Drinks Container Deposit Scheme
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ENVIRONMENT Minister Matthew Groom believes that a drinks container deposit scheme will not provide a net value for the state.
The scheme would however result in a Tasmania free of the garbage that currently litters our streets.
This can only benefit tourist numbers as well as pensioners and the unemployed who could earn some extra cash by picking up rubbish.
- LEON COOPER, St Leonards.
Football
THE US football team The Washington Redskins was just cleared of any racial sensitivities because of their name.
Is it true that the Canberra Raiders, because of the insinuation of pillaging, lawlessness, looting and mayhem had to change their name to simply "The Raiders?"
- JACK SONNEMANN, Lucaston.
Cycling
ROB Shaw's feature piece on cycling champion Chris Froome (The Examiner, December 21), beautifully captures what a coup this visit was for Tasmania.
Drawn to our state through his association with team mate Richie Porte, Froome's visit draws welcome international attention on Tasmania as a highly-desirable tourist and recreational sporting destination.
Well done Rob on a quality article and congratulations Richie on securing the Froome visit for our state.
- ANDREW NIKOLIC AM CSC MP
Patron, Tasmanian Cycling.
Feral Cats
WITH regard to the letters posted about the feral cat problem in the North-West, I totally agree with the views expressed.
These animals are only there because of humans.
It is well known that unwanted kittens are dumped in the bush, with no other choice, if they survive, but to become feral.
Given this situation, Tasmania must adopt a hard line approach regarding the desexing of all domestic cats over the age of three months (not including those kept by registered breeders).
With those people not willing to co-operate getting hefty fines.
It is nearly two years since the RSPCA Shelter in Burnie was sold.
This left no facility from Stanley to Burnie where unwanted and stray cats could be taken.
This situation must have caused the feral cat problem to become worse.
State government and/or councils must subsidise the desexing of all cats over the age of three months otherwise the feral cat problem will remain the same or even increase.
We want Tasmania to become a Mecca for the tourism industry and this means looking after our indigenous wildlife and by accepting our responsiblity for our domestic cats and dogs, our smaller wildlife will be helped to survive.
-BUNTY JACKSON, Penguin.
Three Peaks
THE Three Peaks Race is no more!
It was doomed to death when it was taken from a 2pm race at Beauty Point to 6pm at Devonport.
How many would bother driving to Devonport to watch boats take off when it was getting dark?
At Beauty Point it was a day out when one saw people not seen from the year before, and somewhere to go on what is a day with nothing to do.
Maybe in a few years the organisers will have a change of heart and bring it back to Beauty Point.
- GLENNIS SLEURINK, Launceston.
Merry Christmas
I WOULD like to wish The Examiner and all readers a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
Please take care on the roads as you can travel to spend quality time with family and friends.
God Bless you all.
Have a good one, and as an old hillbilly family would say...
'You all come back now'
- ROBERT LEE, Summerhill.
Religion
CLAIRE van Ryn almost gets through her article without the rot settling in, but she doesn’t quite make it.
The object of her article is not Christ, but Mary, carrying on in the old Catholic tradition but with a sense of a new feminist twist – Move over Wonder Woman for here comes the Blessed Virgin who didn’t think twice about having a child out of wedlock.
Claire makes it all sound like an old B-Grade Western movie, but I digress.
For here, in the midst of a world that cannot fathom love so pure and full, love appeared and dwelt among us and lifted humble fishermen in an embrace that lifted them to heavenly life.
Oh that we might taste a draught, like them, of heavenly love so deep and full that lifts us up and has us die to the jaded spectacle of this earthly realm of men.
- GREG MANSELL, West Ulverstone.
Cannabis
LABOR and the Greens bagging of the state government's policy on medical cannabis (The Examiner, December 22) is flawed and overlooks the necessity for clinical trials, as is needed with any medication before it can be released for public consumption.
Like me, neither party is qualified to speak on the benefits, or otherwise of the drug, so it would be a foolish government indeed that legalised its use without clinical trials.
The NSW government is going to run such trials at a cost of $9 million, so why should the state government spend $9 million?
We don’t have to duplicate those trials when we can use the knowledge gained by NSW.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will introduce legislation by the end of next year to decriminalise its use (is this with or without trials?), but also does not guarantee it will be implemented.
Rather than being embarrassed, as Lara Giddings claims, the government should be complemented for not being bulldozed into legalising the use of a drug, the benefits of which up to now are based on anecdotal evidence.
The embarrassment would be far worse if usage of the drug over time had detrimental side effects, not to mention the lawsuits.
- K. FOLEY, Launceston.
Labor
WHILST federal Labor wrecked our economy by taking Australia from nil debt per person to $25,000 per person, the Liberals have decided to pay off the debt by cutting the workforce and welfare.
Their attitude to get people off welfare is totally not acceptable.
Further,the appointment of their heavy weight Minister in Scott Morrison, and Susan Ley, may indicate unpleasant cuts to pensioners.
This is backed up with the Murray report recommendations, suggesting that superannuation be paid only as a pension.
Meaning when pensioners need funds to repair their homes, replace their cars, or travel to see their children and grandchildren living interstate due to no work in Tasmania, they will find it difficult to fund these necessities.
Meanness and hardship will be the go as far as the Liberal coalition go.
Federal Labor on the other hand is bereft of policies, and still has no answer to pay off the mess they created.
I dare say many pensioners will look to minor parties as a solution when next they vote.
The answer really is to create more businesses and expand others using the new trade agreements, rather than creating a society spiralling down to third world status.
- JIM CAMPBELL, Ulverstone.
MONA
AFTER making my first visit to MONA in Hobart I am bound to say this a most marvellous addition to Tasmania's tourism industry.
Beyond expectations.
And to think that this facility is free of charge for Tasmanian residents is quite unbelievable.
"Superb" does not convey the totality of the experience.
To the owner: you are an asset to this state!
- PETER KAYE, Trevallyn.