturday night (December 6) to hear an excellent presentation of Handel’s ``Messiah” by ``Reprise”, aptly conducted by Sharyn Martin.

The rendition of this difficult classical masterpiece was dignified and moving, and I congratulate all participating musicians for a wonderful evening - conductor, choir, soloists, organist and spinet player.

If Handel had been present, I believe he would have joined in the applause!

Thank you to eveyone - I hope to hear you again soon.

— MARJORIE FISHER, Hadspen.

Amalgamation

AMALGAMATION of Councils.

Some opinions are based on the past history of the forced merging of councils, and point out they have all failed but do not explain where and why they failed.

If you bake a cake and it fails 10 times, do you say baking cakes always fails,or do you try to find out why?

The amalgamation of the three northern councils will only succeed if it has the total support of the ratepayers.

A list of the advantages, and disadvantages should be provided but not from past history. Is bigger always better?

Is there any risk of merging two or three councils, where the biggest is under-performing, will it result in one large under-performing council.

—  HUGH BOYD, West Launceston.

Surcharge

IT HAS been long known what a strange lot we humans are.

This has been highlighted by the recent correspondents carping and whinging about the possibility of paying $5 extra to see a doctor.

I guarantee the very same people don’t hesitate to spend up on alcohol, cigarettes, blow a couple of hundred dollars on a trendsetter pair of jeans or go deep into debt to buy a flasher car than their neighbour.

But to have to pay an extra $5 to see someone who can ease their pain and possibly save theirs or their loved one's life, hell no we can't have that can we?

Folks, it’s time to sort your priorities out and decide what is more vital, a doctor, the medical research the money will fund to find cures that may save your life one day, or that extra glass of chardonnay or coffee.

—  K.FOLEY, Launceston.

University

I WRITE in response to the University of Tasmania’s vice chancellor Professor Peter Rathjen’s article (Monday Agenda, The Examiner, December 8).

It is timely to remind ourselves of what a wonderful  asset and economic driver UTAS is for Launceston, with the Newnham campus home to the internationally renowned Australian Maritime College, the Human Interface Technology Lab, the only facility of its kind in Australia, the Nursing and Midwifery Unit as well as Education to name a few.

The Inveresk campus houses the Tasmanian College of the Arts and the School of Architecture and Design, and with relocation of the Newnham campus to Inveresk flagged, it is imperative that all current programs and research offered by UTAS in the North remain as is and that there is sufficient room at Inveresk to allow for the university’s continued growth in the region.

Combined with the University’s plans to build 120 units for student accommodation at Inveresk, there is potential to revitalise our struggling CBD and boost Launceston’s economy, thus encouraging private sector investment, particularly in retail.

I remain a great supporter of UTAS and urge the community to remain vigilant to ensure UTAS’s northern campus has the resources and support it needs to continue its excellent work and provide equity of access to all our students.

— ROSEMARY ARMITAGE, Independent Launceston MLC.

Fossil fuels

NOW that our government has apparently come round to the way of thinking that it is time to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels to generate power, and is even considering building a nuclear power plant, isn't it more sensible to concentrate on using the resource that we have in more abundance than any other country: solar power?

I am not just talking about solar panels on the roof, but huge solar power plants covering many square kilometres generating vast amounts of electricity.

Solar cells are not the only option, the sun's heat can be used to produce steam to drive turbines, or heat can be gathered in a large glasshouse like structure and convection up a large tower would drive a turbine to generate power.

We have the sunlight and large areas of unproductive land.

Let’s take the initiative and become the world leaders in harnessing our most renewable and non-polluting source of power.

— MALCOLM MCCULLOCH, Pipers River.

Co-payment

REGARDING the now defunct $7 co-payment, I'm a pensioner who 10 years ago had a quadruple by-pass and 11 weeks ago had a single by-pass and a heart valve replacement.

Over recent years I've had to visit my doctor regularly for sun spots, mini strokes, angioplasty, angiograms and check ups.

My medical problems have seen me, at times visit my doctor more than my family.

When you look at what I have cost the country over recent years, must be close to a couple of hundred thousand.

The cost to me for my last heart operation that, because of major complications lasted approximately eight hours then had to be followed up with a pacemaker, was just $48 being my share of the medication.

Let me tell you I have no problem paying my medication co-payment and I certainly was willing to pay the $7 co-payment.

I would have seen it as my part in biting the bullet to see our country get back in the black.

So in the ensuing debates on the pros and cons of the $7 co-payment or the now lesser $5 please leave me out as an example as to why it should never have been a part of a restorative budget.

I was ready to take a hit of this reasonable size for our countries future after all I'm miles ahead in the costs of keeping me alive.

I remember when the first year's budget of any government was always tough and austere and like it or not you took it on the chin for the sake of a better future now it seems everyone squeals like a bunch of stuck pigs rather than be a contributor to the answer and that's sad.

— ROBIN SIMPSON, Invermay.